Back to school, Back to work!

Well after the best sabbatical summer EVER, it felt like a sudden transition to school starting! It is obviously just an entirely different schedule, environment, lots more "firsts" for my little boys especially, and Daddy going "back to work" - we all are still getting used to the early mornings, early bedtimes and busy fall routine. But I think things are going pretty well, and all the kids are blessed with FANTASTIC teachers, whom I plan to help any chance I have. Volunteering will be starting next week, and it truly is the best part of my week being with my kids in their classroom!

So back to school... The girls are starting 3rd and 4th grades - both with teachers we have had in previous years - that is a huge comfort and source of excitement for me as a parent, knowing we are in such good hands! Both girls love their new classrooms, and are enjoying making new friends since both have very few of their old friends in class. Both doing very well with that, and I am happy to see it.

Max started all-day kindergarten at Quatama as well, so this is a big year for him. I am already so, so glad we decided to start him in kindergarten there as a 6 year old instead of 5. He is so ready for the all day program, and his focus and energy level is just perfect for what he needs at school. He loves the bus, loves the cafeteria (after a little "buying lunch" snafu, which his teacher SO sweetly helped him overcome), loves being with "the girls", loves literally every single thing about his day. He leaves the house and returns with a huge smile on his face! What a joy that is to my heart.

Marcus pulled out a Christmas miracle, and decided to become potty trained RIGHT before preschool started. We got literally the last spot in the 3 year old class, and he is continuing to rock his life as a potty trained, preschool edu-ma-cated 3 year old. Our favorite Mrs Meier (whom all the kids had for preschool), is retiring after next year, so I feel like it's a personal gift to me that Marcus will be able to have her in both 3's and 4's. We will be retiring from the preschool years together :) Special! Marcus is completely loving preschool and is taking it all in stride. We have yet to experience what happens if he actually has to POOP at preschool, but because I have four children, I'm just not going to think about it :)

Daddy went back to work too, and that is taking some adjustment as well. It was such a nice, relaxing, stress-free summer and I pray he can find a great new balance now that he is back to the grind. Thankful God continues to provide for all our needs. Greater than we can ask or imagine!

New boots!

New overalls! 

Best principal ever - rolled out the red carpet for students!

New Seahawks shirt

He is hiding his apple for his new teacher ;)

Dad gets VIP treatment too, back to work!

Marcus with "my betht friend Ty" (after 5 mins)

Learning clean up skills
He already told the teacher once "I don't know how!"
Oh no you didn't Marcus Corrigan.

I love this naughty little face to pieces.

First bus ride for Max. THEY ARE HOLDING HANDS.
Be still my beating heart.

New "rock and roll" backpack 

Last preschooler I'll every have! Sweet boy :)

Quinceanera

My friends' daughter celebrated turning 15 years old, and keeping with Mexican tradition, they held a Quinceanera! We were so honored to be invited, and the girls and I thoroughly enjoyed all the unique parts of this celebration. It was all in Spanish, at their Catholic church in Forest Grove, and despite the language barrier, I was able to understand quite a bit, and explain things to the girls as things progressed through the ceremony. It was just very touching and important to see a family gather around a young girl as she comes of age. I love how family oriented they are, and how much they love each other. Blessed.

Brought back fond memories of attending Mass with
my Catholic grandparents growing up

Me and my cute dates!

Summer Birthday Bonanza

We had our annual summer BBQ to celebrate our three summer birthday kids. Madeline (8), Max (6) and Marcus (3) each got their own cake by request, which I whipped out this year in a MUCH easier fashion due to the "cupcakes made into a cake" phenomenon. I have been missing out on this for my entire life, but I have finally found the secret to not only managing the actual cake creations, but also SERVING cake. You can make any shape, and as far as serving/eating, you just grab what you like :) I love this. I may never go back! Kyle made pulled pork, and we had a luau theme. The best part is only WE knew it was a luau, so everyone who came was like "I wish I knew! I have a Hawaiin shirt! I have a great dress!"... I never knew people's closets were so well-prepared for luau themed parties. Of course, we picked the theme a couple days before because with four kids THAT'S HOW YOU ROLL. Happy birthday to my sweet summer kids. (ps. Marin is still mostly glad she has a winter birthday... while she doesn't get huge backyard parties, she does get a LOT of special attention)

Lizard

Hawaiian Beach

Ice Cream Cone

About half the kids :) 

Four little hooligans

Four big hooligans

Corrigan Partay of Six

Madeline/Mom date: a day with the city girl

Madeline and I also had our special date! We had to overcome our disappointment when the night before, we discovered that one of our special destinations in downtown Portland had closed. So at that point, we actually re-thought the entire day, and planned a totally new agenda on the fly. Love my girl and her willingness to flex :) It was an awesome mix of pampering, entertainment, treats and quiet time together.

Her first time at a nail salon, she got a "back to school" mani/pedi (Husky colors)! This little people-watcher child was completely engrossed in the ladies chatting back and forth in Vietnamese. The ladies were also strangely fascinated with the spelling of her name, and also her dark pink lips. They kept asking me if she was wearing makeup, and telling her she had perfect lips. I was dying, it was so entertaining :) So many interesting things for her to absorb here, ha ha!

Next stop was boot shopping (again we are seeing a back-to-school theme... she desired a certain pair of boots from Kohl's for her one special item, so off we went shopping)...

Then we went to see the "Minions" movie and had a little snack of popcorn to tide us over, then afterwards went out for lunch and both of us ordered soup and bread. We were both very grown up, enjoying our soup together. No kids meal this time around! The waitress brought us a treat, which we could not deny.

Our next activity was a long-needed haircut with my hair stylist Andrea. Madeline's first time with a grown-up salon! Trying to get away from the kids' salons, now that she is getting older :) It was, once again, a special big-girl activity.

We ended our day with some pottery painting, where we had a quiet hour together painting a little chocolate lab puppy, whom we named Ivy :)

Dinner out and a shared dessert, ended the night together. A perfect, relaxing, fun-filled day together. I love my sweet, precious, darling girl, I loved every minute we had together people-watching (a shared hobby), and laughing at all the funny things we saw. She is my delight.

It is amazing how much hair she has! (also note the new boots)