The Oregon Corrigans: September 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Apple Farm field trip with Max

Max's first-ever field trip!!! I was ecstatic to finally, after much searching, find a sitter for Marcus, so I could chaperone Max's preschool field trip to the Apple Farm. I have so many fond memories of taking my girls on their Apple Farm field trips, and this just added to them. The only difference this time, was the enormous downpour of rain we endured. Sadly they even had to cut the field trip short, we were just that cold and soaked. The rain may have dampened our skin, but it did not dampen my spirits. I love preschool :) It was fun to get to know the other little boys in my group too. Can't wait to start volunteering in October! Love my boy.

Luke, I am your Father...

Friday, September 20, 2013

My Daddy is Awesome

Back to School 2013

Back to school time again! Such an exciting year...

Marin starting 2nd grade, and she was able to get into a 2/3 split class with Ms. Angal. I am ecstatic! I have heard awesome things about the class, teacher, etc...
Madeline starting 1st grade with Mr. Brosnan ~ her first time at school all day and having lunch in the cafeteria! She is in the big time now :) She gets to have the same teacher her sister had last year, and we are sooooo happy about that. He is stellar.
Max starting his first ever year of preschool with Mrs. Meier! Strange for me to see him start as a 4 year old, since he skipped 3 year old preschool due to potty training situations. I feel a bit jolted into reality, realizing this boy needs to be ready to start kindergarten one year from now. YIPES!!! He still runs and jumps into my arms with a big smoochy kiss when I pick him up (in front of the entire class, mind you... I LOVE IT.) - he is loving having his OWN school experience :) I am also astonished at his quick learning. The first day, he could not even trace the letters of his name without me helping him hold the pencil. By day 3, not only could he trace on his own, but he could write his own name, totally by himself! My girls did this much earlier, so I am not saying he is a preschool prodigy. I am more marveling at the sponge-like nature of children when they are ready to learn. AWESOME.

My thoughts and feelings:

I will admit, that first day with Madeline gone all day was kind of a blue day for me. I am used to having more time with her, and it hit me like a load of bricks having her gone that many hours. By day two I was feeling much better. It's always the transitions that are hard! The girls are total school-pros now, and easily navigate school and bus situations with ease. They stick together when one of them needs it, and go their separate ways just as easily. I love to see their togetherness and individuality both show in the school environment.

I am itching to get in their classrooms, help out their amazing teachers, and get to know their classmates & other parents. This momma is so excited for the school year! I even scored one of our favorite babysitters on Wed mornings, so I can leave Marcus in good hands and rotate through my kids classes each month.

I was born to be a school mom!!!

Excited...

The learning face... (we started a tradition with this one last year)

Too cool for school

Mommy photo-bombing in the school hall :)

Heading to the hair salon to get Brother a back-to-school haircut!

Mike Wazowski!!

Fun with Silas

We had a fun couple of days with one of our kid-BFF's staying with us overnight :) Silas, like I've mentioned before, just has a way of fitting with every one of my kids. We had so much fun with him!! First of all, he went on and ON about how much he loved my chicken noodle soup. He even asked for it during snacktime, and seriously made my entire life worth living. Compliments on food from my crew are few and far between, I've learned to live with it... A genuine compliment goes a long way! So, he made my day and I'm adopting him. Also, he and the girls made an elaborate river & dam system in the backyard... I think for a good hour or two, they were completely absorbed in this complicated project and I loved that Silas brought this creativity and adventure to our backyard! He got to come with us to our "Back to School" ice cream social night, and probably decided he wants to continue home-schooling forever. It was so crowded, and when I asked him how he was holding up, he said "this is pretty freaky" :) HA HA HA, I love him.

This is a shot on a different day of all the Bury/Corrigan kids snuggled in watching Peter Pan :) Love these littles!!

A haircut for Elisia Pamela

Madeline loves the special doll my parents gave her last year... This doll has gone through many, many interesting names... I think the current name might be sticking, because it has lasted several months. Her name is Elisia Pamela :) She has been begging me to cut the doll's hair short, so she can have a matching hairdo. Finally I relented, only because Elisia Pamela has the worst tangles known to doll-kind... So, here is the before and after! Turned out pretty great :)

Visiting Maya Joelle Marie & week at Camano

I had just been dying to get my hands on my new niece, Maya Joelle Marie :) My sister delivered this darling little red-head earlier in the summer, and I had to wait a whole four weeks to get up there! Kyle and I made a new plan that every summer I will take our darling active children somewhere far-far-away for a few days, so he can get a project done around the house... He spruced up our master bathroom & bedroom (paint, some new fixtures, lots of wall repairs, etc...) - it looks AWESOME!! So, I took the kids up to Camano to spend the week with my parents, and visit my sister's fam in Bellingham. Loved every minute of our time together! And despite the nice peace and quiet at home, Kyle missed us :) How can you not, I mean LOOK AT THESE FACES :) :)