The Cunningham Family: Around Here: Week 11 2025

{March 9th-15th}

Carly & Elliot during guitar lessons

My dad & his foster pup

Chore lists

Read below for my tip on bathroom cleaning with chronic pain

Elyssa's three month flowers from Logan

"Guard well your spare moments.

They are like uncut diamonds.

Discard them and their value will never be known.

Improve them and they will become the

brightest gems in a useful life."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Suffering... a migraine when I woke up Sunday, but taking a pill and carrying on, because this house ain't gonna clean itself. I cleaned the kitchen and also made more sourdough. Been on a kick lately! I also got a lot of laundry done and waterproofed Carly's new shoes as well as mine.

Hating... Daylight savings. I wish we would just do away with it in Washington state like they have in Arizona.

Walking... 25 minutes on the treadmill in an effort to get rid of stress and improve my sleep.

Deep cleaning... the boys' bathroom, which was both super disgusting and super satisfying. It looked amazing when I was done! A little hint if you too suffer from chronic pain or lower back issues, or if cleaning the shower just sucks for you- use one of those toilet scrubbers from Clorox and use it to scrub the walls. A little rinse when you're done and voila! Clean shower!

Picking... up our second packet of work for Carly to do school from home for the week. This time, like last time, she cried, but this time was way worse. She misses her teacher, her friends, and her routine. Her sweet crying made the teachers who peeked in our window to say hello also tear up... Everyone is just doing so well given all the changes.

Learning... that Carly's school will not be reopening this year. It opened in 2021, the year Carly started kindergarten, and there have been issues pretty much nonstop. This year it all came to a head, and we have to solve it. So the school will remain closed until at least fall of 2025.
In the aftermath of learning the school will be closed, we learned that they will be separating grades to be put at different locations throughout the district. Carly's new school is the farthest from her original school. I am nervous, but incredibly grateful for Carly's teacher this year, who is so comforting and takes care of her students like they are each her own.

This separation of the classes to four different campuses will make subbing with Carly challenging. How can I get her to school on time while at the same time on another campus across the city, preparing for a day with a different grade of students. Sigh.

Watching... The Whale. Damn. It was a deeply sad and moving movie. If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. I was surprised that it touched on some of my church stuff and I really identified with his binge eating as well.

Going... to the doctor and leaving Carly with a friend since she didn't have school this week.

Hitting... Jazzercise twice this week. One of the days we had a substitute instructor and oh my goodness it was a hard workout! Whew!

Going... to bed early a few nights this week as I am needing more sleep regularly. It's just so hard to go to bed when the kids finally are in bed and the house is quiet. But I can feel that I'm needing more rest.

Getting... four blog posts published this week which feels great. I hate being so behind! (I know, I know. I'm a broken record.)

Running... errands and hitting the car wash, Rite Aid, and Winco for grocery shopping with Carly. I am so grateful for groceries, but not grateful for the sass of my children when they say we have "nothing" to eat at home. We always have something! It's just not something super convenient or easy.

Missing... an appt for Logan because of my stupid brain. My fibromyalgia brain fog (AKA Fibro Fog) is so bad lately, I just completely blew his appointment. He was so upset.

Watching... The Boxcar Children animated movie which was fine, but hanging with Carly was fun. She picked out treats while we were grocery shopping and set them all up on a plate in the cutest little formation. She's amazing. After watching some of the movie and eating some snacks, I dozed off for a little nap, and it was so cozy and lovely.

Knowing... that I need Carly to practice guitar more during the week, between visits, but struggling to make her do so.

Baking... more sourdough and loving the smell of it baking.

Loving... Carly's Toca World creations lately. She made one of our family, one of our dogs and one of her and Elliot during guitar lessons.

Celebrating... three months as a couple for Logan and his girlfriend Elyssa. They are so cute and I'm so happy for them.

Posting... gratitude/See The Good posts on social media everyday in March to focus on all the good around me. I have been feeling so downtrodden and overwhelmed since Trump took office that I need this opportunity to notice the nice things going on around me that I have to be grateful for.

Attending... an open house for Carly at her new school (still with her same teachers and class), a great opportunity for her to see the school, the playground, and many of her friends before their first day back next week.

Feeling... proud of Jack for expanding his car detailing business with business cards and a giant magnetic applique for his truck that advertises his business.

Letting... the twins miss school Friday since it was a half day. Wyatt chose to go to school and I was so proud of him!

Suffering... a terrible migraine Friday afternoon that had me sitting in the car for Carly's gymnastics lesson. Thankfully I know she's in good hands during her time at the gym. I also received a phone call from my mom during that time, letting me know that she and my dad are taking care of their friends' German Shepherd for a couple of weeks. She is so cute and it makes my heart happy for my dad. My love of German Shepherds is from him. He had one before I was born, two more as I was growing up, and loves my dogs when he comes to visit.

Hosting... a sleepover for Wyatt this weekend and it made me so happy for him. He's never been quite as social as the twins, so I always worry a bit more, but I don't think I need to. He's doing great.

Reading... Pure by Linda Kay Klein (about the purity movement of the 1990's) and The Cartographers, a book about map makers and experts that I chose as my book for book club. So far, I'm really liking it!

Enjoying... the best Saturday and blogging my little heart out. As much as I hate being behind, I also know I never want to give up my weekly blog updates because it makes me so happy to look back over the week, sort through the pictures, and share my life on here, even if it's just for my own pleasure.

Making... pizza for movie night Saturday, and it turned out so delicious! I also made no-bake cookies with my Grandma Pansy's recipe, which thrilled the kids. It's always nice to do something different. We usually just have chocolate chip cookies.

Calling... Grandma because making her cookies made me think of her. It was so nice to catch up after not talking for a while. I really need to be more consistent with phone calls, but that, like everything, takes a back seat when life is crazy.

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