Weekend at Nana's

Kyle and Tim took on a huge project at our house, requiring the kids and I to be displaced for a few days. We made our camp up at Nana's house, and she took great care of us during our stay! The kids had tons of fun playing at the park, catching crawdads in the river, swimming in the hot tub, jumping on the big trampoline, watering Nana's flowers, and I even got a special day with my niece Katelyn on a day the other grown-ups were gone. She was a big help with the little boys, filling in as 'big sister' and the two of us had fun doing something we both love (puzzles!) during naptime. I loved my time with her. She is so special to me! Also included are some pictures of the project - siding being torn down, repaired, replaced. New window, caulking. In a million degree heat. Such a hard job, and if it weren't for the hard work and tenacity of these two, I would probably be living in a tent right now. Thanks for taking care of us!!

Happy 7th Birthday to Madeline

Happy 7th Birthday to my blonde little bombshell of a girl - she is taking this world by storm, and blowing my socks off at every turn. At least once a week I say to Kyle "can you BELIEVE her?!!" as we wonder where our quiet, timid, "new things are not okay with me" child went. And who is this brave new creature in her place? She rides bikes. She swims. She rides horses. She goes down waterslides. She approaches friends in the neighborhood to play. She goes first. She takes charge of her life. She speaks up. But before we get too ahead of ourselves here, she still freaks out at the dentist, and is VERY attached to her silky blue blanket at bedtime (or other times when she's feeling sensitive). I think I'm a tiny bit glad there is still some of the "old" her in there :) All I know is (in addition to giving the best fashion advice in town), she makes my heart swell with love when I kiss her cheek goodnight. I love how unique and special she is. Happy birthday to my sweet darlin!

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!