Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! We had a long round of sickness hit the household, so our holiday time was different than expected. But we still made some special memories with people we love, and each other, and enjoyed the season of Advent, a season of celebration, a season of rest. Happy Birthday, the one we worship and celebrate!

Three healthy Corrigans traveled to Bellingham to celebrate with my family (I finally got to meet my niece, Millie!! She is a dog, and she is the sweetest thing EVER. Also we have matching hair.). We hosted the Corrigan gathering this year, which felt so good after a long hiatus in hosting large groups! Matching Xmas t shirts, annual baking day with friends, lots of food, lots of games, Max rode his bike in a Christmas parade, the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, Marcus' famous "ding dong dash" neighbor treat deliveries (I'm the getaway driver, and I make a point of peeling out every time we leave a house). 

One of my favorite things this year was that my parents passed down to me a special light up church that my great-grandmother Mio made in a sculpting class. Mio was born in 1901 and I was lucky enough to have a relationship with her until she died in her 90's, when I was a teenager. My grandparents lived well into my adulthood, and I have several special items of theirs too, but this one from Mio is going to top the list for me! Very thankful for this little church I will pull out every Christmas.

Handmade by Mio

Happy Birthday, Me!

I had a great birthday this year. It just felt like one of those "good years" if you know what I mean. As an adult, things can wax and wane LOL, but I just felt very loved this year with decorations, date nights, special gifts, visits from friends, sweet and genuine cards from my kids, phone calls and deliveries. Way to make a girl feel special, people! Thankful for another year to live this one precious life.

Happy Halloween

Halloween fun this year... Max and his buddies dressed in theme (three bananas and a monkey), Marcus enjoyed a party with friends as a Pumpkin Skeleton, Marin's very creative costume as a Plague Doctor Rennaissance era woman, and finally Mom and Dad as "Angels"... get it??? :) We actually went to a costume party this year, hence the effort in our costume game. Oh! I also fulfilled a lifelong desire of handing out full size candy bars. I've arrived!! Look at me, I'm extremely pleased with myself.