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!

Whats cookin' good lookin'?
Braised lamb shanks...mmm

With Dave working so much at the moment, when he is finally home for a meal I really want to make it special! So I try and cook something yummy (or suggest somewhere nice to go...lol!)

The other night I tried a new recipe for Dave, as I know how much he loves lamb shanks. I found some at Fred Meyer, lamb is not always easy to find here in the states. But when I do, I buy it all up! Rosemary braised lamb shanks on garlic mash potato, with a glass of red wine...yummy! The Lamb slow cooked for over 2hrs in a mix of red wine, garlic, pearl onions, cherry tomato's, chicken stock, rosemary (from our backyard) and seasoning, very tasty!

Red wine Rosemary Olive Oil Vine ripe Tomato's The aroma was amazing and the taste was so comforting...



I found this recipe on a really wonderful website http://www.allrecipes.com/ you can type in what you have and it will find a recipe that uses your ingredients. It can also compile shopping lists for you using all the ingredients you need. Its pretty addictive and very inspiring when it comes to trying new recipes. Can't wait to try something else from here.

I am excited to learn some new cooking techniques and even more excited to see the look on Dave's face when I cook....the way to a mans heart really is through his belly!

The star of the show.....

at the Northwest Pony Roundup 2008!

Today we started out the same way we always do on a Sunday morning, breakfast at IHOP!

We then spent the rest of the day at a mustang car show with Grandma and Grandpa. This is the biggest Mustang car show in the states, so I guess the biggest one in the world! It was great, not only because it was Mustangs but because Dave's car was being showed for the first time!!! Whooo Hoooo!!!

Dave's car being showed was a total surprise. We drove to the Mustang shop yesterday to show the grandparents and it was gone... It could only mean one thing (or maybe it was stolen...but who would steal a car with no seats!) Anyway, we got to the show and guess what we saw first.....The car! It was quite exciting. The perfect blue paint glistening in the sun, Dave was so proud and I was so proud of him, a very special moment! Sure it was not finished and in no way was it driven there, like I said it doesn't even have seats yet or wheels or an engine...lol! But man did it draw the crowds, just a stunning looking car, we can not wait to see it finished.

Harry found his favorite Mustang..... next to Daddy's of cause!

XXX Car Show in Issaquah....

One of our new favorite weekend traditions is checking out local car shows!

Sorry its a little small to see the list of car shows, you can check out the website on the side of our blog

On Sunday after Breakfast at Issaquah IHOP (our first and favorite weekend tradition) we head 5mins down the street to a diner called XXX. I know strange name and no its not adult rated...hahaha! Its a real 50's diner decked out in cool 50's decor. Every weekend during summer they hold a car show specializing in a type of Muscle car, Vett's, mustang's, trucks....etc very cool!

Today we got to see the General Lee from the Duke's of Hazard. It was one of the cars used in the TV show, one of 17 that didnt get destroyed during the show. Over 250 were destroyed in the series.

Harry thought it was very cool, especially when they honked the horn!

This 67 Fastback is just like Dave's.... He can't wait to show his car, when its finished that is...Oh and drivable....hehehe!

The count down has started.....
In T minus 30mins Daddy gets home!

We are all so excited to see daddy, we've missed him so much!
Dave left for California last Sunday on business, I think he was heading to Burbank?
5 days really felt more like 5 years! Although I really can't complain, on a positive note, the boys were pretty good and the sun was shinning so lots of fun was had. But its hard going it alone, I am so grateful to not be doing this mom thing solo.
Its going to be so good to see Dave, can't wait to have a big squishy hug!
Last night we had a horrible thunder storm (I hate thunder storms) I really wished he was home for it, it was quite scary being in bed all alone. I was relieved when the boys came running in at 1am. My gosh what a huge thunder and lightning clap, it scarred me to death oh and the boys. I was so glad they jumped into my bed to look after their mommy....hehehe!
Its now 20min until the plane lands at Seatac....yippee!

More Pancakes Please!

Waking up to the smell of breakfast being cooked....what's the special occasion?

Dave makes the best Pancakes in the world and I am the lucky recipient...mmmm!

We all got short stacks covered with sticky maple syrup. Before Dave had even cooked mine, Thomas was already waving his plate at Dave saying "More Cancakes Please!" he is a pancake hoover! blink and they are gone. It was so special sitting down together as a family for breakfast, its been a while since we have done that at home, thanks for a yummy family breakfast daddy!

What in the world are we doing in Seattle?
I have been getting this question a lot lately so thought I would post it here.
In 2001 Dave was offered a job here with Boeing developing the software for the AEWACS...very exciting project with the Department of Defence. On what was to be an 18mth contract.
Dave and I (and the dog) packed up our life in Australia and ended up moving to the states 2 weeks after 9/11, what a crazy time to fly let alone move to a country that was about to go to war!
Anyway, long story short. We are still here! 7yrs later and loving it more than ever. Dave found work with another aerospace company after our contract ran out with Boeing last year. He is now working on the software for the Boeing Dream liner.
Since moving here we have had 2 amazing boys, bought a house and made the most wonderful friends.
Even though we do get homesick from time to time and we miss our family and friends so much, not to mention the beautiful Sydney weather....this is home!