p.s.

Did I tell you there's a mountain in our front yard?!?!

That made for a pretty great day off!

Busy!

I've been pretty (happily) busy lately and keep neglecting to post my new pictures.  Kem and I are getting ready for Christmas with Ben, Lia, Aya, Steven, and the rest of the Seattle family.  So fun!

Three views of the mountains from Lia and Ben's porch.
So beautiful!

Dance class!

Steven *loves* ballet

Measurable snow!  Sophie loved it soo much!

We had a pink sock party!

Cousins in pjs.  Really?  Too cute!

Wow!

Pre-Christmas hail and rain and sunshine and snow!

Aya did a great job at dance class today!

Dance class!

While Aya danced inside of class, Steven and Dad danced outside in the lobby!

Cooled, glazed, and ready for work! I'm so thankful that I watched my mom in the kitchen for years: I made peppermint glaze without having to think about it!
Xoxo

Cake Pop Maker!

Kem and I had some delicious cake pops this weekend, and I was inspired! So.. I bought a cake pop maker and got to work. First pumpkin donut holes with a maple sugar glaze (vegan and pretty tasty) and tonight gluten-free, vegan brownie bites. My coworkers have more dietary restrictions than I do! I hope the brownies are good!
Next will be some unadulterated cake pops to experiment for Kem's baby shower. We'll see!
Xoxo

Self Portraits

I got to go to Seattle to see Ben, Aya, and Steven yesterday.  We played airplane and horsey and colored.  Sooo much fun!  The highlights of the day included lunch of homemade mapo tofu, the library, and taking self-portraits and family photos with my camera.  Next week I'm hoping to get there in time for Aya's ballet class: so cute!
All of the pictures on the left were taken by Aya and the pictures on the right were taken by Steven.  They're pretty good!  I am so thankful! xoxo

"Cheese"

Marine Corps Ball!

A few weekends ago I was honored to attend the Marine Corps Ball with my best friend Brent and his great wife, Erin.  I'm a bit late posting these pictures because of Thanksgiving, but we had a really great time!  The drive to Spokane was about 5 hours of blue/grey with a brief interlude in the mountains.  I stopped at a Mexican restaurant in a mountain village for lunch, where they were quite surprised I could speak enough Spanish to order and carry on a simple conversation!

Lately Kem and I are just laying low, trying to keep dry and warm.  I'm making vegetable soup with veggies from the Farmer's Market tomorrow to fortify us and make Mr Wonderful big and strong!

The mountain was hiding

Brent bought a cape....and couldn't hook it closed!

Especially dapper with the slippers

 Erin and I had a great day shopping before the ball and then stopped in this great coffee/gift shop

I'm so proud of Brent.  He's a Gunnery Sargent in the Marine Corps and just celebrated his 13th year!  He was chosen to read the History of the Corps at the ball, which is a great honor.  It is so great to see how respected he is by his subordinates, how relied upon he is by his commanding officers, 

and how loved he is by his wife and friends. 

Our feet at the ball!
(Not nearly as happy at 2:30am)

 Goofin' with the cape!

We went to a delicious restaurant for brunch before I headed home!

I am reminded daily how blessed I am to be around my family and loved by my friends. xoxo

Baby Shower

We can't wait to meet the newest addition! Thanks to Melissa for organizing the girls' celebration yesterday!
He had a great time watching "Skyfall" last night: kicking and generally making Mom uncomfortable in the Luxe seats!