The Cunningham Chronicles

Family Party

2012-02-15T14:51:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Valentine's Day "family-style" by having a pizza party, complete with presents and cupcakes! Logan loved helping me make the mix and scoop it into adorable Diego paper holders. (Thanks, Aunt Kelly!)

We decorated the dining room with lovey-dovey accessories, including four balloons that Logan helped pick out. One for each person in our family...including one for our bun-in-the-oven!

Logan loved opening up his presents from Nana and Pap-Pap, especially a "Dancing M&M". You can tell they know what kids like!

On a side note, Logan learned an important lesson in "What Women Want". Brent came home with flowers for me earlier that day. When Logan saw how happy and surprised I was, he decided to reenact the scene again and again. He would take the flowers from me and bring them in another room. Then he'd prance out, yelling "Surprise!", hand the flowers to me and say "For you, Mommy". And he'd wait for a hug and a kiss!

So glad he's taking chivalry lessons from his Daddy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T09:06:00.000-05:00

Nope.

Uh, uh.

Nah.

Almost.

YES!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Ode to a Diaper

2012-02-13T14:07:00.000-05:00

I feared that this day would never come,

but now the challenge is finally done.

Mickey diapers will be no more,

Not even a Stage 5 or 4.

Practicing outside helped to teach his brain,

and now my Logan is is officially trained!

So farewell, diapers, that cost an arm and leg,

I need a short break, please I beg!

I've got 7 more months 'till I see you once more

When we become a family of four.

Looking for Snowmen

2012-02-13T13:35:00.001-05:00

This is Detective Logan.

He found this magnifying glass in the garage.

We went outside because it was lightly snowing. And obviously he needed it to "look for nose-mem" (snowmen).

Apparently he thinks that if it snows, then snowmen will magically appear. And in this case, since the snow wasn't sticking, he was searching for ones that were particularly small.

Even though he didn't find any, we had fun sticking out our tongues and catching snowflakes.

And chasing each other around outside.

P.S. I think I spoke to soon about the "Spring" thing. We are suppose to get more wintry mix tonight!

Tear

2012-02-13T13:12:00.000-05:00

Look at my sweet, big boy riding the mall choo-choo all by himself for the first time! Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but I might have shed a tear while he exuberantly shouted "Hi, Mommy!" and waved as he chugged by.

He clutched his ticket the whole time!

Beans Beans Beans

2012-02-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

Water, sand, rice, cornstarch, and beans are all inexpensive, interesting materials that your toddler can explore with at home. It may seem like Logan is just playing, but he is actually doing a lot of learning too!

This is the first time we've used beans. Before, it was too much of a choking hazard and his attention span with the activity would not warrant the mess it would make. But now that he is almost 3, I am able to do a lot more "Pre-school" activities with him. The first experiment we did was to fill cookie cutter shaped numbers full of beans. Then we practiced saying and counting the numbers.

FYI: The cookie cutters are from Williams-Sonoma

We also used different kitchen tools to practice measuring, experiment with volume, sort beans, and learn about cause and effect.

I threw in a little treasure hunt too. We had fun burying and searching for the Toy Story characters!

Nothing is more rewarding to me than watching a child learn. That is one of the reasons I earned my degree in teaching in the first place! Did you know that I specialized in working with children Pre-k to 2nd grade? Now that Logan is getting older, I love being able to use my knowledge to provide him with developmentally appropriate activities at home :)

Two Days, Same Walk

2012-02-07T00:30:00.000-05:00

I don't think I can deny it anymore. Spring has Sprung. And it just turned February! It does not seem like we even had a winter this year. For the past two days, Logan and I have been soaking up the 65 degree weather by taking walks to Chickamauga Dam. It is a three mile, round trip section of a super-long, paved trail system that goes along the Tennessee River. Logan loves to ride in his jogging stroller and talk about everything he sees as we walk. And I love to get some exercise in...hopefully something I will be able to keep up throughout my pregnancy!

Sunday

Monday

Groundhog Day

2012-02-02T15:16:00.003-05:00

This morning, we had a gaggle of boys over for a playdate at our house: 3 toddlers, 2 infants, and 3 chatty Mama's. Quiet is a word that would not describe it.

These boys are destined to be friends. Or at least be a part of an organized sport together. Between the three of us, we could have a football team or something. Especially if I have a boy. If I have a girl, well, she will have her pick!

The "big kids" played in the yard a lot. With it being 65 degrees and sunny, I think it is safe to say that Winter is over, regardless of what the groundhog says.

And I played "stalk-a-razzi" with the babies inside. I totally caught John off guard, click!

Sweet baby Owen was wide awake for me and already looks so different from last week! P.S. Stop growing!

It makes me feel so happy to see Logan playing with his friends!

Another Week in Phone Pics

2012-01-31T15:41:00.001-05:00

The aftermath of a rainy day.

My friend's sweet newborn,

baby Owen.

Sporting the new hat Miss Courtney made.

Logan and Simon snacking at the park.

Mooing at the cow at the zoo.

Totally rocking the upside down goggles while riding his bike!

Flying a kite with Daddy on a windy day.

Surprise!

2012-01-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

A family of three, we will be no more,

because in October, we'll add number four!

We are PREGNANT!!!!!

An Interview

2012-01-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

Mommy and Daddy: Logan! There is a baby growing in Mommy's tummy!

Logan: Mmmmm Hmmmm!

Mommy and Daddy: Do you want to be a big brother?

Logan: Oooooooooh, Yes.

Mommy and Daddy: Do you want it to be a boy or a girl?

Logan: A baby.

Videos

2012-01-24T13:43:00.001-05:00

I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but Logan is a little speech delayed. He has always been on the low end of the developmental benchmarks for expressive language. And even though he understands everything we are saying, sometimes it is hard to understand him. He struggles to form certain letter sounds and does not have a very big vocabulary. That being said, we were OVER THE MOON when just a few days ago, he said his name correctly for the first time.

He has also started counting. He can do it sequentially to 10, but when I shot this video, he was getting stuck on 8!

Problem Solved

2012-01-19T13:55:00.002-05:00

Lately, Logan has been wanting to take toys to bed at night. So we finally came up with a solution to this problem....just put the toys to bed too. Nighty-night, Finn!

Atlanta Visit

2012-01-17T18:31:00.001-05:00

On MLK Day, Logan and I took a trip to Atlanta. We spent most of the day visiting the Andersons.

And I even got some Q.T. with Aunt Gwen, who had driven over from Alabama the day before. Love her.

The boys were so excited to see each other and spent some time "working" on battery-less power cars.

As well as play games on all of our Iphones. Oh Lord. Logan will never know phones that are not touch screen.

P.S. I don't remember how I ever lived without one.

That afternoon, we headed over to Joel and Julie's for some more cousin time with the 4 E's. We were also planning on celebrating Pop's birthday on Tuesday with a family party. But unfortunately, a few of the Goodrow kids came down with a virus and Logan and I had to leave the house to avoid the germs :( We ended up meeting up with Pop, Ma, and Grandma Great at Panera for an impromptu lunch. Happy Birthday, Dad! You are the most wonderful man!

Science Museum

2012-01-15T22:37:00.001-05:00

This Sunday, my boys and I took a field trip to the Tellus Science Museum near Cartersville, Georgia. My expectations were pretty low because this place was kinda in the middle of nowhere, but it blew me away!

There was giant machinery outside as well as a fully functioning, solar house.

Inside, we found the biggest collection of dinosaur skeletons I've ever seen.

There was also full size replica of the Wright Brother's plane and lots of other early models of transportation.

There were signs posted everywhere that said "DO NOT CLIMB ON PLATFORM". I could see why...the place was jammed with kids running amok and there were plenty of tempting things to climb into. Poor Logan had a hard time complying with the rules and had to take several time-outs with Mommy. But I had to chuckle to myself, a lot of the stuff did look like rides in Chuck-e-Cheese. Just look at the helicopter!

When we walked through the mineral exhibit, I had to wipe the drool off Brent's face. There were massive displays of rocks, some of which he'd never seen before. It was worth the whole trip just so he could study these impressive collections.

I call this one "Rockular Shelloblob".

Their small kids area did not hold a candle to the Creative Discovery Museum,

but Logan liked panning for gold in their mining section.

All in all, visiting Tellus was worth the drive.

Artist

2012-01-15T22:07:00.001-05:00

Logan and I frequently do art projects at home, which are appropriately, a globby, fun mess. But last week, I saw a major jump in his fine motor skills. Just look at the clarity of these faces!

I am one proud Mama. I can't believe he will be three next month!

Random Pictures

2012-01-11T12:42:00.002-05:00

Here are some random pics I've snapped with my new Iphone this week.

Daddy and Logan doing a puzzle.

Digging for dinosaur bones at the museum.

Sound asleep in the cart at Costco.

Cheesing it up for the reverse photo function on my phone. (He can see himself on the screen). P.S. I've got about 168 pictures of this same shot thanks to "Button Man"

Gawking at the zoo addition construction site. We stared at the trucks more than the animals that day.

Fishing Park

2012-01-05T18:31:00.005-05:00

This warm winter has it's perks. Logan and I spent the afternoon at the park and he was all smiles!

One of his favorite books right now is "Hattie and the Fox". It is about a fox hiding in the bushes, who is trying to catch a hen. Logan spent about 30 minutes acting out the story...he was the fox and I was Hattie. I am sure passerby's thought I was crazy!

He's Got the Santa Thing Down-Pat

2012-01-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

New Years Eve Hike

2012-01-01T14:05:00.002-05:00

What better way to spend the last day of the year?

Mom and Dad babysat Logan while Brent and I hiked Whiteside Mountain in NC.

The weather was cold, but it was a crystal clear day. And we were excited to find that they recently re-roped the loop trail around the top. Otherwise, we would have never attempted to walk the narrow, icy path!

The views were breathtaking as we took in the glory of God's creations. And as we hiked, we talked about all the life changes that happened in 2011 and made lists of what we want to accomplish next year.

Goodbye 2011!!

Christmas Take Two

2011-12-30T18:38:00.004-05:00

On Tuesday afternoon, we headed over to North Carolina to have Christmas with Ma and Pop. When Logan walked in the front door, he found a battery powered motorcycle under the tree!

He also got the Polar Express train,

and Brent got a beer holster, complete with a "tool" bottle opener.

An extra present arrived on Wednesday morning, in the form of a dusting of snow!

My parents house is literally in the middle of nowhere, but we made some time to visit a few different places. One night, we went to "The Ugly Dog" in Highlands to see their favorite bluegrass jam band, "Nitro Grass".

We also drove down to Franklin to visit the "Fun Factory", which lived up to it's name.

And in between all these excursions, we ate like bears in autumn, drank lots of wine, went to see "We Bought a Zoo", and Brent helped Dad build a shed in the backyard. See next post...

It takes a village...

2011-12-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

to raise a storage shed.

Christmas

2011-12-26T16:12:00.004-05:00

Nana and Pap-Pap came to visit this Christmas!

We all celebrated the holiday at our Home Sweet Rental House in Chattanooga. We took Logan to see the Muppet movie, played Wii games at home, and ate a lot of delicious food!

Christmas morning was so much fun! Logan was squealing and trembling with excitement as he opened all his presents.

I think his favorite gifts were a talking "Finn McMissal" and a big fire truck. Randy and Karen had a diamond Christmas...where they both gave each other new wedding rings. Check out Randy's new bling!

We spent a lot of the morning putting together Logan's new things.

And enjoyed some down time watching old timey shows.

Thanks for the visit Nana and Pap-Pap! Can't wait to see you again soon!

First Movie

2011-12-16T17:56:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we were happy to have a visit from "Ma and Pop". They came for a little pre-Christmas celebrating and Logan was SO excited to see them. He jabbered their ears off for a solid 24 hours! It poured rain the whole time they were here, so we spent a lot of time at the mall and took Logan to see his first movie at a theater, "Puss-in-Boots".

He was a total champ, especially since the movie gets off to a really slow start. But between 4 adults, popcorn, candy, and a glow stick, he was sufficiently entertained.

We also took a family ride on the mall choo choo,

And chomped it up at Big River Grill.

We love you, Ma and Pop and can't wait to see you again soon!

Spa Night In

2011-12-15T00:13:00.003-05:00

Tonight I hosted a "Spa Shower" for my expecting friend, Sara. We gabbed and clucked like a group of mother hens while sipping on wine, munching snacks, sharing birth stories, and making a sugar scrub for some at-home pampering. It was so nice to visit with other moms and celebrate Sara's last few weeks of pregnancy. We will all be anxiously awaiting the birth Baby #2!

Downtown Christmas Parade

2011-12-10T20:07:00.002-05:00

The cold didn't stop us from enjoying the Chattanooga Christmas Parade! Logan was mesmerized by the police motorcycles, huge tractor trailers, and loud marching bands as they passed by. We will definitely make this a family tradition!

Gymastics Time

2011-12-09T13:45:00.004-05:00

Oh, Gymnastics Center. Dear, dear, Gymnastics Center.

Where have you been all my life?

Your padded walls, your bouncy floor, your squishy foam pit...

is just my, ahem, Logan's dream come true.

Apparently this gem of a place is open for free-range toddler play every Friday morning. Where have I been?

Logan and Simon bounced around like pinballs for a solid two hours. There were times where all I could see was a whirlwind of child shouting my name 6,432 times. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Gook, I Did It!!" And to think I was worried that this place would be too overwhelming for him.

After several trips to the water fountain, one chasing incident, and promises to return, I carried a very tired, kicking and screaming toddler to the car.

"Mommy!!! Go back! More play!!!"

Don't worry, Son. We will. You can count on it.

It wasn't easy,

2011-12-09T13:40:00.002-05:00

but we finally got decent family picture!

Zoo Nights of Lights

2011-12-09T13:33:00.002-05:00

December is flying by! We have been busy with Christmas shopping, cookie making, and lots of playdates. Last night our family went to a special holiday lights event at the zoo. I didn't get many pictures because it was dark and coooooold, but Logan loved it. He said "Ho, Ho, Ho" to every Santa he saw, which was quite a few. We toured all the animal displays and if he didn't see them out, he made sure to tell us that they were going "Ni-night with their mommy and daddy".

Love is a...

2011-11-29T15:08:00.002-05:00

cherub cheeked,

scrunch nosed,

doodlebug.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T09:49:00.005-05:00

What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word "Thanksgiving"? I immediately think FAMILY. These people are the core of my world. They help define who I am. They share experiences, time, and unconditional love and support. And even though we are all individuals with separate lives, we still stay connected, no matter where we are.

This Thanksgiving we celebrated family at Mom and Dad's house, along with Grandma Great and the whole Goodrow Gang. We ate food like elephants and spent time outside,

Made music,

Watched movies,

Celebrated Mom's birthday,

And did lots of kids crafts.

And although the visit would not be defined as relaxing, it was definitely FUN!

The Fab 5

2011-11-28T09:19:00.010-05:00

Five grandchildren.

One roof.

Five days.

It could have been a recipe for disaster. But these babies were wonderful. They bonded into a pack and followed each other around like they were attached with bungee cords. Here are some pics of just them.

Gingerbread Cookie Contest

2011-11-28T08:23:00.005-05:00

Ok, I'll admit.

Each year, this contest gets more and more, ahem, elaborate.

But this treasured family tradition is one of my favorite things.

We quietly work in a creative, candy and frosting frenzy.

Vying for the coveted titles of "Best Male, Best Female, and Other"

This year's winners are as follows:

Man- Conrad Murry
Woman-Lady Gaga in her meat dress
Other-Happy rental house
Kid Design- Tie between Moustache Man and Pregnant Lady

Rainy Day Craft Project

2011-11-15T11:43:00.001-05:00

Cuz-Giving 2011

2011-11-13T19:50:00.005-05:00

How sweet is this?

All these darling boys, together for our second annual Cuz-Giving.

We almost had to cancel because Andy had surgery on his hand the day we came down from Chattanooga. But that man is a saint...he suffered through the pain and we carried on as planned. What a trooper!

Melissa and I did several craft projects with the kids during our stay. The "babies" painted choo-choo window art.

And we also made Pilgrim Hat desserts.

But I preferred our cast-iron skillet apple pie. Mmmm-HMM!

In between cooking and eating, the boys played basketball, rolled around in the front yard, and drove cars on top of the coffee table. You know, the usual stuff. Melissa and I even managed to squeeze in a little Mom-alone time at a local cafe.

It was sad to say goodbye, but I know there will always be next year!

Stone Mountain Photo Shoot

2011-11-13T19:30:00.000-05:00

Here is the first half of pictures I took for the Andersons during our visit. What a beautiful family!!

Sarah's Wedding

2011-11-13T18:45:00.004-05:00

Sarah is a good friend and my former college roommate. We met each other our freshman year when we were next door neighbors in the dorms at UGA. We had a shared love of ballroom dancing and a penchant for drama. Twelve years later, we have seen each other through many different phases of our lives. But she continues to be the same loyal, eccentric, and loving friend.

On 11-11-11, we had the pleasure of attending her wedding in Atlanta. She was a radiant bride...the most beautiful I have ever seen her.

The ceremony was very touching and filled with blessings from God. Her groom, Hyun, was glowing with love for her.

After they said their "I Do's", we headed over to the reception. We filled up on incredibly delicious, authentic Korean food..although Brent struggled a bit with the chop sticks!

Congrats to the newlywed's!

I'm ashamed to say...

2011-11-10T18:50:00.002-05:00

...that this is not the first time Logan has eaten butter out of the fridge while I'm not looking.

What a delicious after dinner snack choice, son. How about next time you try some grapes instead?

Saturday Night

2011-11-06T09:24:00.002-05:00

The days of going out to bars, watching football, and staying out late are long gone.

Now we prefer the company of our 2 year old, cook at home, and throw the pigskin around the living room.

Touchdown!!!

Beautiful Gram

2011-11-03T06:31:00.002-04:00

Logan and I just got back from a short trip to Atlanta. We wanted to visit Gram and see a few other friends in the area. She was radiant, as usual!

We were able to catch up with each other while Logan watched "Cars" on t.v.

Although every once in a while, he would turn into a dinosaur and Gram would feed him cookies.

I just LOVE her!

Trick or Treat!

2011-10-31T20:44:00.002-04:00

Trick or treating was a huge success! We had planned on just going to a few houses, but Logan loved it so much, we ended up staying out for an hour. The only problem was once he rang the doorbell and the person answered, Logan would try to push past them and walk right in. Since our neighborhood is so gigantic, he rode in the jogger so his little legs would not get tired. It became so routine to get in and out that he insisted on riding...even when we came across houses that were only a few feet apart !

Costume Party

2011-10-31T17:16:00.005-04:00

This morning we had our Mom's Group kid's party. And let me tell you, there were some darn cute costumes.

But I think my favorite was Preggo Karina's shirt. It says "This is my costume. I'm a witch".

Logan was not in a dress up mood, but acted like a Dinosaur, nonetheless.

One of the mom's had a brilliant idea. We could prep the kids for Halloween by doing "mock" trick-or-treating at Sara's. So we went to each door at her house and a mom would give out candy. It was SO cute!

Family Photo Attempt

2011-10-30T17:08:00.004-04:00

Trying to get a family picture with all 3 of us smiling and looking in one direction is hard to do. But I am determined to keep trying!

Logan's First Jack-O-Lantern

2011-10-29T23:15:00.003-04:00

Logan surpised us all this evening and dove right into carving his first pumpkin. Daddy used the sharp knife while he begrugingly settled for helping with a plastic one.

He wouldn't touch the insides with his fingers, but happily scooped out some seeds with a spoon.

He personalized it with a Sharpie marker, which apparently included a whole family picture on the back.

And then we were done! The finished product!

Logan was as proud as a peacock when we lit it up. I have the feeling that we will probably have a whole group of jack-o-lanterns by the time Halloween rolls around!

Halloween Weekend

2011-10-29T22:41:00.003-04:00

This weekend at Mom and Dad's was a leaf looking, fleece wearing, pumpkin carving, football watching, fire making, pie eating, jeep cruising, church going, good time!

Backyard Sunset

2011-10-29T21:39:00.003-04:00

Leaves!

2011-10-27T13:06:00.007-04:00

Don't even think about it!

Big Boy Bike

2011-10-27T12:56:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, a friend passed along her son's old "big boy bike" to us. It took a while for Logan to get the hang of the pedals, but there is no turning back now. He likes to pretend it is a motorcycle and "revs" up the engine ever time he takes off! We went to the park today with Simon to practice his skills.

Halloween Crafts

2011-10-26T15:24:00.004-04:00

Jessica's house is like toddler boy Heaven. She has plenty of space, bins loaded with Thomas trains, and every "Cars" character imaginable. Logan L.O.V.E.S. it there. So was a tough sell trying to convince him to do Halloween crafts instead of loading tractors.

Nonetheless, we carried on with a project we found in Disney's Family Fun magazine called "Jar-o'-lanterns".

First the kids put a masking-tape face on the jar. Then they coat it with orange acrylic paint. After it drys, you peel off the tape and plop a candle in. So cute!

We also decorated pumpkin shaped, homemade cookies. Logan was light on the sprinkles, as you can see.

After the children were in sugar coma's, it gave us mom's some uninterrupted chat time. Maybe we should make cookies at every playdate...

Thanks for being a wonderful hostess, Jess!

Yee Haw!

2011-10-25T13:08:00.003-04:00

"Gook, Mommy...I Wood!"

At the zoo today, Logan pretended to be Woody from Toy Story 3, aka "Stop Choo-Choo". Yee Haw!

Big Foot

2011-10-20T13:57:00.004-04:00

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

Is that an earthquake...or a dinosaur?

No, it's only my gigantic foot child trying out his new shoes.

We went to Stride Rite today and learned he had grown from a size 8 to a 10 in just a few months. Talk about growth spurt! It makes sense because he has been taking 3 hour naps and eating like a horse, but still...a size 10?!? For Logan's age, it is a bit big. Which means he will probably end up taking after Uncle Brian in the height department. And for your information, Uncle Brian is Gigantasaurus.

On a side note, I never ever want to work at Stride Rite. Mostly because trying shoes on a toddler is very similar to wrestling an alligator while a tornado siren goes off in your ear. Or at least it is with Logan.

Nonetheless, we are thrilled with the shoes and very grateful to Ma and Pop for footing the bill.

Ketner's Mill

2011-10-16T17:21:00.005-04:00

CDM Party

2011-10-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight we went to the Creative Discovery Museum's Halloween Bash. It was an after hours party for members. Very exclusive.

Fortunately, we found a Plan B costume for Logan and went with the tried and true, dinosaur hat. And let me tell you, the boy was in character. He roared all the way down the street, much to the amusement of passerby's.

The museum was all decked out for the event. Even the dinosaur skeleton dressed up as a ballerina!

We enjoyed a lot of special activities. There were magicians, animals, and even a pumpkin-launcher!

It was definitely a fun, family, Friday night. We had a ROOOOOARING good time.

I know, I know. I just had to say it.

Monkey FAIL

2011-10-14T20:27:00.004-04:00

No amount of candy could bribe Logan into wearing his monkey costume. This was suppose to be our Halloween card photo shoot, but you can see how it turned out. All 15 seconds of it.

I tried everything, but he was totally stressed out by the the built-in feet and kept shrieking "OFF! OFF!!!!!!" Meanwhile, the lawn maintenance crew were giving me dirty looks, probably thinking, "Why are you torturing that child!?"

Off to find a Plan B.

Staycation

2011-10-11T13:11:00.003-04:00

For the first time ever, Logan stayed the weekend with his Ma and Pop, "just because". Brent and I took advantage of the alone time and declared a "Staycation" at home. We saturated ourselves with every anti-toddler activity we could think of and explored the adult side of Chattanooga. We ate dinner at a fancy restaurant and saw a movie. We shopped for hours at the mall and and toured the Hunter Museum of Art. We held hands, took leisurely strolls, and slept in late.

One morning, I surprised Brent with a "geology" hike on Signal Mountain. I had discovered a place called "Mushroom Rock" when I was doing some internet research and I could not wait to look for it.

And look for it we did. It took us almost 2 hours to get there, even though the trail is only suppose to be a mile long. The problem is the path isn't marked and constantly splits into different routes. But the good news is that since it's so hard to get to, not many people go there.

It was worth the hike. This bizarre rock is just hanging out in the middle of the woods. And I don't care how long it's been sitting there...it still made me nervous when Brent stood underneath it! He could not resist giving me a geology history lesson :)

Another night, we re-lived the college days and stayed out till 2:30 a.m with some of of our friends.

We started off the evening at a Brewhouse and then went Cosmic Bowling. We spent the rest of the night at a raucous club called the "Electric Cowboy", which definitely lives up to it's name.

By the time Sunday rolled around, I was rested, relaxed, and a proud owner of a new king-sized bed! It felt so nice to have a break from my mom duties and just spend time being a wife.

Thank you so much to Mom and Dad for making this weekend possible!

Home Sweet Rental Projects

2011-10-03T17:48:00.003-04:00

A friend once told me that your home is your office when you are a SAHM (stay-at-home-mom). In fact, you never leave and you never clock out. That being said, I wanted to decorate the "office" for fall and do some other cost efficient projects to spruce it up.

Here's my new fall planter full of snapdragons and mums.

And my sunshiney yellow pansies that welcome you as you drive by.

Logan has been a big help as my handsome assistant for the past few days too.

Would you believe it if I told you he knocked over the scarecrow right after I took this shot?

These are my newly recovered kitchen chairs. I used indoor-outdoor fabric so they would be easier to clean. And I'd like to give a special shout out to my hubby for upholstering them for me. You are the best. Kiss Kiss.

I also put out my fall decor and re-arranged some wall art in the dining room.

Now it's time to kick-back, relax,

and enjoy the backyard.

RiverRocks Chattanooga

2011-10-01T21:46:00.005-04:00

We spent Saturday night whooping it up at RiverRocks. It is a 10 day festival put on by the city that celebrates everything "Outdoors". This weekend was the kickoff celebration and we took advantage of all the free entertainment with our friends, the Apgar Family.

The boys played dinosaurs, chased, poked, and bothered each other like only toddlers can.

Once dusk started to fall, we headed over to the other side of the river for the hot air balloon show.

Brent was propelled to instant stardom when he was asked to help assist a balloon company. For over an hour, he worked to set it up, keep it grounded, and put it away.

All the while, Logan screamed like a banshee: "Daddy...NOOOOO, Daddy back, Daddy hurt, DAAADDDDEEEEEE"! He was terrified of the balloons as they expanded. And even more hysterical that Daddy was right underneath the action!

This is "The One".

After it was over, the first thing Brent said is "We are selling the boat and I am taking up ballooning". Like all you need is another hobby.

Lets stick with one thing at a time.

So Happy It's Fall!

2011-09-30T14:33:00.001-04:00

Cast Iron Cook-Off

2011-09-25T15:16:00.007-04:00

I had serious camera envy today.

In between acting like a screaming fan over this guy, Chef Alton Brown.

If you've never heard of him, he has a Food Network Show called "Good Eats". He was in town to host a Cast Iron Cook-off at the Chattanooga Farmers Market. There were six contenders vying for the coveted 1st place spot.

This is the reigning champ.

Don't you think his cowboy hat just screams "bad ass"?

I had squished my way up to the front and was able to get some close-up action shots. Thanks to my 2x telephoto lens and a few elbow jabs.

Mr. Brown zipped around the kitchens and spoke as fast as he walked. Too bad the acoustics in the pavilion reduced his voice to "Whaa, waa, waaa, whaaaaa".

But it didn't matter. I was too star struck to care.

I had to leave before the taste-testing began. But I can tell you one thing...I was rooting for the "cowboy".

Phone Pics

2011-09-25T10:05:00.003-04:00

Hanging with the "Mom's of Tots" girls in the butterfly exhibit at the Aquarium.

Morning bike ride at Greenway Farms

Bitty Baby Bible Study at St. Jude's Catholic Church

Painting with Simon at our house

Bad dreams = napping on Mommy

County Fair

2011-09-24T14:29:00.004-04:00

What a wonderful morning we had at the County Fair. The air was as crisp as caramel apples and filled with smells of cotton candy and funnel cakes. Just boarding the bus shuttle was enough to send Logan into a frenzy of excitement.

He was one. happy. boy.

There were all sorts of things to do. I think my favorite was petting a 6 week old baby calf. Logan could not help but give it a big hug!

He got as close as he could to all the animals...in fact he would kneel down and get right in their face. He was intrigued by the way they ate their food and slurped up water. His eyes lit up with delight every time he heard a "neigh, oink, or cluck" and I realized it is probably the first time he's heard the up-close real sounds of most of these animals.

We got to see show-horses, prize winning bovines, snorty pigs, and baby chickens.

Just when I thought Logan would burst with joy, a tractor pulled Choo-Choo rolled on by. After we boarded, not only was he grinning from ear to ear, but also waving and shouting HI!!!!! to everyone we passed. Which was quite a lot of people, I have to say.

Afterwards, we looked at craft booths, played in the kid area, and toured the car show.

We took a break on the grass to eat funnel cakes and dance to music.

Have I told you that Fall is my favorite season?

Especially because of days like today.

"Ma" and "Pop's" House

2011-09-19T10:32:00.005-04:00

Sigh. I love coming here. It's hard to ever leave the backyard.

Which really isn't a problem because there is nothing else around. Well, except for some cows. But they are not much for company.

We had a wonderfully relaxing visit here this weekend. We had several campfires outside, cooked yummy food, watched football, and went to church in Highlands.
Logan played a lot outside and went crazy over giving stuffed Buzz and Woody dolls rides on the "tractor".

Thanks for a great time, Mom and Dad! Can't wait to be with you again soon!

Lunch Date

2011-09-13T13:02:00.003-04:00

Logan calls ice cream "pa-peece"

Smoothies are cold and sweet, so they must be "pa-peece" too.

I won't tell him if you don't.

Goodrow Gang Takes Chattanooga

2011-09-11T16:55:00.004-04:00

On a last minute whim, the Goodrow Family decided to pay us a visit in Chattanooga for the weekend. The weather and company could not have been more perfect....and we packed in as many activities as we could! On Friday we went listened to bluegrass at the Nightfall Concert Series. Then on Saturday, we toured Rock City, swam in the Goodrow's hotel pool, watched football, and played in our yard. Sunday morning we ate doughnuts at our house and spent the rest of the day riding our boat on Chickamauga Lake.

My hands were so tied up playing with and racing after children, I only took out my camera when the kids were corralled in the yard. They were extra lovey and cousinly adorable with each other. Exhibit A:

It was so sad to see them go, but I'm hoping we can visit again soon.

Gosh, it's quiet in the house now.

P.S. Having four kids is a lot of work.

P.P.S. I think my brother and sister-in-law have a special place in heaven.

Rainy Day Repurpose

2011-09-06T17:03:00.003-04:00

In the past 2 days, Tropical Storm Lee has dumped over 8 inches of rain in our area. The public schools are closed, power is out, trees are down, and areas are flooded. Fortunately, we have remained pretty much untouched at our house, albeit a bunch of debris on our road.

The biggest problem at the Cunningham house has been a little cabin fever. So this afternoon, I dug through the garage and found an easel that used to be in my classroom.

I don't know why I didn't think to take this thing out sooner! Logan stayed busy for quite a while drawing dinosaurs and adjusting his sock eraser.

Now I've got to go buy some more markers for the poor child...the only color we had was green!

The End of an Era

2011-09-05T13:24:00.003-04:00

Today marks the end of an era. After 2 years, 6 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days, Logan's beloved "Dass" is gone. It was a sad, sad day.

I mulled over how I was going to present the change to him. There are so many clever ideas... like putting them in balloons and letting them float away, or mailing it to a infant relative. But I figured that the path of least resistance would be to simply tell him that they were lost.

When nap time came around, we looked in all the usual spots that I keep them. I told them that they were gone and we'd have to go to sleep without them. After a 20 minute fit and Brent and I both laying with him in bed, he drifted off to sleep.

I know, I know, I've been putting off the inevitable. But they were just so darn convenient. On the other hand, he was starting to use them as a chew toy and I refuse to buy any more.

So goodbye, my dear friend. I think I loved you almost as much as Logan. You will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

Ode to a Dass

Red, yellow, green and blue,
Oh sweet Dass, how I'll miss you.

Hours of quiet, you did provide,
Especially on long car rides.

A symbol of childhood, you are no more.
Now you're just a big eyesore.

Thank you for all the good time's we've had,
But it's off to the trash can. I know, it's sad.

Pawley's Island

2011-09-03T18:19:00.008-04:00

I hope you are wearing your reading glasses, because the next 6 posts are all about our trip to the South Carolina Coast. First, let me give a huge shout out to Brent's cousins Pat and Bob, who made this trip possible by lending us their condo in Pawley's Island. Your generosity was overwhelming! Second, I'd like to wish my in-law's a very Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary! Thank you for inviting us to celebrate with you at the beach. We had a great weather and a wonderful week, filled with lots of memories.

We had a little time for everything during our stay. "Nan" and "Pop-Pop" showered Logan with toys, attention, and grandparently love, which gave Brent and I an opportunity to spend some time alone. I cooked at home some nights and we ate out for others. We tanned on the beach and splashed in the calm waters of the inter-coastal waterway. We took a day trip to Myrtle Beach, had long naps, and read sandy magazines. Can you hear me sighing?

Family Evening Alone

2011-09-03T18:12:00.003-04:00

Brookgreen Botanical Gardens

2011-09-03T18:01:00.003-04:00

Did Logan want to ride in his own stroller?

Of course not! He insisted on being pushed around in this rattly metal one instead. No wonder all the animals were "hiding" at the zoo!

Beach Black and Whites

2011-09-03T17:50:00.003-04:00

Day at Myrtle Beach

2011-09-03T17:35:00.006-04:00

We took a day trip to Myrtle Beach on Thursday. It is only about a 30 minute drive from Pawley's Island. Nana and Pap-Pap spoiled us with lots of activities while we were there! We went on the boardwalk, visited the Ripley's Museum, played arcade games, rode a giant Ferris wheel, and ate at a restaurant overlooking the beach. It was a great outing!

Happy that this thing is air conditioned!

View from the top of the wheel

We were ready for a drink afterwards...

Logan was pretty crabby on the boardwalk...note his paci and a lollypop in each hand!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2011-09-03T17:28:00.002-04:00

Dear Daddy,

Thank you for giving me your time and endless patience when we flew our kites on the beach. You are a wonderful teacher. I love you,

Logan

"I did it!"

Couch Potato Tuesday

2011-08-23T12:59:00.003-04:00

Logan and I were couch potatoes this morning and watched a double feature: Tangled and Toy Story 3. We have been on-the-go so much lately, it was nice to be lazy!

Race Ya!

2011-08-22T13:39:00.001-04:00

Indian Boundary

2011-08-21T19:28:00.014-04:00

When Brent and I were first dating, we went camping all the time. I was freshly, head over heels, doe-eyed in love with him. I didn't care that we slept on the ground in an old backpacking tent or ate cold, stale doughnuts for breakfast.

Now that we've gotten a little older and wiser, I think my standards have increased.

Perhaps by 200%.

Now I don't leave home without my plush-top aero bed and a cooler full of food. Brent considers it a car camping downgrade and likes to poke fun at me. But I see it as upgrading from a mediocre 1 star trip, to a 5 star experience. And thus far, I've never heard him complain about the food.

This weekend we tried out a new campground called "Indian Boundary", which is off the famous Cherohala Skyway in TN. I'd have to say, this place did not disappoint.

The water in the lake is as clear as glass and there is a well maintained, four mile trail that goes around it. There is a beach area, a general store, and plenty of space between campsites.

Having a 2 1/2 year old with us is anything but relaxing, but Logan is a complete joy to bring camping. He was constantly busy playing with sticks, riding his bike, doing puzzles, and reading books.

We swam in the lake,

(showing me the "yuck", aka. dirt, on his hand)

went on family bike rides,

And took naps in the hammock.

On Saturday afternoon, we took a short trip to visit Bald River Falls.

We ended up staying longer than we planned because Logan was having the time of his life throwing rocks in the water.

The bigger, the better.

It was sad to pack up and come home today. And even sadder to look at the mountain of smoke scented, dirty laundry, laying on my dining room floor. But if I close my eyes it will disappear and I can imagine this again.

Ahhhhhhhh.

Miracle Worker

2011-08-15T08:49:00.002-04:00

When Logan and I were in Atlanta last week, I took him to the best haircut place. It is just a rinky-dink salon that occupies a space right next to a gas station. However, the ladies there are truly miracle workers. Somehow, Miss Kristin consistently gives Logan a perfect "do", even though he is usually shaking his head around and/or crying. This time around, he sat in the chair all by himself...a first. Although it took a lolly pop in both hands for it to work!

I have yet to find a place in Chattanooga that can compare.

Before

After

Best Daddy

2011-08-15T08:48:00.000-04:00

Everett's Baptism

2011-08-14T15:20:00.008-04:00

Logan and I spent last week in Atlanta, visiting friends. It felt so rejuvenating to be with the people we've missed! It also helped give me a sense of self boost...lately I've been in a rut of feeling like "just a mom". When I saw all my friends, it reminded me that I have lots of other pieces that are a part of me too.

We really utilized every minute we were down there. I was able to squeeze in time with Danielle and Colten, Cousin Melissa and her kids, my UGA ladies Sheena and Erica, the Goodrow family, Grandma, and my dear friend, Chris, who was on a teaching break from the country of Georgia. In between, Logan and I swam at the pool, got hair cuts, ate at Fellini's, bought new shoes and visited with "Ma and Pop". On Friday, Brent came down from Chattanooga to join us after work. We went on a date to Maggiannos and and saw the "Planet of the Apes" movie. Whew!

All of this lead up to Sunday morning, when we celebrated sweet Baby Everett's Baptism.

It was a joyful occasion, filled with the love of Jesus.

After the mass, we took pictures and enjoyed a doughnut reception.

Little Red Hen

2011-08-08T15:52:00.005-04:00

I did not plant the crops.

I did not water the garden.

I did not tend the weeds.

But I got to harvest these delicious veggies!

Lucky for me, my neighbors were out of town and gave us "free reign" of their garden during their vacation. So Logan and I hightailed it over there and brought back a delicious mix of veggies.

Logan loved taste-testing everything he picked. Much to my surprise, he liked banana peppers the best. Just like Daddy!

Although I think eggplant came in a close second...

He tucked it under his chin and "hugged" it for quite a while. Seriously, I'm not making it up.

And yes, I know he needs a haircut. This week...I promise!

Now I'm off to the kitchen to cook these up!

Riverfront Nights

2011-08-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we went to see an Allman Brothers Cover Band downtown. It was overcast and 80 degrees...a perfect summer evening if you compare it to our streak of 100+ weather!

We met up with our friends, the Apgar Family. Logan and Simon had fun running in circles, climbing the stairs, and sliding down grassy hills on their bum's! Thank goodness I remembered to bring Gatorade!

Letter Detective

2011-08-05T13:15:00.005-04:00

Logan is crazy about letters. In fact, he calls them out wherever we go. From a teacher perspective, it is exciting because he is recognizing "environmental print" at a very young age. From a mom perspective, it is fun to watch him get all puffed up with pride over his discoveries.

I call him my little "letter detective" and lately he's been spotting them in the most obscure places. Today we were in the car on our way to the grocery store when I hear him excitedly announce, "S....R....S....C....U....R...T...". Now I looked all around and I could not figure out what he was looking at or what the heck he was spelling!

When we stopped at a light, I turned around and this is what he showed me:

A teeny, tiny, airbag stamp, no bigger than my thumb!

It was just above his car seat "right here".

All I can say is wow. Well, and I guess I don't need to worry about any vision problems either.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

2011-08-01T20:15:00.008-04:00

Mississippi Mud Brownies. The title definitely doesn't do justice to these decadent squares of pure, chocolaty goodness.

Thank you, oh, thank you, Southern Living Magazine, for the awesome recipe. As long as these are around, I will never be skinny again.

Brownies:

4 oz unsweetened chocolate
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup all purpose flour

1. Melt chocolate and butter in a stovetop pan. Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour. Spread batter in 13 x 9 pan.
2. Bake at 35o for 30 min. or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
3. Prepare Chocolate frosting. Pour over warm brownies and let cool for at least 1 hour.

Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 16 oz package powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring constantly, 4-5 min. or until butter melts. Remove from heat and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed with a mixer until smooth.

Mississippi Mud:

Sprinkle warm brownies with 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans and 3 cups of mini-marshmallows. Pour frosting over mixture. Let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.

Right Hand Man

2011-08-01T18:16:00.004-04:00

If you need a helper, Logan's your guy. Especially when it comes to working on cars. I think he gets that from the Morris side of the family...no, for real, he does. So when Brent went outside this afternoon to change his oil, Logan was hot on his heels.

It melted my heart to see him "working" on Grandpap's old oil changing-roller thingy. Although he went to Heaven before Logan was born, I felt like he was there beside him. Probably saying, "Looks like you've got some Morris in your blood".

He would be so proud.

Mommy = NO

2011-08-01T07:49:00.003-04:00

Last night, Logan was in the car with Brent on their way to Lowes. Here is an excerpt of their conversation:

Daddy: What does the dinosaur say?

Logan: Roooooaaaar

Daddy: What does the jeep say?

Logan: Beeeeeeep

Daddy: What does the dog say?

Logan: Ruuuufffff

Daddy: What does Daddy say?

Logan: Daddy

Daddy: What does Mommy say?

Logan: No, no, no no!

Thanks, Logan. Way to make me feel like a tyrant.

Car Buddies

2011-07-24T18:51:00.001-04:00

All Aboard The "SS Agoya"

2011-07-24T18:48:00.009-04:00

About a month ago, Brent and I purchased a used boat. Because we live so close to the Tennessee River, various lakes, and love being outdoors, it just made sense for our family. Boats are pretty darn expensive, so we purchased a fixer-upper and have saved money by updating it ourselves. Most recently, we rebuilt/reupholstered all the seats (with one left to go). Thank goodness I have such a handy husband who knows how to do all this stuff!

So we decided to name our boat the "SS Agoya" after Logan's favorite nonsense word. And here is a picture of it right before we took it out on the water this weekend.

If you look close, you can see Ethan and Logan at the helm!

Uncle Joel and Ethan came up for the weekend for some fun in the sun. It was their first visit to Chattanooga and I think they got a more-than-sufficient "water tour" of the area.

Saturday and Sunday went a little like this:

1. Drive Fast

2. Float on Noodles

(while acting redneck)

3. Ride the Tube

4. Eat Sugary Snacks

5. Repeat

Caution: Crazy boat fun may result in extreme sleepiness.

Missionary Ridge Express

2011-07-20T16:22:00.004-04:00

Ma and Pop came up to visit us from Atlanta today! In the morning, we took Logan to the TN Valley Railroad Museum for a hour-long train ride. The hundred year old steam-engine chugged us to the Missionary Ridge station, where we saw the engine rotate on a turn table before we headed back the way we came. We had an awesome time!

Afterwards, Logan stayed with Pop at home while Ma and I shopped! We love you guys!

Week In Review

2011-07-18T09:07:00.003-04:00

Here are some phone pics of last week's activities.

Nature craft playdate at Eli's house

Riding the carousel at the zoo

Splashing at Warner Park

Helping Mommy make homemade granola

Taking a drink break at the Jump Zone

Fell asleep one night while kicking the blinds

About to jump to Daddy off the back of our boat.

My, What Large Teeth You Have!

2011-07-18T08:56:00.002-04:00

Last week, I took Logan to the Animatronic Dinosaur Exhibit at the zoo. It was held in a separate building. And as you approach it, you can hear the increasing sounds of snarling and gnashing of teeth. When you enter in the doorway, you are greeted by a pitch black room with moving, life-like, 20 feet tall dinosaurs. Who are chomping at your face.

How did Logan react?

Well, he waltzed in that room like he was walking on a rainbow. He brightly exclaimed "Dinosaur, teeth, big, again!" All while the ticketing employee stood with her jaw dropped to the ground. She told me that she had NEVER seen a 2 year old...let alone any child cross the threshold to the exhibit without clinging to their parent and screaming they wanted to leave.

Not my child. We spent 30 minutes in that place studying each beast. After we were done, I bought him a commemorative foam hat, which he wore around the zoo the rest of the day!

8:30 a.m.

2011-07-12T13:13:00.005-04:00

It may not look like 8:30 a.m., but it is! Because the weather is so hot, it is the only time of day when being outside is slightly bearable.

Expressions

2011-07-11T11:42:00.001-04:00

Nana On Wheels

2011-07-10T19:12:00.003-04:00

Look at all these presents! Is it someone's birthday?

No, it is a Logan "care package" on wheels!

Brent spent the weekend in West Virginia helping his dad re-roof their house. And when he left, Nana and Pap-pap loaded him up with goodies for their only grandson.

Even though they are far away, Karen and Randy always do a really good job staying connected with him. Logan had a great time "reading" the cards and opening the Dinosaur/Toy Story themed goodies and clothes.

Thank you, Nana and Pap-Pap! You always know how to buy just the right thing!

Bob The Builder

2011-07-08T12:21:00.004-04:00

Today I took Logan to the "Bob The Builder" traveling exhibit at the Creative Discovery Museum. He was in heaven...playing with all the tools and exploring the different sections. I'm glad we got there as soon as it opened. With all the summer tourists, it got crowded fast!

The Three Musketeers

2011-07-08T12:19:00.003-04:00

You can tell we are in the woods! I looked out the front door and was greeted by 3 raccoons this morning!

Watch Out!

2011-07-06T11:25:00.000-04:00

There are dinosaurs on the loose!

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T19:35:00.006-04:00

This 4th of July, we went to visit "Ma and Pop" in the mountains. We spent time relaxing, picking blueberries from their garden, and listening to bluegrass at a concert in Cashiers, NC. On Sunday, we went to a BBQ Dinner in Sky Valley and then stayed to watch the fireworks.

Logan was very busy, as usual. He helped feed ducks in the pond...in between taking bites of the stale bread.

He also played with plastic dinosaur figures (his new obsession). See how he has them set up on Grandpa's knee?

Even Daddy got in on the "roaring" action.

And although the fireworks were very beautiful (Logan kept saying "Big! Again!" "I don't see it!" after each boom), we were mostly entertained by his sweaty boy-ness behavior. My favorite part of the evening was watching him run barefoot in large circles around our picnic blanket, pretending to fly, with his coat tied around his neck like a cape.

Unfortunately, I forgot to charge my camera battery and I wasn't able to get many pictures of the evening. But it was a great celebration, nonetheless. God Bless America!

Sleeping Beauty

2011-06-27T13:43:00.001-04:00

So cozy in his new big boy bed!

Two Perspectives

2011-06-24T11:37:00.002-04:00

To a normal person, this might look like a vicious dinosaur, stealthily hiding under the pillow. Just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim.

But if you ask Logan, he'll tell you that he was just putting the dinosaur "ni-night".

Sweet Dreams.

Black Thumb No More

2011-06-24T10:17:00.005-04:00

One thing I just love about our house is the yard. But it had been really neglected before we moved in.. The bushes outside had not been trimmed in 2 years. But with some elbow grease, a few trips to Lowes, and a lot of gas for the lawnmower, it has been transformed.

Brent used to call me "Black Thumb" because I could not keep things alive. Well, just look at me now! Here are two of my recent projects:

Peeze

2011-06-24T10:02:00.003-04:00

This is Peeze. Peeze the Penguin. I bought him about a month ago when we were at Barnes and Noble. Logan found him in the kiddie section and had a vice grip on him that would rival the strength of the World's Strongest Man. So instead of causing World War III and making him put it back, I caved and bought it.

Before now, Logan has had zero interest in stuffed animals. But I guess Peeze is the exception. You can usually find Peeze happily crammed under Logan's chubby arm during bedtime. And he is a great companion during frequent "Land Before Time" showings. Most recently, Peeze has taken to answering questions for Logan. It kinda goes something like this:

Me: "Logan, do you want to go to the grocery store?"

Logan: (blank stare)

Me: "Peez, do you want to go with Mommy to the grocery store?"

Peeze: (nods his head vigorously up and down)

Me: "Ok, Peeze. Tell Logan he needs to go put on his shoes."

Peeze: "Ah-kay!"

Thanks for being so helpful, Peeze. You're a lifesaver.