Meet Me In St. Louie!

The first leg of our vacation was in St. Louis.  We usually spend the last leg in St. Louie, but not this time.  We needed to do some major shopping for Miss Gracie so we started out here.  Plus, it was the closest stop and after a 19 hour drive we were definitely ready for the rest.

We had to take Gracie to the Arch.  Matt has never been up in the Arch and I hadn’t been since I was a kid.  Let me tell you, I remembered it being a lot bigger!  But either way Gracie had fun.  We made it a whole event by eating down on Laclede’s Landing at Old Spaghetti Factory and taking the metro to and from the Arch.  Gracie wasn’t in the mood for pictures and it was really drizzly so I didn’t take a lot of pictures, but I loved these.  The sights of home make that long drive totally worth it!

Off to Greenfield tomorrow!  More Christmas fun on the way!

Traveling.

Wow, the things I have discovered in the last 48 hours.  Saturday morning we took off for our 2 week vacation home for the holidays.  I keep playing the song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” through my mind, thinking is this going to go as planned?  Well, we have had some good and bad things happen to us in the last 48 hours.  Which I am going to share, as I am laying in bed with 2 exhausted people, in St. Louis, good ole St. Louie!

1. Having something to do every night of the week the week of vacation, does not bode well for packing and preparation of a 2+ week vacation.
2. Thursday night football will not be put on hold to pack.  It must be watched in the recline position at all times.  Non-negotiable. 
3. Taking a 4 year old and 2 poodles is not going to be easy breezy no matter how “go with the flow” you are.
4. Explaining to a 4 year old why dogs get to sit in Mommy’s lap because they don’t have to be buckled in is not a good enough answer.  They must be buckled in because it is not fair to them.
5. Really tall towers (or in this case a casino/hotel) is where princesses live.
6. Having a hotel right next to the casino where people will go in and out will cause your dog to bark repeatedly…through the entire night which will leave for two grumpy people with little sleep.
7. Having your 4 year old scream from the back “the radio is too loud, turn it down!” will result in a response from the Daddy, “we couldn’t turn you down when you were loud earlier.”

All in all it was a great trip with no catastrophes!  We are safe and sound.  I am ready to enjoy some much deserved time with family for the holidays!  I will try to post when I can!  So Merry Christmas!

Meeshka, Mooshka, Mickey Mouse!

It was one great Mickey Mouse Saturday last weekend for Gracie’s party.  But let me tell you, it was not easy pulling this party together.  Originally, Matt and I had decided not to through Gracie a big party since we are going on Christmas vacation, but Gracie demanded, ok, she asked politely for a party.  So I thought, might as well, we can pull this together.  So, I was going to rent a jumping balloon (remember we live in the desert and we can do that in December) and have pizza.  Well, a winter storm decided to make it’s way into our area that weekend.  So we had to change venues.  I am sorry, but the thought of having 10 kids in my house around Christmas time with all of my beautiful ornaments from Germany, no thanks!  So we moved it over to Peter Piper Pizza (think Chucky Cheese without the dancing and singing.)  Gracie had a blast!  It was all she wanted and more.  Before I get to the birthday party pictures, let me show you the decorations I did.  I would have done a lot more if we had it at home, but I was happy with the little I did for the table.

 

A Mickey Mouse party is not complete without ears!!!!!!

I really didn’t want to do the typical party favors (I have like a million of those plastic rings all over the playroom.)  So I found this idea on Pinterest where you give them a homemade playdoh kit!  I loved it and so did the parents.

And the best part:  Cake and Cupcakes thanks to Miss Jamie!

Then there was a little girl who loved her party!

I thought I was the one who was sad she is 4?

Her big gift was her bike and she loved it!  She actually saw her bike a couple of weeks before her birthday but I fibbed and told her it was for another girl.  She still believes the story! ha ha!  It was a great party.  One I know she will remember for a long time!  Now it is time to prepare for vacation, not looking forward to 19 hour drive!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Gracie

Gracie,

Happy 4th Birthday to you!  I am still in awe that you are already 4.  It seems just yesterday you were a little baby laying in my arms giving me a smile.  Now you are little girl jumping into my arms with the same big smile, but it is a lot harder to hold you since you have gotten so big. 

Some of your favorites things include Mickey Mouse and friends, your puppies, books, anything crafty, and school.  You love to play house and school.  I can usually find you singing and dancing all around the house.

You bring so much love and joy into our lives. You make us laugh constantly and you are full of life. There isn’t much you miss and you have to be involved in everything that is going on.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, I cannot wait to see you grow into the sweet young lady I know you will be!  Mommy and Daddy love you very much, thank you for making our lives complete!

Thankfulness & Memories

qIt was such a nice weekend!  We spent the whole weekend just hanging out and being sickly.  Matt is the only one who really got sick, but I had a migraine and I think Gracie is coming down with her first cold of the season (just in time for her birthday of course!).  Other then that, it was a great Thanksgiving weekend. 

Thanksgiving was great.  I am so thankful for my little family and the friends we have, near and far.  I do miss family this time of year, but we have great friends to celebrate the holidays with here in El Paso.  We had the Elliott’s over for some yummy food.  We had all the trimmings that we enjoyed in our lounge clothes.  We don’t do anything fancy here.  Quite honestly, you need the extra room after all of that turkey!  I amazingly didn’t pick up the camera a whole lot except to take some pictures for Jamie of Dean in his cute onsie she made.  How cute is he!

I didn’t get any of Gracie, she was not in the picture taking mood. 

That evening, I by myself, we set up the tree!  I love setting up the tree.  It is a walk down memory lane for me.  Every year since we have been married, we have bought at least one ornament.  So each ornament has a small little story.  Like this one, I admit, I am being a bit sentimental since Gracie  is going to be 4 in just one week, but I love this ornament.

Our weekend in Paris back in 2007 has been one of my favorite memories.  Right before we left, I thought I was pregnant.  I mean I just KNEW I was pregnant, but the test was negative.  I was at my lowest of lows.  I really wanted a baby and I felt so bad that I couldn’t conceive.  I was extremely upset, but Matt told me that God has a plan and we just needed to focus on our weekend and take in Paris.  All weekend, I just threw all the negative energy out and had a blast.  We toured all over Paris with the Allen’s and ate hamburgers, oh wait, that was just me. ha!  Little did I know, I was pregnant, it was just too early to tell!  So when I put this ornament on the tree, I relived that carefree attitude I had the weekend, just for a moment.  Now I get to enjoy hanging ornaments with Gracie each year as she gets bigger and bigger.  I still can’t believe she is going to be four!!!!

Happy Holidays from us to you!  I just love this time of year, even if my baby keeps growing up faster and faster!

I’m baaaaack!

I took a hiatus.  Plain and simple.  I am not going into details but I felt like I needed a break from the internet.  As you know, Matt has been in the field which means that I have been a single parent.  I enjoy having special one on one time with my girl.  BUT it just isn’t the same without Daddy.  I have realized that when Matt is gone,  I do not have a moment of quiet time from the time I wake up around 5 am until I go to bed anywhere between 9-10.  There were days that I drove the 5 minutes from my office to Gracie’s school because I knew that was going to be the only moment of peace and quiet of the day.  Work has been hectic too.  It has just been draining.   Either way, I have had enough going on that I felt like I had to take a break.  So how about a recap of the last 3 weeks!!!

Halloween

This year we did our typical Boo @ the Zoo and trick or treating. Gracie was way more into all of it this year. We headed over to the Elliott’s side of the town so Gracie could see her cute little handsome boy baby Dean. We didn’t stay out long at all. Gracie wanted to be Fancy Nancy and she was quite fancy!

I love this picture, I swear they had a conversation.  The seal looked right at her and stayed there for at least 30 seconds!

Gracie’s class dressed up as the pumpkins, they were so cute!  They went from class to class getting candy…we are still eating on it!

End of the Soccer Season

At the beginning of the month, Gracie had her last game of the season.  She has officially started tumbling which is way more her speed!  All of the kids got a trophy and a pizza party.  It was so cute.  Here is a picture of Gracie and her trophy along with her coach.  You an see she was so excited about tumbling, she had tumbling before her game and refused to take off her tumbling outfit! ha ha!

Randomness

Other then those big things, Gracie and I lead a relatively quiet 3 weeks!  Here is a few cute pictures I have taken from baking to the tree lighting events on post!  Which reminds me, Gracie chipped her first tooth on Friday at the tree lighting.  She was jumping off a ledge and must have lost her footing after landing that lead to her teeth clomping together.  She said it still hurts even though it is not loose, so I am going to take her to the dentist this week.  I was so upset…it really is a small chip, but still! 

Well, you are officially caught up with the Cunningham’s!  Just a warning, I probably will be moving the blog in the next few weeks.  I want to make the name something more family oriented.  Toodles until next time!  We are knee deep in Thanksgiving plans, birthday plans (I am still in denial, but I won’t let my denial keep Gracie from having a fabulous Mickey party), and Christmas.  I am still not done with my gift buying and I only have 3 more weeks until we go home!!!!!  It’s CRAZY at the Cunningham’s.

We are still here!

I know, I know, it’s been a long time again.  Honestly, there isn’t much to report, but I do have a new reason why I have posted…I broke the “c” button on my computer and it still isn’t completely fixed but it is useable…to an extent.  Anyway, I have Friday off, so I promise to to update then.  I will also have Gracie’s 4 year pictures to share…yes, I KNOW 4!!!!!!  I will get you all filled, I promise!

Where Did She Go?

There are times when I see a picture or something comes out of Gracie’s mouth that just hits me like a ton of bricks.  She is getting so big.  When did 3 seem like a big girl?  I mean, I know she is going to be 4 in just a little over a month, but seriously, she is still 3. 

Example #1:

I realize that I am not the first mom, nor will I be the last, to be in shock and awe at the ability of time to whiz on by and just like that, BAM!, you have a big little girl.  But come on time, can you just slow down a LITTLE!  I took this picture yesterday after I picked her up from school.  When I saw it on the computer screen, I thought to myself, “Who is this big little girl and where did she come from?” 

Example #2:

I have a brand new obsession.  Pinterest.com.  If you have not gotten over to the website, go now…seriously…ok well wait until you finish reading, but after that GO!  It is full of all sorts of ideas.  My craft folder in my favorites is exploding with ideas.  I came across a craft blog that asked if you wanted to click on infant/toddler ideas or preschool.  Gracie falls into the preschool age now.  Again, can we say CRAZY? 

I feel obligated to say that I am glad she is growing into such a delightful child.  Which is a honest and true statement.  However, and that is a HUGE however, she is just growing to fast.  When will time just slow down a little?  Before I know it, I will be out shopping for prom dresses and getting eyes rolled at me for some corny statement I just said.  Oh my my, I just can’t even think it!  But for now, I am the mom of a beautiful 3 year old that no matter how fast she grows, she will ALWAYS be my baby girl!

Simply Said

 

No matter how big you get, you’ll always be my baby!

 

Whew, What a Week!

I honestly don’t have much to report on our front.  It was yet another crazy week at work (have I mentioned that I am so totally over being short in my office) which lead to a very relaxing weekend.  We did manage to get over to another pumpkin patch with the Elliott’s.  It was SO hot.  Last week when we went it was in the lower 70’s, Saturday lower 90’s.  We didn’t stay to awfully long.  Gracie loved pampering Dean and keeping him occupied.  I honestly don’t know what Gracie is going to do when we or the Elliott’s move.  She is attached to each and every one of them, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.  Since I don’t have a whole lot to share, I will share a few pictures from this weekend.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere

We went to the pumpkin patch this weekend up in Las Cruces.  Matt is going to the field in a couple of weeks and it was NICE out this weekend (it only reached 71 degrees!), so we headed on up.  It was a fabulous time.  They have so much to do at Lyle’s Farms.  There is old fashion tricycles, hula hoops (which Gracie rocked), painting pumpkins, tons of little play areas, slides, hay rides, and more.  Gracie was a happy little girl to say the least.  The pictures are random and in no particular order.

So hard at work, such concentration on her masterpiece!

Gracie rode on her first pony ride.  She absolutely loved it, her pony’s name was Snoopy!

As I have said before, we really don’t get into Halloween in our household.  However, we now have a little girl who loves to play dress up, so we give a little.  Having said that, we did a little project with our feet.  We made ghosts….Gracie decided the ghosts needed clothes, so she drew them some.  Most of them are happy ghosts too…this girl just cracks me up.

We also decorated our pumpkins tonight.  It is early, but like I said Matt leaves for the field and next weekend we have a pretty full weekend.  So we decided to go ahead and carve.  Matt did a great job on the Jessie from Toy Story.

 

And since you can never get enough of 3 year old fashion….check out Gracie and her attitude pose!  She loves her new boots.  Gotta love her!