Chocolate Milk Bubbles
Today was a day full off Corvette's Coffee Choc milk & Crayon's

On the way to IHOP this morning, we stopped at another one of my favorite local Coffee houses...Vince's Its just up the street from us, maybe a 2min drive if that! They serve wonderful Italian coffee in a great atmosphere a real cafe feel from back in Aus, not your Starbucks type place at all! Full of the character and charm of an old Italian cafe, big comfy couches, rich cozy colors on the wall, lots of vintage prints, somewhere you want to buy a coffee and then hang out at for a while! Oh and did I mention the coffee rocks....so strong, just what you need first thing in the morning!

Daddy taught the boys how to blow bubbles in their chocolate milk! The excitement on Thomas face was so worth it...."more bubbles daddy" Harry drew a beautiful picture of his red power ranger today at IHOP, while Thomas is really into trying to write letters. He will ask us to write a letter for him and then he tries to copy. It will just be a stick, but he is really trying! The boys love coloring and playing the games on the activity sheet. They have a find-a-word, which I have turned into a "find the letters in your name" game. What great entertainment for them and what a great break for mom and dad!

While in Issaquah today, we dropped in on Triple X after breakfast to see what car show they were having. Today was the Vette's.... oh soooo sexy! We all went today and had a wonder.....
Harry reminding Daddy not to touch the cars "just look daddy!" The owner was so impressed by Harry's behaviour, he thanked us for teaching Harry to respect others cars and then asked Harry if he wanted to sit in the drivers seat! You should have seen how the face lit up, Harry got to sit in a beautifully restored Vette.....truly the highlight of his day!

Some great little finds in Downtown Renton....

Sips Espresso Stand

Kat and her girls will not only make the best coffee to get you going in the morning but also offer great conversation and friendly service, just a wonderful way to start the day!

Sips drive through espresso & down the street Common Ground Cupcakes

Common Ground Cupcakes

Yummy cupcakes and a fun place to meet up with friends!

Antique Shops Galore

Renton has some of the best antique stores around. I could spend whole day and a whole lot of money browsing the eclectic collections in the 20+ stores

Feathered Nest

A wonderful little store full of great vintage finds, unique little pieces and oozing in French flare! Love it, I think its my favorite downtown store.

Here are some other shots of old downtown....

Such an eclectic mix of old fashion barbers to new gourmet restaurants. We have lived here nearly 8yrs and in that time it has turned from a nothing to look at place into somewhere you want to explore....so much culture and so much diversity, I love Renton!

Payback time!

Today the boys and I headed to Starbucks for a yummy coffee and a cookie treat!

I love it, the boys had helped me with house work all morning and as a treat I asked them where the wanted to go...Starbucks!!! Have I brainwashed them or what, next thing you know they'll enjoy shopping at Potterybarn

Anyway, today it happened again! Another free order...OMG! The car in front paid for my coffee and cookies. I told the SB girl that this happened the other week too at a different SB drivethrough. She said it is becoming a real popular thing to do, its called "Payback" were you pay for the car at the back of you.

My goal is to do this next time and start a "payback" for the day, it really does make you feel so good to get a free coffee!

Just another reason why Seattle people rock!

Kindness from a complete stranger!

No milk...agh! Come on boys looks like its Starbucks for breakfast.
So I order my usual iced mocha no whip and a few muffins for breakfast. OK, so I know its not the healthiest way to start the day for me and the boys, where is their breakfast from the 5 food groups...hahaha!

I pull up to the window and am all ready to pay, when the Starbucks guy says that the lady in front of me paid for my total order!!! OMG!!! Is that not the sweetest thing ever? And from a complete stranger! This totally made my morning, I could not believe the kindness, so I bought the guy in the car behind me his order, spread the happy feeling!
This really was a WOW moment for me, you can make a difference even with a cup of coffee! Nothing could phase me today.
I was so inspired by this stranger, to be kind to others and to make a difference in someones life even with the little things.

A little bit about our neck of the woods....RENTON

For those of you who have not even heard of the city of Renton. Here are some facts about this wonderful place to live:
Population: 15,360 covering over 17 sq miles
Located: 10 miles (16min drive) from downtown Seattle on the southern end of Lake Washington.

It has..... over 25 parks, the home of Boeing's 737 plant, home of the Seattle Seahawks training center, home to the only IKEA in the North west, a wonderful old downtown full of antiques and 100 year old buildings, is famous for its rubber duckie race and Renton River Days, has its own water park, not to mention the best moms group around =)
Famous people: Jimmy Hendrix grew up here and is now buried just up the street. Garry Ridgeway (aka, green river killer) one of US's worst serial killers.

Our Favorite Renton places:
Eating Out - La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant, Armando's Italian Restaurant and for a date night, The fin & Bone Restaurant all located in old Downtown RentonPlaying - Gene Coulon Beach Park, 52 acre park on Lake Washington
Pub - The pickled Onion, great for Karaoke, darts and good cocktails
Shopping - we frequent Fred Meyer every week but can not wait for the landing to open
Coffee - Anywhere you go you will find a drive through coffee house, my fav is good old Starbucks!

Some of the more unusual sights you may see....
A plane train, this is a train carrying up to 5, 737' fuselages on it's flatbed carriages.
A library built over a river, serious! The whole building is built on one huge bridge.
The salmon fighting their way up stream by the thousands (library is a great viewing spot for this)
A freight train going right down main street Renton between shops and restaurants
Statues of people at Gene Coulon Park that mysteriously get dressed for every holiday season!
Please let me know if know of anymore =)

Renton is a fun place to live, very diverse with race and affluence. A great place to raise a family, a very down to earth and friendly community!