Coffee night

I love taking pictures of the kids when we go for coffee.  They are always so excited and just look so pleased.

Talon's face when he tried his 'coffee' (white hot chocolate) and it was a bit too hot

Giving Daddy 'that look'.

Family Coffee Night

Back to our favorite coffee joint... Origins!

It's such a beautiful thing!  I wish they were closer, but it's worth the drive.  We just make a family night out of it.

The kids were so happy that they had all of their Christmas decorations up.  We took a couple of pictures in front of their tree. (Of course, they couldn't all stand still and smile at the same time.  Oh well.  They're still adorable anyway.)

Natalie is the queen of faces when she gets in her crazy mood.  I wanted to take a picture of her in her furry coat in front of the tree.  She really didn't feel like cooperating much.

She's pretty stinkin' cute, though!

More faces as she asks Talon to carry her around.

On our way home we stopped in at the outlet mall for the kids to see their humongous tree, and to take a few pictures.  It was freezing!

Have to let those crazy genes come out!

Coffee explorers

Because we have been sorely disappointed over the past many Starbucks coffees we have gotten, we are now on an mission to find some good coffee shops that we can visit.  We've found a couple. We went to one in North Salem last night, called Broadway Coffeehouse.  They serve Stumptown Coffee.  It was really good!

The kids enjoying their coffee and cookie

We are really into coffee, and trying different places is fun thing to do as a family.

If you have any good suggestions for coffee places in our area, please feel free to leave a comment!

(Another picture from another day at Origins. Have I mentioned how much we really like that place?)

Happy 6th Birthday, Kaitlyn!

Six years ago (on November 12th), in Boise, Idaho, this beautiful, brown-eyed girl came into our lives.  She is such a blessing to our family.  She is opinionated, strong-willed and independent; yet sweet, sensitive, and compassionate, with a great sense of humor and a heart of gold.  She is such a huge help around the house- especially when I have to work, and is a little mother to her siblings (and dotes on her daddy constantly!).  I love and appreciate this little girl more than words can say!

We went out for lunch, then for dessert, we went to a little diner for frozen custard.  She got a pair of Hello Kitty rain boots from Papa and Granny.

We loved Origins so much, we went back for coffee in the evening.  (She loves coffee, and since it was her birthday, she got a free one!)

The kids each got their own short white chocolate mocha. Happiness all around!

Sweet sisterly love

Trying to give me their best frown face.  It's a bit difficult when you keep laughing!

Pure bliss!

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Along with the various kinds of coffee, we tried their Gelato (which is also amazing).

If you like coffee, you really must try this place.  If you don't like coffee, they have a ton of other options.  You MUST try this place!  I wish it was closer to our neck of the woods, but for a night out, it is totally worth the drive!

Now where was I?  Oh yeah...

Opening gifts at home

She tells me all the time that she is "going to be a nurse just like Mommy" when she grows up.  So she needed a little nurse's kit to take care of her babies.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  We love you so much!

Birthdays and Coffee

Kaitlin and I celebrated our birthdays this week.  I am 35 now.  Anthony loves it, because on his 35th birthday, I made such a big deal about how he was closer to 40 than 30. So, he's pretty happy that I have now joined the "almost 40" club.

Anthony and I got engaged at Starbucks 11 years ago on my birthday.  So, we always go out for coffee to celebrate.  This year we went to a coffee shop in Gresham.  (Yes, Gresham!)  It's called Origins on NW Eastman Parkway.  A friend from work and her husband own it, and it is such a neat place.  The coffee is probably the best we have ever tried, and the atmosphere is amazing!  I had to work the night before, so I slept for a while, and we headed out in the early evening.

After coffee, we went Chipotle Mexican Grill for dinner.  I had a wonderful day with my family!

Happy 11 years together, Baby!  He always keeps me laughing and loving life!

The kids with their huge cookies.  In the end, they were completely sugared out and hyper.

We had to try the sipping chocolate.  Heaven in a cup.  It was amazing.

Their mini pound cakes are delicious too!

Like I said...  happy and hyper!

Birthday girls

Natalie wanted some "coppee"

Her face after she tried it.  Such a crazy girl!

Selfie with my little lady