December 31st..............

So, in roughly 37 minutes we will say goodbye to 2009 and HELLO 2010!!!!

It's been an amazing year for us

Brendan started 8th grade, Whitlee Jane started Kindergarten, Brendan got his heart broken for the first time and Whitlee decided she wanted to bottle her farts so that daddy could enjoy them when he got home from work :)

Blogging will continue and my word for the year is BREATHE.................just breathe..............it's gonna ROCK!!!!!!

Seriously.....2 hours down and we are half way!!! SANTA ROCKS!!!!!

November 30th REALLY!!!!

The past 3 days are nothing much more than a bluuuuuur :)

Had an AMAZING birthday ~ So happy to have gotten together with my brother and his wife!! We tried out a new Japanese restraunt in Federal Way! It reminded me of something my Step-mom would have LOVED!!!! It was nice and quiet and just the way I needed it to be!

Thanksgiving was DELISH!!! Ate more than I should but doesn't everyone :) Got some work done -- prepped for this past weekend!!!

Worked at the BF all day on Friday (crazy Black Friday shoppers :)) and all day on Saturday -- then I taught 2 classes yesterday (Sunday) - The super hot shower I took last night was AWESOME!!!!

Today, Laundry, dishes, maybe lunch with an amazing cousin :)....oh, and hiding Christmas Presents!! I swear these kiddos of mine get smarter each passing day (or maybe I am just getting older :))

Bring on DECEMBER!!!!

Friend found........

So, Been having a Baaaaaaad week -- bad is just a term...maybe stressed...maybe sad...just overall icky........that's it icky....

So, Been having an icky week ~~ Different little things when stacked together makes me well, icky...

Have you ever met a person - someone who upon meeting them said to yourself "Hey, I can see this person as a life-long close friend"...the kind of person who you don't have to see or talk to every day butyou know is always there! The kind of person who just appears at random places (like the grocery store) when you just need them to be there - you need to see a face that just makes you feel like no matter what it is going to be OK!!!

I was at the BF yesterday doing my thing -- my mind was elsewhere -- it is a difficult time of the year for me. I'm teaching this ornament I look up and there is Peter....Peter my buddy from college....Peter...I see him maybe once a year or 18 months -- he will just appear in the strangest places -- just when I need someone to randomly say -- Chin up sparky! Literally is a split second of time with his goofy Peter smile he turned it around -- I'm not feeling so icky -- Even though I know the next few weeks are going to be as tough as they are....as they have been...as they will always be....I am working every chance I get to keep busy -- and I will make it through the next few weeks.........it will work!!! :)


Kids are amazing as always I'd expect nothing less :)

New Moon is starting in 10 minutes!!!!!

Today is..........

going to be a GREAT day!!! Last day of late start -- Brendan is turning in all missing assignments -- I am proud of how he has stepped up and accepted responsiblity - I hope that it will stick -

I am looking forward to seeing New Moon is just a couple of hours :)

I am working hard on some "samples" to show a friend -- she and I are going to have a craft booth at a big craft show -- FUN FUN FUN!!!!

It is a good day!!!

just noticed something...

I hate that my photos become pixelated (is that even a word?) when I have to compress them down to be able to publish on the web.... not a judgement just an observation with an opinion...

No excuses....just life :)

So, seriously....no excuses really just life happening :) When I started this blog post it was October 20th ---- today is actually October 26 :). It has been an entire month since my last lame "post" It was actually just an update from the fair :)

What has been going on at the Cunningham household??? SCHOOL HAS STARTED!!!!!! yes that is right! And, at our house this year 2 Cunningham's went to school............WHAT?!?!?!? Did I type that correctly??? No.....wait.....yes...CRAP! It's true :) Brendan started 8th grade this year - his last as a middle schooler. Next year will be High School ( I am crapping my pants already) - Whitlee Jane my sweet little baby started Kindergarten this year!!! So, both of the kiddos are off -- Here are some recent and by recent I mean from the first day of school on photos.

Brendan's 1st Day of 8th Grade

Our annual tradition of First Day of School Starbucks

Love this shot.....he HATES it!

Brendan

Brendan with no smile..

Brendan laughing at Heather (more about that later)

Brendan and Heather

School started on September 9th. Since Whitlee was in Kindergarten on the first day of school you have a "meeting". This means you get like 45 minutes or so - you bring in your school supplies and get to meet the teacher and see the classroom. They do that so when you arrive for your "first day of school" you don't freak out because everything is new and unfamiliar. Whitlee had a BLAST!! She was familiar with the classroom because we went to visit it during the Welcome Back/Open House BBQ...

She was SO excited because she had found her NAME!!!!

Walking to her "line" the first day -- of course she HAD to bring the teacher flowers :)

She found her name again :)

Because she had a "different" start day than Brendan she was able to have her own "Starbucks" time!!!! She was on cloud nine!!!!

This is what happens once the excitement of your first day has worn off -- you have a tummy of warm lunch and your Mommy made you hold still for more than 30 seconds!!!!

2009 Puyallup Fair
Brendan was explaining to Whitlee that these at one time were REAL animals!! She could understand why people would kill the animals just for the furry part!! (so, now we have one kid who is going to save the enviroment and one kid who will run PETA one day!!)

Whitlee said this is how they made lattes BEFORE Starbucks invented coffee!!!

Brendan couldn't wait for his friend Ben to get to the fair!!

Silly faces!!

Look who was tall enough at 4 years old to ride the "BIG" rides -- We went in circles A LOT!!!

Right after this picture with Patrick was taken Whitlee looked at him and said "My mommy won't let me watch your show --- she says it is STUPID!!!!" There was TOTAL silence for about 10 seconds and then......from somewhere deep inside of Patrick you could hear a faint chuckle :)...True Story!!!

It is hard to see him so grown up!!

:)

He HATES this shot!! I love it :)

Love this shot!

You would never know (I didn't) she had a fever of 102!!! Gotta love the swine flu!!!

Love this shot!!!!

What happened to my shy little boy????

Even I didn't get this excited about Spirit Day in school!!!! (Yes, those are wings!!!)

WHAT.....Smitty's is gone from the fair....saaaaaaaaad!!!!

Today...is a great day!!!!!

3 Hours.......1 mall.......1 paycheck......AND FINALLY 1 pair of shoes!!!!! I need wine!!!!!

At a birthday party!!!! Blacklight bowling!!! FUN FUN FUN!!!!!

Getting ready to shoot a wedding. It's always nice when you walk in and the family cheers because your there!!!

Where is the MOJO??? Got lots to do today......

At the fair with the family!!! It's HOT but kids are having fun!!!!

Hey lady sitting in the booth behind us...if you loud smacking and groaning while you eat wasn't bad enough..your loud phone conversation is making me very mad.

On our way to the Cheesecake Factory for Jeff's birthday dinner.

Currently embracing me inner Buddah

At the library with my kiddos...feeling awesome about who they are...it is a good feeling..very zen!!!!!

Happy 4th of July......be safe

Waiting........waiting......waiting....I hope this movie doesn't suck because I could be sleeping!!!!

On my way to see Transformers 2 with the boys!!!!!!!!!

In exam room.....swab taken.....waiting for doctor.....

On the way back to school....sadly I was unable to shake the 13 year olds and they followed me onto the bus!!!!

Please send wine to the pacific science center ASAP....I will be the one whimpering in the corner!!!

Abort abort....5 7th grade boys + not nearly enough caffinated adult...we barely made it to the bus...short attention spans + girls.....YIKES!!!!

Getting ready to go on the 7th grade fieldtrip!!!!!! How much coffee can I drink!!!

long time no real blog............

OK -- enter the "modern age" Stephanie -- with help (A LOT OF HELP) I figured out how to post to twitter, facebook and this blog all from my cell phone -- ain't technology grand :)

Life has been a series of sporadic less than 140 character text posts :) We have been so busy!!!

Brendan started, played and finished his baseball season :) GO GO GO!!!

Summer vacation is literally just around the corner -- I get the daily countdown from Brendan and then when Whitlee gets up I get the daily countdown until she starts to school!!

Here is a brief look at our May............ It was a good month!!!!

Whitlee and a little photoshoot!! She LOVES that hat!!!!

Whitlee (& Diego) at one of Jeff's Softball games (Alki)

Brendan (and his baseball sweatshirt) at one of Jeff's softball games (It was like 80 degrees and he still wore the sweatshirt!!!)

I see this look A LOT!!!! I call it the "Oh Mom!!!!" look.

A rare teen smile

Whitlee (& Diego) hanging out

Whitlee saying "I AM NOT SLIDING DOWN THIS POLE!!!"

Brendan was my assistant on a photoshoot --

Gotta earn that money for his Washingotn D.C. trip!!!!

Whitlee at one of Brendan's baseball games ~

she can ALWAYS entertain herself!!!

Doing what she does best RUNNING!!!

(that is Rose The LOVE Monkey's arm you see)

Look more leaves!!!

Brendan playing ball!!!

The cotton wood is abundant here right now ~

Check out that piece on Brendan's nose!!!

Brendan getting ready for a throw from the catcher --

sadly, for the runner Brendan GOT HIM OUT!!!!

Whitlee had a Daddy & Daughter date!!!

Go Sounders!!!

Brendan warming up

Brendan making the play

It was a great baseball season -- well, out of 9 games played they won 1 game -- but they worked hard!! The 6th grade doesn't have a team, 7th grade doesn't cut so there was like 15 kids on the team & 8th grade cuts. Brendan started each of the 9 games (yooooooohoooooo!!!!!) and although the structure of the line up was moved around he batted in the upper 1/2 of the line up all season......all in all not bad!!!!

Whitlee is all registered for school and is SUPER EXCITED!!!! I plan to document each step!!! Brendan is looking forward to the summer and being in 8th grade!! I imagine that he will be spending a lot of time with Heather ~ and that is all I am going to say about that!!!!

I think that is it!