Happy 5th Birthday to Max

Happy birthday to my little Maxy, turning 5 years old. He holds such a special place in my heart ~ ever since he was born, his personality has just captured me. I just marvel at his spiritual depth, his compassion, his kindness to others, his smiling eyes, his kissable little cheeks, his capacity to love. He has the biggest heart, and it is filled to the brim. Regularly, his prayers at the dinner table end with something like "and thank you for my family and all the people who I love"... it's a long list! :) This year he will start kindergarten at Bethlehem, a unique half-day private school kindergarten program that our preschool started just this year. I think it will be a perfect fit for him. I love him so much, and am so blessed to be this little boy's mother :)

Happy 2nd Birthday to Marcus

Our little caboose has turned 2! What a delightful, entertaining, sweet and outrageous little person he is. So many people in my family say he reminds them of Grandpa Morry. I sure wish my Grandpa could be alive to meet Marcus, and just get the biggest kick out of him! The two of them would have a full-on hoot together. I am thoroughly enjoying all the stages of my last-born sweet baby love. I know everything Marcus does will be "lasts" for me as a mother. I'm really not sad about that, just enjoying the savoring of each little thing! He is a total conversational chatterbox, not to mention he is 99th percentile for both height and weight. So basically what I'm saying is nobody guesses he is 2, it's more like 3. But wait now, don't grow him up too fast!  I need my little two year old for a good solid year, please :) I love this boy. Happy Birthday Marcus Farcus Shoshie-Bug!

Happy 4th ~ 2014

Our annual trip to Camano Island over the fourth of July was, once again, a total blast. Enough cannot be said about this place being a little slice of heaven. Especially in the summer when the weather is warm, the breeze is balmy, the water is refreshing, the firepit is always lit, and the kids are happy & tired from long days filled with fun & freedom. We packed in a lot: boating, crabbing, 1st birthday party for Maya-Moo, pictures with matching outfits, beach combing, throwing rocks, swimming in the pool, swimming in the salt water, ice cream at the parade, scavenger hunts, catching a snake, celebrating spring/summer birthdays of the rest of the family, going on a run with my sister (we have matching running shoes, like a boss), eating, fireworking, smore's-ing, and even more! Even a special visit from the Bothell Corrigans, on their way back from Whidbey. FUN FUN and FUN :)

We left the girls there again for an extra week, just the girls and the grandparents :) They had an amazing time, and came home just bubbling with all their stories (and shells, soooo many shells!) - such a special place, and a special time of year. Thank you to my wonderful parents who make this happen every year!

Celebrating Megan

Earlier in June, the women of the family gathered at the Mt Hood cabin to celebrate my niece Megan turning 12. This year was her golden birthday, turning 12 on the 12th of July. She is starting middle school this fall, so her momma thought what a wonderful opportunity it would be to usher her firstborn into young womanhood with a special event. We all wrote letters beforehand to Megan, just encouraging her and exhorting her on growing up, following God, becoming her own person. While at the cabin for our special weekend, we all had alone time to read the letters together, and other chances to share funny middle school stories, and basically just do whatever to give Megan a huge downpour of LOVE at this transition in her life. I personally enjoyed the mix of serious intentionality, and the goofy side of being young (I'm talking about me here, I'm still young). I just love this girl, and am so proud of her and excited to be her special auntie through her entire life! Love you Megs!

Becoming a biker gang

It has been my goal this summer to transform our family into a biker gang. Considering that we have had ZERO children knowing how to ride a bike (they have refused to learn up til now)... I'm like "no" to that continuing :) So I have been taking out the girls one at a time for lessons. Madeline is now a full fledged bike-jumping-trickster (who would have thought she would be the first to learn? Lil' Miss Timid ain't so much anymore...) We are almost there with Marin too... I am even thinking about getting a bike trailer so Marcus and I can get some exercise together this fall! :) Max is a beast on his new skateboard from Nana & Grandpa, and Marcus is willing to wear anyone's pink helmet & ride anything that moves (I use the term "ride" loosely).

 Almost (but not quite) a full fledged gang on wheels :)

Little girl, big world

Marin is quite the expert on usage of a pocket knife these days. Ever since fishing camp (where she was taught usage & safety), she has been using her new little pink pocket knife Kyle got her, to carve whatever she can find. And I have found she's been offering to help in the kitchen more often as well :) Lucky me!!!

Summertime giggles

Sometimes, I just need to post all the random cute things that have happened all summer long. For no reason, other than I love these people, and I want these pictures in my family yearbook :)