Another Year Older

Enjoying the show at Rancho Chico

Sigh..... Dylan turned 9 yesterday. I can't believe he's so old! Nine years from now he will be a senior in high school - Lordy!

For the second year in a row, Dylan has made my life easier by wanting to hold his birthday party at the bowling alley. It's the best! All the kids meet us there, bowl for an hour, have a soda, open presents and eat cake - and they never need to set foot in my house! His party was last Saturday so last night he chose Rancho Chico for his birthday dinner. Rancho Chico is the best little Mexican restaurant. Authentic but just American enough to satisfy the less adventurous. And, of course, several of the waiters come out and sing in Spanish to the birthday boy. I'm pretty sure that's why Dylan wanted to go there!

Lyndsi has kept us busy this week as well. We went to her Montessori Christmas play tonight and last night we went to her dance recital. All very fun!

This Saturday is our 4th annual Beer and Cookie exchange. I'm looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the company. I even baked some gluten free cookies for the event! If you live in the area, come on by. We start at 7.

Baby, it's cold outside! Wow! We haven't gotten the snow that Spokane has received but boy did we get the frigid air! Last weekend, we found ourselves in about 8 inches of fresh white stuff and bundling ourselves against the 5 degree weather. The snow hasn't melted because we haven't been above 10 degrees since Sunday. It sure is pretty!

Ladies' Night at Ace Hardware

Yep, it was ladies' night at Ace Hardware in Omak - and I went. I'm sure you're asking, "What is ladies' night at Ace Hareware?" Honestly, I don't know! It sounded like an interesting idea (kind of like a Beer and Cookie Exchange for the holidays) and a friend from school was going so I went, too. I wasn't sure what I was looking for but they sure know how to treat the ladies at Ace Hardware on ladies' night! Yummy snacks and lots of prizes - that's the way to my heart! I didn't eat anything but it sure was fun to watch the chocolate come out of that fountain.

After that we went to the local winery for their Ladies' Night. Now that I understand! Free wine tasting and good cheeses - fabulous! I sampled several great wines and snacked on peppered olives as I stood in line waiting to buy several great wines. At 15% off, who could resist!

I am so happy to have a successful and classy winery close to home (about 10 minutes away to be exact!). It will be a fun excursion when we have visitors.

I really should be going to bed or writing a Christmas letter, but the idea of a Ladies' Night at a hardware store was not an idea I wanted to keep to myself. Just thought I'd share a bit of what I do for fun around here with the rest of my blog followers!

BTW - that cute little gerbil who was following me around the other night? Well, I think he might have been saying good-bye. He passed away sometime before Thanksgiving morning, which is when I found him. Lyndsi wasn't too upset....she just picked him up by the tail and carried him off to show Dylan. Hm.