Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Love,

The Cunningham Family

Aaron, Melissa, Sophie (3 1/2), Libby (2), & Max (9 mo.)

Photo by crackerjack-art.com

C.U.B. Catch Up Blog

So I've realized that I haven't been the best blogger lately... what else is new?  ;)  So instead of feeling overwhelmed about all of the blogs I should do - I'm just going to do one with highlights of the events.  Kind of like Cliff's Notes - by the way, do those still exist these days?

This was actually today:  

Sophie using her Easy Bake Oven for the first time (thanks Dori).

She looks adorable in her apron & chef's hat.

Stirring her brownies.  (Actually it's the icing!!  I was wondering why the "Blonde" brownies were brown????  Luckily, I caught it just before we put it in the oven.)

Libby stirring too!

Sophie enjoying the fruit of her labor.

I wish I would have captured Max's face better.  He was laughing so hard at Sophie!

This past weekend.  Last year we put up our tree before Thanksgiving & loved it.  

(I have no idea why this is underlined?????)

Aaron decorating the tree.

Me hanging up Chloe's ornament :)  She would have been almost 5 this Christmas!

All the kiddos "helping" Uncle Luke play his guitar.  

Libby wanted to wear 2 bows :)

Our little Laura Ingalls Wilder.  This was my first time to braid her hair.  Also, she's wearing my "ring-ring dress".  This dress was one I wore when I was 5.  I called it my "ring-ring dress" because it has a bell sewn into it.  She likes to dress up in it. 

OBU's Homecoming:  beginning of November

All the kiddos at one of my best friend, Karel's, house.  This was a HUGE bean bag - they loved it.  We had so much fun visiting with each other.

Libby & Max at OBU

Sophie walking across campus.  I like that you can see the chapel in the background.

Sophie wanted to take a picture with this bison in the bookstore.  

Yes, we were the OBU Bison...  kind of difficult coming from a Duncanville Panther.  

Sophie actually took this one :)

OBU friends & housemates.  Karel, Shari, & Me.  

This was in the GC - it wasn't this cool 10 years ago!

End of October.  Sophie wanted to mail her candy to her school!  I promise it was her idea.  What mom would have passed up this chance to get rid of excess sugar???? 

(Is it bad that she hasn't been to "school" for a year?  She still wanted to mail it though)

Putting it in the mailbox.

October:  Max & Cooper's last playdate.  

Rhett, Rebecca, Fielder, & Cooper moved to Denver, CO.  :(

Just an ultra adorable pic of Libby - Lou - who's almost 2!

Max in the corn box in Iowa

End of September - beginning of October:

Trip to Iowa.  Just picture a Griswald's Family Vacation movie.  It was so difficult traveling with 3 young children.  We went to Iowa for my dad's  memorial mass.  He died in August & we had a service for him here & then his family had a mass for him in Iowa. 

Sophie making the yummiest cookies with my Aunt Janie.   

Most of my dad's grandchildren (missing Max).  They wore overalls in honor of my dad - he ALWAYS wore them.  Maybe that's who I got my overall obsession from (several years ago, of course)?!?!?!?

Ok, I'm caught up now.  Oh, I don't have any pictures of the kiddos dressed up for the Fall Festival.  Actually, we do - they are just on 2 other people's cameras.  Just picture 2 ballerinas with really big tu-tu's & a plump pumpkin!  

I got this from Carri's blog.  I asked Sophie to answer these questions and I wrote her responses without editing... My comments in (). 

1. What is something mom always says to you? good night
2. What makes mom happy? tickle tickle
3. What makes mom sad? cry
4. How does your mom make you laugh? tickle
5. What was your mom like as a child? Played with a rattle
6. How old is your mom? 3 1/2
7. How tall is your mom? Mommy stand up... taller than me
8. What is her favorite thing to do? nurse Max 
9. What does your mom do when you're not around? nurse Max (I guess that's all I do ;)
10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? a treasure
11. What is your mom really good at? Max
12. What is your mom not very good at? go outside
13. What does your mom do for her job? pack your lunch to Grandma Bicki's house
14. What is your mom's favorite food? salad (yessss!)
15. What makes you proud of your mom? give you some candy (?)
16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Melissa
17. What do you and your mom do together? take a picture
18. How are you and your mom the same? we're 3 1/2
19. How are you and your mom different? our cheeks, they are big 
20. How do you know your mom loves you? a heart

Anniversary weekend in Ft. Worth

Aaron & I celebrated 7 years of marriage this past weekend.  We got to spend two nights (kid-free) in downtown Ft. Worth.  Thanks MOM!  I was so excited to eat 5 meals with my husband where we could actually talk & enjoy our food.   

We could have done a better job of taking pics of where we actually ate, but instead you'll just get the self taken photos in the hotel!

BEFORE we went to Razzoo's & Four Day Weekend on Friday night.

So what does a couple do when their children aren't around to take pictures of?  Well, of course, they take pics of each other!  Don't laugh ;)

Strike a pose 

Stud

The above 2 pics were actually taken at the Water Gardens.  The weather was perfect to spend outdoors that day.

BEFORE going out to eat at Cantina Laredo on Saturday night.

Thank you, Aaron, for a great relaxing weekend!  

As I look back at our last 7 years of being married, I feel like we've learned a lot about each other this past year.  We've also learned how to be a couple again instead of just Mommy & Daddy.  I think that's important!  When our kids get older & move out - I want to feel like I know my husband.   Here's to the next 7 years!

Midlothian Fall Festival

A couple of weekends ago we went to the Midlothian Fall Festival with some friends from our church.  The pictures uploaded out of order - sorry :(

If you zoom in & look at Sophie's face you'll see she's a little scared of this big slide!

Climbing up the ladder.  This was one of those big inflatable obstacle courses.

Pony ride :)

In the wooden playhouse.

Sophie & Cali.  I watched Cali when she was only a couple months old.  I remember when Sophie & Cali would just sit in their bouncy seats & look at each other.  :(

Ok, so I know it looks like we didn't take our other children.  For some reason we only took pictures of Sophie.  Bad parents :(

Just one reason why I LOVE my husband!

I was 1 out of  about 10 other family members that caught the nasty stomach bug after we were all together this past Sunday.  I was feeling pretty yucky by the time Aaron got home from work on Tuesday.  That evening Aaron took all the kids outside with him to clean the boat while I took a bath.  He stayed home with me on Wednesday so I could rest & get better!  He took care of the kids all day for me.  It sure did the trick! I'm feeling 100% better today!  I have a wonderful husband - just thought I'd brag a little!  :)

OK - here's where my picture would be - the server isn't working or something :(

Just picture it - Aaron cleaning, Max in his exersaucer, Libby in her highchair eating (what's new), & Sophie helping :)

This is too funny not to post

Ok, I'm going to try to give you a play by play....

I put Libby down for a nap & heard her in there fussing.  She normally goes right to sleep & she was also yelling a little.  So I went in there to check on her & this is what I found.  I was laughing so hard but had to grab the camera first!!

 

front view:

 back view:

So at the end of nap time I heard her yelling again saying "Nooooooooo!"  I went to check on her & this is what I found!  I was cracking up again (but had to grab the camera first)!!

This time she was calling it her hat!  

She played with her "hat" on for about 10 more minutes!!

I hope this gave you a good laugh on this rainy Wednesday!!  :)

Good Friends & the Zoo!

We took a last minute trip to the zoo in mid September (yes, I'm behind on blogging - what else is new?  ;)  Our good friend, Candace, and her daughter, Lola, asked us to go to the zoo.  Since we love the zoo, we were excited about going.

Here's Sophie & Lola by the merry go round.

Peeking at the animals

Sophie was hesitant at first to touch this

Good friends

Candace (37 weeks pregnant) & Lola.  She's definitely the cutest pregnant person!  :)

Sophie wanted to pose on this - but didn't look very excited?!?!

Aaron carrying Libby in the Ergo.  

She loved this thing - she was very calm & relaxed on her daddy's back!

Sophie

Libby's a big girl now - can you believe it?!?!

Melissa & Sophie

Guess who got tired at the end of the trip?  

Yep, you can even use the Ergo with Sophie-sized kids.

Cute