Big Boy - 4!

The preschool class tradition is to bake cupcakes cakes and make a crown that the kids get to pick a photo for the top, and he chose a look-alike black lab like our Kiki. Kieran was about the most excited birthday boy I could imagine, he might have imploded if he couldn't move so fast!



His Kieran really enjoyed a "Boys Only Birthday Party," although he was fine to have little sisters and mommies over for the fun. We made rocket ships and decorated them with stickers and other fancy things. They had a great time, even though 6 boys about maxed my decibel limit. Kieran loved having them all over to play.

Belated Birthday Wishes

Happy 1st Birthday Makenna!

Makenna had a lot more fun than her Mom and Dad on her birthday, since we were both sick with a stomach bug.

We did manage to celebrate Makenna's birthday a day late, even though Kevin was at a community night meeting. She loved the shakers, bells, and tamborine we gave her.


Makenna moved a little too fast for me...


I think Kiki ended up with more of the cake than Makenna, but she didn't seem to mind too much...the next piece landed on the floor for him to scarf up.

Friends of Trees and Volunteering

In commemoration of the Martin Luther King Jr holiday and Kevin's lifelong pledge to community service through AmeriCorps, our family spent Saturday morning volunteering to plant trees in the neighborhood where Kevin serves through PDC.

It's been ten years since I first planted with Kevin on a misty Portland morning, and it's always fun to go back through our old neighborhood and point out the trees that we planted together. Now we get to share the excitement with Kieran and Makenna. While Makenna was only along for the ride, Kieran truly got into the act this year. He was digging, filling, helping deliver twine, pouring water, sweeping...you name it; he was helping. Fun stuff.

 

 

 

Kevin turns the big 4-0!!!

Yes, the "baby" of the original Cronin Family is turning 40. Kevin was very surprised yesterday when the kids and I colluded with his co-workers to surprise him at work. We planned for his colleague to show him a PowerPoint to review that they will be presenting at a community meeting next week. He took the bait, only to have Kieran barge into the conference room with a chocolate cupcake. Then we went on to show a little PowerPoint of his own, litterally all the photos he has from his childhood. If you're a real Kevin Cronin die hard (and not the REO Speedwagon kind), you can view them all here on Picasa.

Kevin's surprises aren't over yet, as I've even more up my sleeve to celebrate this momentous occasion

Happy Birthday Kevin!!!

Christmas with the whole Cronin Clan

We had a really special Christmas this year, back East with the whole "Cronin Clan." It was especially meaningful because Kevin's parents are selling their quaint country farm house and the beautiful acreage surrounding it. While the "kids" didn't grow up their, it has become home for the whole family. Kevin's brother was married out on the vast rolling field of a lawn, and Kevin proposed to me in the living room packed with family on Christmas Day 2001. The place will always have a special place in hearts.

Our visits are always a bit bittersweet in their brevity, as we don't get to gather with the extended clan but every year or so, and we know that all the cousins will grow and life will be different the next time we all are together again. So, we do our best to savor the moments, and capture the memories. Here are some my favorite photos:





























PS Yes, Miel and James joined the whole clan for the holiday!

The Danish "julefrokost"

I know it's the new year (Happy 2010!!!), but I've got some catching up to do to post on all of our holiday adventures...

Each year I try my best to share the significance of holiday parties in Denmark, but I always feel like I can't quite articulate the true meaning (unless I were to ramble on and on, as I'm sometimes known to do!) I found this article shortly after our annual Danish holiday party, and there was a lot of truth to it "Only the Strong Survive Julefrost." I think both my Danish and American friends and family would get a kick out of this article, please comment if you want to add something to the topic.













PS Yes, Kevin did dress Makenna in her "Life's better with Boobs" shirt, instead of the "Santa's Helper" one I was planning on...

PPS And yes, I did enjoy my share of Akvavit, brought by my host brother Niels from Sweden this past fall, Tusind Tak!

PPS Next year I want to get the kids decked out in little nissehue, does anyone have a sewing pattern for some?