Monday, February 6, 2012

Happy 6th Birthday to Marin Elise

My biggest girl turned 6 years old in January! She is such a special part of our family: she is a peace-maker, the most generous person I know, a very hard worker, the first to offer to help, and has the best smile I've ever seen. I love this girl, what a special gift she is to all of us.

The theme for the parties this year was HEARTS, and let's just say it was super easy to find decorations right before Valentine's Day :) We had a family party with grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. Daddy made the heart cake.

On her actual birthday, the birthday girl chose Cocoa Puffs for her special birthday cereal, the whole family went to The Spaghetti Factory for lunch, and then Marin got to go with her kindergarten friend Joanna to a special gymnastics class in the evening (it was "bring a friend" week).

Then a few weeks later (once Mommy was back on my feet), we had a little birthday lunch with a few of her girlfriends from kindergarten. These little girls are a riot. When it was time to sing, I told them "belt it out ladies!" and you have never heard a LOUDER version of Happy Birthday in your life. Crackups, I tell you. They had fun just racing around the house exploring Marin's pad, then had some yummy lunch and dessert, opened presents and worked on a coloring project together. The perfect birthday playdate!

Who are we kidding here, the child had an entire birthday MONTH! She deserves it,  Happy Birthday Marin Elise!




























Tuesday, January 17, 2012

And then there were... six!

The Oregon Corrigans are proud to announce we are expecting our 6th family member (baby #4) coming this July! We are so blessed, and look forward to another beautiful baby to love.

For those who are curious about where I've been hiding out since Thanksgiving, here is the back story. I have been literally in bed sick for the last 6 weeks - it was totally unexpected to be this severe. I was sick with the others, but nothing like this. Thankfully just when you think "wait, i have three kids & a husband, a home to run! i can't do this! Christmas is coming, I can't be in bed for 6 weeks!", God shows His provision by meeting the needs every step of the way. Our church community brought us meals for weeks, supportive friends did errands & dropped off care packages, Kyle's wonderful parents took the kids many days at the beginning of the downhill slide, while providing a huge prayer net with their family & friends, then a full time nanny appeared out of nowhere (i.e. arriving home on her college Christmas break) just at the time I needed to hire someone. Then my amazing parents willingly answered the call to come and help as soon as they could get here, and between my mom and dad, they were here for over a month. My parents literally did everything I could not do - cooked, cleaned, put the kids to bed, gave them baths, did laundry, went grocery shopping, drove the kids to school, took the kids on special dates, did Christmas crafts with them, etc. I laid in my bed miserable and helpless, but immensely comforted by the help that was surrounding us.

This weekend was Marin's 6th birthday, and I was able to be out of bed & visit with the family who came over to celebrate with us. Feels like a miracle. I am little by little getting back to normal, and so so so grateful for all God has done. There is nothing like a personal touch in your life to remind you that the Creator cares so much for each one of us.

My final acknowledgement goes to my dear husband, my significant other, Kyle. For some reason, that title "significant other" really has taken new meaning for me during this difficult season. He has been my lifeline. I really cannot adequately put into words the awe I have for all this man has done. He has taken over all my duties & roles, plus continuing to work, and all with an amazing happy attitude. He said to me "it's been awhile since I've really had to dig deep and do something hard, I'm due for a good challenge!" I just stared at him listening to those words, just speechless, just so humbled & blessed to be married to this man. Like I said, it's been over 6 weeks of me being completely non-functional, and if anyone has three kids under the age of five, you will understand how labor intensive it is caring for them, plus running a household, with your wife physically unable to give you any support whatsoever - it is an enormous task. I have grown so much in appreciation for Kyle, my honor and respect for him only grows as well. I'm not even doing justice to all the things I feel in my heart, but let's just say I am one lucky woman.

So there you have it, Max will be a big brother and we are well cared for & blessed by God with another wonderful addition!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Christmas Memories

Christmas this year was filled with so many great memories! It was a different year, in that I was sick in bed for 6 weeks with extreme pregnancy sickness. Ugh! I hate to admit it, but I was kind of dreading the holidays approaching as I knew I would not be able to create those memories for my kids this year. I was lucky to get the decorations up literally a day or two before I was hit with the nausea. However, it turned out great. Online shopping, my parents here for a month, and the pure joy that small children bring to a household - they all added up to a wonderful holiday celebration our Savior. Here are some highlights (all thanks to the special people in our lives, i was in bed the wole time!): Christmas Concert with both Nana's & the cousins, gingerbread houses, decorating sugar cookies, Christmas Eve service, matching jammies, the sparkle of Christmas morning and all the special moments in between.







Time with Nana

We've been incredibly blessed with an extended visit from my parents during this season, and one of the kids' favorite activites was to pile on a chair with Nana and watch funny kids videos. She always finds the ones they like!

Breakfast with Dad

Marin's been begging Kyle to let her take him out to breakfast at her school cafeteria. So he found an early morning he was free and the two of them dined on fine school cuisine! Actually, I think they both had cereal :)

5, 4, 2

Snapshot of the Corrigan kids at ages 5, 4, 2... :)



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Happy Halloween!

This year for Halloween, we had a bit MORE of everything... more concern/worry about how we would handle scary decorations that are everywhere, but also more excitement at how we would dress up and enjoy the whimsical fun part of this holiday. I took Max to a harvest party at our church, and both girls had parties in their classes at school. Our friends the Paynes (aka "Cat in the Hat" trio) came over and trick-or-treated with us, we had so much fun in our little neighborhood just visiting the neighbors and racing through the streets after dark :)

Madeline decided the costume theme this year (seriously, she announced it to her siblings who heartily approved her choice). Her instructions: SHE was going to be Rapunzel from the movie Tangled (they watched the last 10 minutes, but it's her "favorite show"), Marin was going to be the Queen Mother (not the mean mother, the true mother who was searching for her kidnapped daughter), and finally Max was Pascal (the little lizard sidekick in the movie). Oh my word, they are so funny. My kids are like a little gang, I love them!

Note about our pumpkin: Marin designed it and I carved it :) Pretty cute, I personally like her touch of the eyelashes :)








Kyle wants me to clarify that he is making his "Captain Kirk face" below which turned out a little creepier than intended. HA HA HA!!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

I wanna rock and roll all night...

... and party every day!

Kyle and Maddie went on a date a few weeks ago, and look what they came back with! She talked him into the pink one (poor Max)... :) He doesn't seem to mind.




My sweet precious boy...

... with long eyelashes :)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Madeline's train ride with Nana

Maddie has been waiting for this for four long years - her train ride with Nana! She was finally old enough to go on Nana's special outing (that she reserves for all grandchildren when they turn 4). Last year Maddie flipped her wig when we saw Marin off, because the train whistles were so loud at the Portland station. This time around, they left from Vancouver where things are much smaller & quieter, which is just what the doctor ordered. She still covered her ears the entire time prior to stepping foot on the train :) She had a blast, and once again we are blessed with a Nana who makes wonderful memories with her grandchildren!






Marin's first homework

In kindergarten, most of the homework is just reading.. I love this, because we already read a ton and for some reason it feels even more productive now that the school "makes" us :) Her first homework, though, was a scrapbook page that shows off Marin's likes/hobbies/family to put in a school book. After lots of hard work, here is the result (Mom is by nature NOT a crafty girl)... We are proud of our girl & her page!

Preschool Potluck

The Oregon Corrigans got to escort the lovely Madeline to her preschool's annual family potluck. It's held at the beginning of each year to celebrate a new school year starting, mingle with the other preschool families, and just have fun! Max is not pleased with the distribution of cotton candy... 'Nuff said :)

Welcome Baby Trey

No, I didn't have another baby :) My 'sister from another mister' did... (I'm proud that I'm using that phrase incorrectly)... Sommer welcomed her sweet baby boy into the world, and no matter how many trips "down to Beaverton" it took, we got a picture of all my kids holding the new baby. Love this new little member of the Bury family! He is freakishly adorable. Newborns aren't usually this darling. Love him!