Piano recital

Another magical year of piano on the books! Madeline restarted piano in the fall after taking an extra year to be ready. Both girls got to play in the spring recital - they each played a solo piece, and also duets (Madeline and Marin together for one, and Marin played an additional duet with Teacher Jenny).

I know Maddy was super nervous, but she is really showing her growth - she played it cool and overcame her fears to perform in public. It is a big deal, y'all. It's one thing to master your songs in the privacy of your home, with your Mommy saying "Oooooh, that was soooo beautiful" every time you practice. It is a whole other thing entirely to play for strangers, and know how to roll with it if things go smoothly or not with your song. Both girls did amazing, I burst thinking about how wonderful it is that they have music in their lives.

Side note: both girls played piano in their school music class talent shows too!

Flowers for the recital girls

I love how Marin has her arm around Maddy...
Taking care of each other, always :)

Into the Woods

Kyle has been wanting to get our family out in the woods (yes, all six of us, Lord have mercy) so he can give the kids some experience with target shooting. The older three have done this before, so they know the ropes and are totally committed to the system. Dad runs an extremely tight ship (this is a good thing, believe me). The two year old is still an undisciplined wild child, so for him to be included definitely required Mom coming along on Marcus Patrol. Like I said, Sheriff Kyle is not about to let anyone fudge any rules where target shooting is concerned. We all knew our place, and this is why we can do these fun and exciting outings together! He did a great job showing the kids around, explaining the course, showing them the equipment, repeating and repeating and repeating the rules for them to follow. Such good experience! :) They kids had a blast (ha get it, see what I did there?) in the woods, and I love that they get to experience all these adventures!

Hugging a bear at the pit stop on the way

Edu-ma-cation

I've always got my eye on the Farcus

Eyes and Ears, they are ready to roll!

Marin

Maddy

Max

Marcus (oh dear) ~ tilting his head to see through the scope

Back-o-the-van shenanigans

Cantaloupe break

Church adventures

We have been "church hunting" for the last several months. Most recently, we have been visiting one that is pretty great. The kids love it, that's for sure. Every Sunday, someone is bubbling about a new and wonderful thing going on (okay, sometimes it's Tootsie Pops, but I digress).

Madeline's class created a "names of God" poster, and the pastor emailed it out to the parents. The class presented it to the larger group of kids, and there she is front and center - later she told me she was nervous standing up there, so they gave her a chair :) It's all good... I love this poster, though... I am going to get it printed on a canvas or something, it's really awesome!

Jewels in his crown, maybe?

F.T.B.

Madeline has a new fondness of fluffy bees - really she is scared of bees, but we have been playing up the fluffy ones to her as really extra cute and fabulous, so now she has decided they are her favorite animal. Recently, she found a fluffy bee which had passed onto fluffy bee heaven, and she was very distraught. After all, it is her new favorite animal ;) So... in classic Madeline style, she buried the fluffy bee and made a special cross.  RIP  FTB (Rest in Peace Fluffy the Bee).

Cross says "Fluffy Corrigan"
Gravestone rock says "F.T.B." = Fluffy The Bee

Biking Buddy

I now have a new "running buddy" - Maddy on her bike really keeps me going. She rides fast and it kicks me up a notch :) Fun time with my girl!

Happy Memorial Day

We had a fun gathering at Nana & Poppy's house for Memorial Day - BBQ, trampoline, cousins, playing legos in the basement :) Good times had by all!

Donuts with Dad (and a campfire lesson)

The girls escorted their Daddy to their school's annual "Donuts with Dad" event. Deliciousness and happy people, all around!

Marcus also got a lesson on lighting campfires. (where is that "shocked face" emoticon when you need it).

Family Trek

Another random outing to the park, and you know what... Sometimes these small outings are just what we all need for a change of scenery, a relaxed time together, just some refreshing fun. This was one of those much-needed, spontaneous outings :)

The timid one challenged her sibs to crawl through the "spider tunnel" :)

The timid one waiting on the other end!

The brave ones survived the spider tunnel!

The rascal poking his stick at everyone

School year wrap up

It's been another amazing school year. So many highlights, so many teachable moments (sometimes those are disguised as challenges, did you know?), adventures, joys, excitements. Each year I love to reflect on what we experienced together, and pray about the year to come... The summer is such a good break to just get a reset, a break from the routine and blow some fresh summer sunshine into our souls! 

Max finished his private school half-day kindergarten year, and wow was it special. This was a real answer to our prayers for him, the late bloomer :) Such a perfect environment (12 students) and an experienced teacher with a heart of gold. More than once, Max whispered sweet things about his teacher to me, and I always told her privately because, well, teachers need to know these things... She really modeled loving God, and encouraged the kids each day to grow academically, emotionally and spiritually. Mrs Shearier, you are gold to us! She felt like God's personal gift to our family, for Max.

Twin day

Max & Mrs. Shearier

Madeline also completed 2nd grade, in ANOTHER perfect example of how God knows what my child needs. He knew she needed a compassionate, gentle and sweet person as her teacher this year. Mrs. Osterhaus was literally exactly what this girl needed. I could not have predicted the emotional ups and downs that Madeline would experience in her personal development this year, but God knew. He knew she needed someone with a big heart, and a gentle touch. Again, I just feel so excited when I think about it, and want to remind these special teachers whenever I can that I pray for them regularly, and I look for evidence of how God is using them. They are such an important piece of the puzzle for each child's year of life.

Maddy & Mrs O

Marin finished 3rd grade, and it was especially notable that it was her second year with the "A-team", Ms Angal and Mrs Anderson (job share)... I think I really love the looping thing, when you get an extra long season with an amazing teacher. I already bragged on the special "volunteer" canvas that Marin's class made me, but there were also just so many special memories in between - the raising of salmon, the Oregon Zoo project (video will be posted soon on that!), the garden club, native american culture, good lessons in friendship, high standards from two teachers who expect excellence (this first-born loves to be given a challenge), and best of all, growth. I feel like each year there is some area that we each need to grow in. When you are in the school environment, you just have SO many chances to grow! So many different people, perspectives, personalities... It's like a garden of opportunity to grow in compassion, strength, perseverance, character and bravery. I love school :) 

Marin & Ms Angal

Gift made for me by Marin's class
(Kids cut out the hearts, Marin's hand in the center)
My heart is bursting, I love it so much!

End of the year celebration dinner, kids' choice: sushi place near our house - we walked there & played at a nearby park before gorging ourselves on delicious and beautiful sushi (really, Japanese culture is ALWAYS beautiful!)

Happy school year completion to my three big kids! Mom & Dad are so proud of you.

Marin Moments

I've had a few things to share about Marin lately...

1. Goals: one thing we have been talking about, and praying about a lot this year is friendship. Friends can be such a gift, and also a hard thing depending on what you are going through. In a nutshell, it was sort of a hard year in that area. She has some good friends, but there were some difficult patches with different girls in her life. We have been praying about it together, asking God to help Marin be a good friend, and receive the gift of friendship from those around her. I am so happy to say that the year ended on a really good note. Many of the frustrations have been resolved through good healthy conversation, and also just time healing wounds. I happened to walk by the school white board a few days ago, and found this telling response from Marin (of course, she always answers the white board question!!)... Thank you God for hearing our prayers!

Q: "What goals have you set and achieved this year"?
A: "Friends" - Marin

2. Garden club: she loves being outside, that girl... Her second round of doing garden club as a 3rd grader, and we even signed up as a family to tend the school garden for one week this summer. My sweet friend Danya even drove her home every day. What a blessing to have generous families near you who love the same things :) Love my little green thumb!

Marin, with one of her faithful friends, Brooklyn

3. Emotions: again, in the area of personal growth, I am seeing her be more in touch with her feelings. She is a thinker like her Daddy, and so it has been special for her to explore the feeling part of life more :) A little essay about chickens below:

"I think a chicken or chick would be the perfect pet. A chicken would be the perfect pet because it would have a good use: laying eggs. It is a good pet because it is an inspirational sight to see it grow through it's life cycle also. And it is a cute and adorable pet that makes you happy. Finally, a chicken can change your life in many ways by giving you more emotion. I told you why I think a chick is a good pet"

Marin and her well loved pet, Goldie Popcorn

4. Special memories: Marin and her class made me the most special "thank you gift" for my two years of volunteering in her class (she was in a split class, hence the two years with the same kids/teacher). The hand is Marin's hand traced, and all the kids cut out hearts and attached to this beautiful canvas. It is proudly displayed in my entry way, just like I promised them! I love those kids, it is the highlight of each school year, those hours I get to spend in the classroom with them.