This late morning I had to run some keys to my hubby (don't ask) and heading back to my office found myself down on Indiana and hungry for some lunch. I passed Coffee Social and did a quick u-turn remembering the great lunch I shared with a collegue there a month or so prior. My brie sandwich and tomato basil soup were oh so yummy so I wanted to share this new find of mine with all of you. I believe in & support what these fine people are doing. If you feel so called to support this local organic cafe you will not be sorry... d'lish! Plus how many places can you grab a bite to eat and know the ingredients in what you are eating are organic? I love that!!! They are located just west of Division on Indiana. 113 W Indiana - http://coffeesocial.net

Record Snow Fall!

59.7 inches of snow!

As of December 29th at 4 PM PST... the monthly snow total for the Spokane international Airport was 59.7 inches. This snow total ranks first on the list of snow totals for any month and breaks the previous record of 56.9 inches set in January of 1950.

Let me be the first to tell you that I LOVE snow! Every year when people begin to gripe about the snow falling I am thrilled to see it come in all of its beautiful sparkling white glory. I love the stillness of a fresh snow covering, the excitement of a disrupted routine and all of the outdoor fun that comes along with snow. This, however, is quite enough! Another foot of snow fell yesterday morning confirming what Quyen knew was inevitable but I was standing firmly against... our plans to join our closest friends & family to celebrate New Years in Seattle would not be possible. I want to cry! But instead I will make the best of our circumstances and look forward to traveling west just as soon as mother nature will allow us to. More snow is expected late tonight into New Years Eve followed by yet another storm and then more snow until the end of eternity. Could someone please come rescue me and bring me to sunshine? I promise never to take it for granted again!

Outside our front door (before yesterday's snowfall)

...this is why our Christmas cards were late this year!

Christmas 2008

My favorite part of Christmas this year was observing how very different our children are. On Christmas Eve we let the kids each open a gift. Olivia opened her two best friend barbies from "Barbie's Diamond Castle" and exclaimed "Just what I've always wanted!!!" :o) I was hoping they'd be a hit... after all they were one of my Black Friday bargain finds! She loves that movie and likes to perform the "Connected" song the two barbies sing. This child is such a riot! She insisted the barbies sleep with her that night. Tavian opened up an awesome new book (books are his favorite things ever) from Auntie Sara & Uncle Sean. Seriously, this book is so cool! As you turn the page the horse (or whatever is on that page) actually moves! His reaction was also full of delight but then he quietly sits down and devours the book very independently. He pointed out and said "star" and "kircle" (circle). Then we as we put out cookies for Santa he said "tanta"! I'm so proud. :o) Christmas morning Olivia was the first up of course. She says "mama, let's see if santa came!" So I scooped her up and we went downstairs followed by a groggy daddy. First things first, did he eat his cookies? Why yes! "Santa did came!" she exclaimed and then darted for her stocking and dug in. To my delight she was very appreciative of each and everything she got. Quyen took advantage of Tavian's sleeping in and opted to re-join him (we let them snuggle & sleep with us on Christmas Eve) for an hour or so while O and I colored in her new big Tinkerbell coloring book. It was a nice quiet special time for me smelling the coffee brewing and sharing in my little girls delight for her new treasures. *sigh* :o) As the morning went on Olivia could hardly wait to get through everything under the tree. Tavian woke up and first noticed the huge jumping castle that Auntie Tonia & Uncle Eric had sent "WOW" he said. After that he opened up the Wonder Pet's Fly Boat we had gotten him and we could hardly get him to move on from there. This is a child who would have been content with 1 gift. Of course this will change by next year I'm sure but for now I just love watching him sit and play fully satisfied.

"BIG KISS little kiss BIG HUG little hug"

That is what Olivia tells us and then proceeds to lay on us every time we part ways. Whether it be at preschool, me leaving home or bedtime it has become our "thing." I have no idea where she came up with it but I love it and it's definitely something I want to remember long after she grows out of it. Now if she would only let me leave without tears and pleading *sigh*

The Hair Cut

Well they say what goes around comes around... I came home last Wednesday night and was snuggling with my girl when I noticed something wasn't right. I pulled her back to get a straight look at her only to confirm that she had cut a third of her hair off... 8"! I was really enjoying how long and pretty her hair was getting so I was kind of bummed. We told her that we were going to have to cut all of her short now and she wailed "NO! I'm a girl. I have to have LONG hair!" Okay, that was pretty funny and lightened the mood. The next day, on Thanksgiving, we put her hair in a pony and chopped the rest of it off. She was quite surprised when she looked in the mirror and said with the huge grin "I still look like Olivia!!" We think she thought we were going to shave her head like we do Tavian's quite often. Anyway, I think my mom took a little extra joy in the experience because I had done the same thing years ago. ;o) We think she looks pretty darn cute!

Apple Cup & Thanksgiving

Every other year when the Apple Cup is in Pullman we have our family from the west side journey over to Spokane for a fun filled weekend of rivalry football and turkey dinner. It was so wonderful to spend some quality time with everyone and I also must say that I rather enjoyed getting up early & cooking with my husband for a few hours while Sara watched our kiddos! Our 3 nieces stayed the weekend at our house and had a sleepover in Olivia's room... man I love those girls and have missed them dearly since they left (and so has their cousin Olivia who likes to pretend she's big & cool like them when they are around ;o)

My sister-in-law Tonia & I

Sean & Sara (getting married 7.3.09)

Quyen, his brother Sean & our great friend Jon (yes that is a "Cougar" themed bear he's holding from a make shift noose- lovely ;o)

Olivia & Erica snuggling up on the couch to read

Madison, Sydnee, Erica, Tavian & Olivia ready to eat

These two adore each other!

Food!

Peeps

We love Greenbluff!

There's just no place better...especially in the fall! We started our Saturday off, well, at Starbucks :o) and then we headed up to our good friend Angela's home on Greenbluff with my mom, Jen & TJ with us. It was a bright, crisp and windy day and we visited with Ang, Dave & Cody and played in the pumpkin patch for a while before moving along the bluff ...

TJ & Jen

Daddy & O trying to choose some good ones!

Tavian spent much of his time in the field like this...

We then headed east to The Harvest House to pick apples...

Olivia & Grandmamom

Olivia helping Tavian reach the apples

Olivia & Jen

I think Tavian looks like he's about to pass a football (or apple) here ;o)

Monica & Mike Bentz

The first week in October our family traveled to "Vegas Baby" (as we taught Olivia to say ;o) for my sister Monica's wedding. What a perfect, wonderful, special time it was!

Getting ready with the bride...

The mom's... such a great picture!

My fam all dolled up and ready to go... Time to get hitched! My mom & TJ Mike's brother Steve & I Monica & her dad Larry during prayer Me, TJ, Mo, Mike, Mom & Uncle Kevin The Kostelecky'sAnd here they are... Mr & Mrs Mike Bentz! Olivia showing "her prince" Matthew how we dance Monica & TJ Olivia taking the mic during my toast (typical!)

And two became one... xoxo