Back to school

It's back to school season! In the month of September, we launched almost everyone into something new. Kyle returned back to the office after 5.5 years of working from home, post-pandemic. Max started 10th grade, Marcus started 8th grade, Maddie launched off as a freshman into her dorm at UO and Marin moved into an apartment with friends as a sophomore at OSU. We had a goodbye dinner at our favorite sushi restaurant, moved the girls in on two different weekends, and wrapped up the frenzy with a back-to-school campfire with the boys to launch into this new season of life at home. Good thing fall is my absolutely favorite season, because we are IN TRANSITION, y'all :)

End of summer fun

The month of August is a whole lot of busy, between club soccer and the high school soccer season ramping up! But, we snuck in one last beach trip with the kids. Enjoyed the blue skies, the aquarium of Seaside, the warm white sand... A beautiful day on the Oregon coast. No more beautiful place on earth! And we cannot forget Winnie's 7th birthday :) Happy birthday to the cutest dog ever to live.

A Texas goodbye

Kyle's parents are moving to Texas! We spent many moments in the last few months "saying good bye" to our Northwest grandparents, as they transition to becoming our Texas grandparents. The parents and five siblings had a weekend together to go through the house, share memories... The extended family had one last backyard BBQ. We also had several memorials in the family, which as difficult as those were, gave us more time as an EXTENDED extended family as well. Things will be very different without the Vancouver homestead as a home base for everyone around the country, but we trust the future will be bright as we learn new traditions and enjoy each other in new ways. God bless you Nana and Poppy! We love you!

Happy 18th birthday to Madeline

Happy 18th milestone birthday to Maddie! She had a great day with birthday cereal, chocolate cake, presents, affirmations, her favorite dinner (beef bok choy salad), and time being spoiled by her loved ones. I passed down to her a special ring that I have been saving. As a birthing gift to me when Maddie was born, Kyle gave me a peridot birthstone ring in honor of our August baby girl. We were able to give her this ring, as a special momento. Maddie is a beauty, full of grace and love, spunk and sass, and we just adore her. Love you Maddie girl!

In other Maddie news, I had a blanket made for her out of all her childhood t-shirts, and now I'm crying. Babygirl leaves soon for college, and I'm going to be okay (I'm good at self pep talks!)

Fun in the woods! Esteban got to join too, and see how the Corrigans roll up in nature with target shooting plans :)

Maddie had her UO overnight orientation! She asked me to go along as her Plus One, and I happily trekked all around campus (by myself! Parents and students are not together) taking selfies and pics of her cool new campus! I'm a Duck Mom now!