Those Good Ole' Spokane Days (Joe Graduated!)

I'm playing catch up on the blog. As soon as we moved, my computer died and it took me awhile to catch up on sorting through all the pictures I take and having somewhere to put them! I have wised up and have an external hard drive now. No more worrying about lost files!

Spokane. How I miss Spokane. It is a truly beautiful place to live. I'm afraid my last few months there weren't the most pleasant what with how nauseous I felt and then how focused I was on making moving plans. I miss looking out my window and seeing ducks and geese on the pond, deer in the field, and hearing the noise of the frogs each night. I miss the wonderful friends we made and the Sunbeams we taught. I miss the gorgeous autumn leaves, the magnificent parks, and mostly, Ezra's baby years which are now past. We made so many memories here. I felt so ready to move so I could start preparing for the twins' arrival, but when it came down to it, I was filled with so much sorrow when we did say goodbye.

Towards the end of our Spokane days, Ezra and I would try to go for a walk every day around the complex. I can't believe I already couldn't make it very far due to the twins! I thought Ezra was so adorable carrying this piece of cardboard he found around the complex.

When Mama didn't feel good, which was most of the time, we stayed busy by coloring on all the moving boxes and then of course playing on and in them!

Ezra adored the many piles of rocks around the complex. He could stay for at least 15 minutes just picking up rocks and throwing them back. He loved playing at the little playground by the mailboxes, but if he ever found a rock inside the fence where it didn't belong, he would insist on returning it to the pile right away.

Each Spring there would be adorable ducklings around the pond.


And of course, Spokane is where Ezra learned to dance. He particularly loves Brandon Flowers' new solo album. At 18 months, Ezra's two signature moves are the spin around and the head shake.

This may be silly, but this is my favorite street in all of Spokane. This picture does not do it justice at all. It is called Grand. The trees canopy the street, wild turkeys are often found here, and although the road is riddled with potholes, in the fall all the leaves turn red and golden yellow and they litter the ground. I wish I had been able to get a photo of Grand in the fall. It is breathtaking.

But the second best thing (Ezra is obviously the first) that happened to our little family in Spokane is Joe graduating from the Gonzaga School of Law! He worked his buns off not only in school, but also in many extracurriculars, including Law Review, Moot Court, and being the President of the J. Reuben Clark Society Spokane chapter. He also wrote an article that got published and completed many internships during this time, two of which were for Federal judges. I couldn't be more proud of him. Especially, since he helped me out so much at home while accomplishing all of this! I couldn't do much that last semester of school.

We were very blessed to have both sets of parents come up to celebrate with us and help us move. The graduation ceremony was superb and the Sushi we ate to celebrate was amazing. Add that to the list of things I really miss about Spokane. It was such a fun weekend and we are so glad our parents came up to share it with us!

Guess how many people attended joes graduation....then add two!....Julia's carrying her twin daughters pretty well wouldnt you say?

See what a law degree does for you?

January

Winter in Manito Park

I love January, but this January has brought with it much heartache and sorrow. Still, everything seems so new at the start of a new year, and the idea of a fresh start sets my love for goal-setting into full swing. Of course, it is also my birthday month, but I have never been that into birthdays. I like to celebrate other's birthdays and I don't mind getting older, but I'm not one for parties or events that put me at the center. So, this month I will be sticking close to home and family, that is, assuming Joe will ever get a break from his hectic last semester of law school.

This January my spirits have been lifted because I've had the White Christmas soundtrack on repeat. Normally after Christmas is over I am so done with Christmas music, but the big flakes of snow falling outside my window right now have bid me continue on with the festive and romantic spirit of the holiday. I think I'll bundle up, make a big mug of hot chocolate, and watch the snowflakes fall. After all, this very well may be my last winter with snow. Maybe I'll even get a little crazy and add some whipped cream and mini chocolate chips to that hot chocolate... maybe.

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Christmas Festivities - Students in Spokane Style

Winter is upon us. The pond is frozen, but the geese and ducks remain. Thankfully, there has been hardly any snow thus far, so maybe I will enjoy the snow all the way through January this year. One can hope, since it often lasts, on and off, through at least April.

We brought back presents from Thanksgiving with the family and Ezra loves playing with them. He shakes them, hides them, and tries to convince me and Joe to open them so he can enjoy the riches inside. It is so fun to see his excitement for all things Christmas. One year can make such a difference.

Well, we did end up giving in and opening the presents early. How can you say no to that face? Plus, we are travelling so we would have to anyway, right? Ezra loves all his gifts. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Sears! I think his top three from the Sears side would have to be his new singing police car, Go, Dog. Go!, and his animal magnets. He is one lucky boy.

Joe and I decided to get him one big gift that combined as a birthday and Christmas gift. He loves it and likes to stick his magnets in the holes so they fall inside. At least three times a day I have to move his Zany Zoo so he can start all over again.

Amid finals, we were also able to sneak in a trip to Trader Joe's for some Candy Cane Joe Joe's (Trader Joe's to Joe is the equivalent of a toy store to a child). We enjoyed said joe joe's while looking at Christmas lights and taking in an unusual light show down the street from us. I never knew so many barnyard Christmas songs existed. Strange.

We also enjoyed a Journey to the North Pole Cruise in Coeur d'Alene. There were over 1.5 million lights and the experience is rated in the top ten for light shows in America. The lights were gorgeous, but the fireworks at the "North Pole" did frighten Ezra. However, he enjoyed seeing The Grinch, elves, and Santa Clause, who read off Ezra's name on the nice list.

Well, we are enjoying Marco's homemade cider recipe up here in the frigid north, but we can't wait to go see family and be done with finals. But not even finals can dampen our Christmas spirit, especially when we see the joy it brings our little boy. Christmas always brings so much magic and happiness. It is truly the best time of the year. I am so thankful for Christ, the true gift of Christmas, and hope we can all keep His Spirit and mission in our hearts this holiday season. Below is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. Now, it reminds me a lot of Ezra and the sparkle I see in his eyes.

Apples, Sushi, & A Giant Red Wagon

A few weeks back we were thrilled when our sister, Elise, came to visit us! It was a wonderful weekend. Here are a few of the highlights:

1. Watching Ezra and Elise get reacquainted. He went from all scowls to all smiles.
2. Nerding out while playing Mages. It was so much fun and I'm hooked, but alas, Elise is the master mage. I will need to invest in my own copy of the game!
3. Going to all of our favorite places around Spokane, including Gonzaga Law Campus, Riverfront Park, and Manito Park.
4. Going somewhere new, Greenbluff, to pick apples and asian pears and partake of the scrumptious pumpkin doughnuts and apple cider. ((Our apples have now been consumed in the form of an amazing homemade apple pie, and I have it on good authority that Elise made hers into an unbelievably good looking french toast bake. YUM! I am going to have to go pick some more apples just so I can make that!))
5. SUSHI! I can't emphasis my love for sushi.com enough. I dream of tako yaki...
6. With our three heads combined, inventing an asian pear turkey bacon pizza. It was surprisingly good.
7. Simply getting to see and be around Elise! We do not get to see her enough!