Week 35 Around Here {2019}

Our new digs

Cunningham Family :: First Home :: 2016

Cunningham Family :: First Home :: 2019

{So sad to leave our first watermelon!}

{One last tomato harvest!}

Goodbye kitchen...

Goodbye dining room

Wyatt's New Room

Jack & Logan :: 2011 :: Preschool

Starting... Week 35 in our NEW house!  We woke up Saturday morning (8/24) in our new house in our new neighborhood, ready to finish moving the rest of our stuff from the old house.  I am pleased to say that we all slept really good in the new digs, and it has instantly felt like home to us.

Finishing... moving the last of our things and returning the moving truck on Saturday afternoon.  Our kids were the most incredible helpers, making trip after trip from the truck to the house and back.  It felt surreal to walk around our empty house, knowing we would never be back.  It felt good to take a minute to say goodbye, though, and thank the house for all the memories it held for our family.

Cleaning... our old house for the new owner.  I worked really hard along side my friend Shana and we had it shining for her.

Driving... our cats from one house to the other, and hearing their most ridiculous sadness from the backseat.  They cried and cried on the quick drive, and were quite happy to be set free in the new house. They took a few days to fully adjust, but were happy to find the kids' beds at bedtime and seem to have settled, thankfully.

Enjoying... my first shower in days.  I've been working so hard at moving, I honestly couldn't remember the last time I had bathed. (gasp!)  So on Sunday I took the most luxuriously long shower in ages and felt like a totally different person when I emerged.

Grateful... for all the help we had moving.  Josh's parents helped- his mom watched the kids and his dad used his truck to help us move stuff; our nephew helped; his brother helped; so many of my friends helped; and my parents came to help.  While they were here, my dad put together the Ikea dressers they bought for Wyatt and the twins' rooms, and my mom helped me unpack and organize the entire kitchen so we would be ready for school to start (Wednesday)!!  We seriously could not have done all we did without so many helping hands.

Caring... for a very sick Carly Monday night as she woke me up crying.  I went into her room and she held her hands up to me in the dark, saying her teeth were all falling out.  As I turned on the lamp, I realized that what she thought was her teeth falling out, was actually vomit.  Lots and lots of vomit.  So I spent the night in her room with her, helping her throw up in the bowl every few hours.
The following morning she told me that her ears felt funny because a few days ago she had put beads in them.  Sigh. It's always something, right?  We managed to get her in for a same-day appointment and the doctor had a look.  One ear was obviously clear (thank goodness) but we had to flush the other one to make sure.  In the end, there were no longer beads in either ear, but a long afternoon spent at the doctors office telling her (over and over and over again) that we do not put anything in our ears. (Shout out to my friends Crystal and Kara for having the boys while I took Carly to the doctor so I didn't have to take them all with me.  You two are the BEST!)
Carly continued to be sick off and on for three days, but by the end of the week she was finally well.  Hallelujah!

Missing... out on any last minute summer fun because of Carly's sickness.  We had plans to go to the water park one last time, but because of Carly not feeling well, we had to stick close to home instead.  I felt super bad for the boys, but they were really good sports about it for the most part.
Not being able to go play did have one silver lining, and that is that I was able to do all the (million) things required for the boys to start school- figuring out bus routes, new school schedules (both the twins and Wyatt will be at new schools this year), purchasing school supplies, giving fresh haircuts and turning in medical as well as other important forms to the office.  It felt like a LOT.

Attending... Wyatt's Open House to meet his teacher and see his new school.  I think attending that reduced his first day anxiety and I am so glad we had the opportunity to do that before school started.  His teacher is great, loves art and projects (which is right up Wyatt's alley) and also has a husband who is a teacher. :)

Sending... the twins off to their first day of middle school.  I still cannot believe they are 11 and done with elementary school.  It's mind blowing.
Sending... Wyatt off on the bus for the first time.  He asked that I not go with him all the way to the bus stop (that was full of kids) so Carly and I stayed on our corner and just waved at his bus when it drove by.  A tiny part of me may have been sad... but honestly, mostly I am just crazy proud of how far this kid has come.  In kindergarten the counselor had to PEEL him off me, screaming and crying, as I walked briskly away, knowing that was the best thing I could do for him.  It was HARD.  So having him be so independent and confident now is the biggest blessing for my mama heart.
I ended up having to pick Logan up early from school because he wasn't feeling well (he caught what Carly had) but otherwise, everyone's first day went really well.

Relishing... the quiet of one child on Wednesday morning when only Carly was home and all her brothers were (finally) at school.  I blogged and then unpacked, as we are still (slowly, but surely) settling into the house.  I have missed having quiet moments to myself, and am very much looking forward to a slower pace around here now that the boys are all in school again.

Doing... too much on Thursday (with Logan home sick) and ending the day very grouchy.  I was overworked and overtired and the kids seemed extra needy, and it was just a very, very bad combo.  I was snappy and crabby and desperately needed some sleep.  Once I got the kids down, I took a bath, which helped a lot, and then I went to bed early.

Celebrating... Friday when all three boys were at school all day long and Carly and I had the day to ourselves.  We started the morning with fresh haircuts (we both cut our hair to our chin) at the "salon" Carly will tell you.  I absolutely LOVE Carly's haircut and am really happy with mine as well.  It was time for something fresh and I feel great.

Picking... up a trumpet for Jack for band after school Friday.  I am in a little bit of denial about the fact that he's in band and we are all going to have to listen to him practice playing the trumpet all year long... but I think that's okay.  I can just take things one day at a time right now.  Perhaps that is for the best.  ;)

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Week 32 Around Here {2019}

{August 8, 2003}

{August 8, 2019}

Go Wyatt!!!!

Reading... Molokai & Maybe You Should Talk To Someone.  Molokai is somewhat slow paced, but in a nice way, and I love the characters.  I've been devouring Maybe You Should Talk To Someone.  If you are at all interested in therapy, counseling or psychology, I highly suggest this one.  It is easily readable, yet very insightful.  I have loved it!

Enjoying... our backyard the last few days, knowing our time here is limited.  Carly has enjoyed playing on the picnic table and I've done lots of reading out there.

Watching... Jack's trip from afar.  He went with my sister and her three kids to Vancouver to visit my parents for a week.  He had the best time with his cousins.  George (our cat) missed him terribly and cried for him often.  It was adorably pathetic. 

Packing... our belongings for our big move, which should happen (if all goes well) on the 24th.  I am really glad to have as much packed as I do this far in advance.  It will make actual moving that much easier when it comes time.

Dealing... with some smoke in the air from a local wild fire.  It's crummy for Wyatt because it means keeping him indoors because of his asthma.  Hopefully our awesome firefighters will get it under control soon and the air quality will improve.

Comparing... our gorgeous hibiscus plant on Year 3 with Year 1.  It has grown so much! And it's bloom time has grown from four short weeks to more than eight weeks.

Swimming... with our fun crew at the pool a bunch of times.  Carly has turned into quite the swimmer, and asks Josh over and over to throw her into the air.  She's such a thrill seeker! Just like the twins were/are.
One night we got to swim in the evening when our orthodontist rented out the pool for the night and we were able to go, just the boys and me, to try swimming in the dark.  It was so much fun!!
That night Wyatt passed the swim test and then, after many long minutes of encouragement from the entire pool on the diving board, he jumped into the deep end.  I don't know if I have ever cheered so loudly in my life.  I was so proud of him!  His courage was amazing.
The twins spent their time over at the Flow Rider surfing.  Jack has gotten really good in a very short amount of time, and Logan's just behind him, having missed a few days at the pool.  Their athletic ability always astounds me.

Breaking... up fights between my kids as we count down the weeks until school starts again.  I think we are all a bit anxious for the move, for new schools (the twins start middle school and Wyatt will move to a new elementary school) and for all the changes headed our way, and it's showing up for the boys in the form or much (!) shorter tempers. Whoo! Lord, give me strength!

Feeling... proud of Carly as she has learned to make her bed, and won't let anyone help her.  When she's done, she takes my hand and leads me into her room to show me.  It's so adorable.  Also feeling proud of Logan and Jack as they have really gotten breakfast cooking under their belt.  Sausage, bacon and ham, as well as eggs are their forte, and I'm so grateful.  Their ability to cook lightens my load tremendously. 

Loving... how Wyatt reads to Carly at bedtime while they wait for me to meet them in there and tuck them in.  They'll take a few books into their room and he will read to her, then when I come in, they each choose one they want me to read.  Then I sing to them and get them cozy for sleep.  Wyatt has this baby voice he uses when he's reading to Carly and it is just as sweet as molasses.  I can hardly stand it.

Celebrating... our 16 year wedding anniversary with a lunch date thanks to Josh's mom (who had Carly & Wyatt) and my bestie Shana (who had the twins).  We had the nicest time, just talking about our future, the new house and what life will look like for us in the fall.  Time is funny- In some ways it feels like we just got married yesterday, but on the other hand, I can hardly remember life as newlyweds.  Mostly I just know that there's no one else I'd rather do life with. 

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