WE'VE BECOME ENERGY EFFICIENT

With your Dad commuting to TriCities, Yakima and Spokane, we decided we needed a more efficient vehicle that he could drive that would also be good when it's winter weather. We traded the truck in for a Honda Civic Hybrid. Supposedly it will get 45 mpg but they said it could get better. Hey, we can't complain about that. It's a pretty silver with a royal blue and beige interior. It looks real classy looking and I'm happy that your Dad is able to get it. He works hard and deserves anything he thinks he needs. So, it was a sad day knowing that the pickup would no longer be in our garage. It's served us very faithfully for 7 years. The garage looks so empty now.

Happy Birthday Emalei!!!

Mom and Dad's computer is acting up so I am posting this for them. They were reflecting on how 29 years ago they had their first little girl. They find it hard to believe that it was that long ago. Emalei has accomplished so much in her life, has taught and influenced so many needy youth, and has been a great sister. We hope you have a great birthday Emalei!!

THIS ONE'S FOR UNCLE DANE

Enough said.....I love Uncle Dane

UPDATE ON ELLA

This has got to be the sweetest face ever. If you don't believe it, just ask her grandma.



Grandma just couldn't pass up this darling little outfit to take my picture in. It is a premie size. I am just a little thing and so cute!!!


Uncle Dane and Dale love coming to visit. I look especially little when they hold me.


Grandma wanted to see me in a dress. She had one left over from when Aunt Emalei and mommy were a baby. It fit me almost perfect but I only got a few pictures taken before I got a messy diaper and got the dress dirty. Darn it, I looked so cute in it.


This post is for Emalei and anyone else who isn't in Provo and is interested in knowing how Ella is doing. I got to spend last week with her and Abbie and Scott and I'm struggling today not thinking about what she is doing and how she is doing and remembering all the little secrets I discovered that make her happy. I have fought back tears several times when I tell Bill all about her and he is wanting so badly to be able to see her and hold her. Until then, he will have to look at her pictures and dream. Here's some of the pictures that were taken while I was there.

NEW FAMILY MEMBER

We couldn't let the day go by without saying Happy Birthday to our new family member Ella. We are all just head over heels for this sweet little baby that has come into our family. Welcome to the world and to our family.

McCormick & Schmick's

This is a completely random post, but I was just so impressed that I had to tell someone. When Fabio flew to Curacao in December, the airline was giving McCormick and Schmick's gift certificates to anyone who would sign up for something, I don't know what. So, he signed up, got the $25 gift card and the people sitting next to him just left theirs, so he snagged those too. He now had $75 worth of gift certificates to this restaurant we'd never been to.

So, he gets home, we go check out this McCormick and Schmick's and it's AMAZING. First of all, there are 5 locations around Seattle, and the one closest to us in on Lake Union with an incredible view of Seattle's skyline. The restaurant is really really nice and the food was DE-licious but around $25 a plate. (A little steep for a teacher and grad student). But, it was just perfect for us, because one of us eats for free with our gift certificate! (We can only use one at a time.)

Within a month, we use up the certificates. (We had to go to the downtown location the 3rd time because the first 2 times we went to the Lake Union one and we had the same waiter-who recognized us- and we didn't want to risk having him again and being labeled the "cheap" regulars.) We were so sad a few days ago when we realized it would be no more McCormick and Schmick's for us. I mean there's no way we were going to pay full price for two meals there! Yikes!

Now, for the climax...I must tell you that I have an incredibly smart and resourceful boyfriend. Fabio, in his sorrow and disappointment at no more of his fave seafood, gets on e-bay last night and found someone selling their McCormick and Schmick's certificates that they received on Alaska Airlines. Aparently they couldn't use them because there isn't a location in their area. Fabio was bidding today and clinched the deal about an hour ago. He got 5 more gift certificates ($125 worth!) for $5!!! We were so excited! 5 more meals at our fave restaurant for super cheap! Our only problem now is we have to make the rounds to all the locations around Seattle, otherwise, the hosts will say when they see us coming...again, "Oh great, here come the cheap regulars." We're ok with that though! The food is sooooooooooooooooooo worth it!

Anyone want to come to Seattle and have dinner with us? We'll let you have one our certificates!

YAY for Fabio!

University of Washington

The interior of the Graduate Library

The exterior of the Graduate Library

Miller Hall-The School of Education

Fabio and I spent part of our Saturday walking around UW. I have only been on campus once and that was a year ago. We walked all over campus, found Miller Hall where the Graduate School of Education is and then went inside the graduate library. All I have to say is...WOW. Both Fabio and I were in awe of how beautiful UW campus is! The buildings are all historic and the interior of the graduate library was comparable to one of the cathedrals we visited in Europe last summer. I swear, at least one movie must have been filmed there at some point. If I study there, it could end up being a religious experience!