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Princess Monks and Queen Mighty Mom where finding time to practice their royal training.  We where able to learn more and have lots of fun at the Royal Tea Party that was thrown at the Fort Vancouver Regional Library Van Mall Branch.  We did share the experience with our royal partners in crime of Lady Floppy Ears and Queen Calm and Patience.

The kids where in a good treat Ms America Clark County and Miss Clark County where in attendance. At the royal gathering we where informed of the proper way to have tea with someone of royalty.  They where also showed the wrong way to attend a tea with Princess No Manners while Ms. Clark County was the one who showed the kids the proper way to do things.  It was a royal treat!

The kids got to enter their name for a drawing for a free book, they gave away 8 books and sorry to say that Princess Monks and Princess Floppy Ears where not of the ones choosen.  But don’t worry for the young ladies they had much fun making things.

The kids where able to make a royal banner and a safe malice no one was harmed.  They also where able to take the things they learned and have some tea (pop) and animal cookies.

While there also Monks was given the opportunity to meet a knight and have a story told to her by Miss Clark County and she read many storied to the groups of Princess’s that was very much appreciated by them.

This is just one of the many events that the Mall Branch of the library does for the kids of the area.  So who knows if we will see you again.  Keep a look out for us cause we will keep a look for you.

Looking for a way to burn 4,000 calories during the holidays I decided Mt. Hamilton was the way to go. My mom and sister joined me which meant that we took our sweet time leaving. We reached the trailhead by driving east on Highway 14 an easy 20 miles past Washougal. Beacon Rock loomed up on the right and we turned to the left into Beacon Rock State Park. The parking was free and fortunately the restroom facilities where still open for use. By the time we arrived it was obvious that the daylight wouldn’t last long enough to get to the summit and back. We decided to hike to the waterfalls and the first viewpoint, have lunch and then turn around (this means we probably didn’t burn 4,000 calories but it felt like it).

The trail gets right to the business of lifting you to its 2,400 foot summit. The first mile is a mix of up and down, though mostly up, and carried us to the Pool of Winds where we were refreshed by the sound and spray of the waterfall. Along the way we passed hikers of all ages enjoying the fresh air and more than one kid out breaking in new hiking boots. Crossing the footbridge we continued to climb another mile along a narrowing trail. We didn’t pass as many hikers and and those we did pass possessed good balance or carried walking sticks in each hand. After a series of short and steep switchbacks we arrived at the first sweeping view of the Columbia River. This was our stop. Carefully following a narrow foot path we lunched on a precipice and soaked in the scenery: Beacon Rock to the west and Boneville Dam to the east. It was spectacular. By our calculations we probably were little more than halfway through the hike but the trail had carried us close to the summit. Satisfied with the exercise, views and lunch it was time to get down before sundown.

The kids had chooses of Karate, Dance, Art, Edible Art, Magic Class, Babysitting Class and Balloon Animals to name a few. This was a free event where the kids got to two do classes and between the classes they were able to have a snack break.

Monks was not able to do the Art for some reason it was canceled so she headed off to make some Edible Art. The Art was the type that was concentrated on healthy snacks and fun to make. Monk with the help of Cool Dad made Banana Peanut Butter with Oats covered frozen pop. Very yummy per Monks. Also she took a spin with a Yogurt Parfait that had blueberries, coconut and yogurt. She is not a real fan of the coconut but Cool Dad really loved it.

On to the next adventure Monks was able to make bookmarks. She made one of ribbon, that was not pink but had pink beads at the bottom that when used wrapped around the book and held your page. Might Mom was really impressed with this.. The fact that Might Mom looses most of her bookmarks around the house, she was very excited of her new bookmark. Not to let Might Mom be the only one that got a gift made by Monks, Cool Dad got a bookmark that was a picture cut out of a calendar that was laminated and has a pink ribbon attached at the end. You know it is a Monks original with the Pink.

Not sure if this is an event that will happen every week, but this was really great the teachers from the school were the ones helping and giving of their time to do the event. So you might want to check out your school and see what cheap things they have planned to get the whole family together.

Well until they play again will keep you posted and hope to see you there.

I always have a lot of projects to do and usually I need a little extra motivation to get started. Motivation=roasty mug of coffee. If the project is portable I’m on the hunt for the next inspiring coffee shop where I can get lost amid the clamor and anonymity and finally start to focus. Certain criteria make cafes good work environments: enough customers and activity for me to feel forgotten, the staff can’t be shouting conversations across the counter at each other, and WiFi is especially helpful.

Mon Ami Café blends each of these characteristics into an eclectic space in uptown Vancouver. Responsible are two enterprising young ladies with a vision to provide Vancouverites a funky place to gather for something tasty. Crepes and coffee are their specialty with savory and sweet options making it a great place for breakfast or lunch. For those who love a rich, fresh cuppa the coffee is purchased from Stumptown Coffee Roasters where beans are award-winningly roasted just across the Columbia River in Portland, OR. The café serves other locally produced libations including micro-brew beer and local wines and bestows a happy hour on Main Street during live music events over the weekend.

I arrived to find the place full of people reading the paper, families enjoying lunch, college students burried in text books and the token patron staring virtuously into their computer screen. I joined the ranks with a very well executed cappuccino and a crepe and kind of wish I had brought a person along rather than my computer to share the experience. Perhaps I need to amend my criteria with “not so cozy that I wish I was catching up with old friends”.

Starting at Ferarr’s we enjoyed an unexpected bistro setting with small tables and warm lighting. Sampling an excellent espresso con pana piled with whipped cream we marked the menu and resolved to come again for happy hour or lunch. When every last drop of espresso and whipped cream was slurped we moseyed across the hall. Connected to the bistro is a boutique full of art, cards, candles, jewelry and home decorations where we touched, sniffed or thumbed through everything.

Eventually we remember the itinerary and it was on to recently opened Marcell’s. Tempting pies glistened behind the case but we settled on a mocha, you gotta pace yourself a little. Here we explored the shelves of books provided by a book exchange, the stacks of scarves and hat’s, jewelry and art produced by local artists. We played chess and sipped our drinks and guessed the answer to the daily trivia questions: which country consumes the most coffee per capita. I guessed Ethiopia. It’s Finland. Now I know.

Once we felt we could stomach yet another beverage we left for our final destination, the newly opened Mint Tea. The vibrant paper lanterns dangling under the eves should have tipped me off, nevertheless I was unprepared for the scene of color that burst upon me when I opened the door. Exotic imports were stacked and hung around tables and embroidered seats. Mesmerized, we found the counter and ordered a pot of tea and a pot of coffee. They each came set on a tray with a mug and hourglass timer. Hungry, we also ordered muffins and bagels and enjoyed a leisurely tea time overlooking uptown Main Street.

Our cabin fever residing and our caffeine quota filled for the next week we headed home jittery but happy.

We decided to start at the Commandor’s Whiskey and Wine Bar which is located in the Grant House on Officer’s Row. We ambled down Officer’s Row admiring the grounds and reading pithy plaques about who lived where. The bar was a great find offering an extensive wine list, impressive cocktails and a happy hour menu that boasted sliders, dips, satay and bread and cheese plates. We spotted a $35 cocktail in the menu and under raised eyebrows briefly considered the idea…nah. Could it really be that good? Making sure to save room for the next stop we lingered if only to enjoy the historic ambience and decor.

And easy drive to 1220 Main Street which turned out to be a classy wine bar with two walls of window seats and stemware gleaming in the dim lights. We ordered wine, a couple salads and a pizza and for the variety added the artichoke dip. We found out the hard way that the kitchen staff don’t believe in happy hour-sized plates and we could barely fit everything on the table. Most of the pizza went home with us. But it was worth taking home. We were tempted to skip the movie and stay for the live music but in the end simply promised to come back for dinner and music the next week

I declined buying my own equipment for a home-brewing system and chose to rent a kitchen at Let’s Brew. This was a genius find: a place that is set up to brew five and ten gallon batches of beer with the ingredients for sale on site; staff who can walk you through the process; the equipment to make it easy and a fermentation room where they will store your beer as long as you need before it’s ready to bottle. The biggest advantage of all is that the staff wash all the dishes!

I reserved the kitchen, selected a hefeweisen recipe, purchased my ingredients for a five-gallon batch and began brewing. I should have brought someone along to pass the time with while the hops were steeping and the batch was cooling. Once the ingredients were combined, boiled, steeped and filtered I decanted it all into a glass carboy and stowed it away in the fermentation room for two weeks.

When it came time to bottle I showed up with my two cases of bottles and selected my complimentary bottle caps. Another great reason to rent the kitchen versus setting up your own home brewing system is the giant sanitizer that makes the tedious task of sanitizing four dozen bottles a breeze. Once sanitized, they’re ready for the final step of bottling and capping.

I left with two cases of fresh, fizzy beer manufactured by my own effort. It does take an investment of time: my batch wasn’t drinkable for two months to the day I started. And it’s not insanely cheap: with the rent and the ingredients the cost factored out to about $1 per bottle. But the experience has its perks and the satisfactory feeling of having handcrafted your very own malt beverage.

Monks and Mighty Mom found him early, he was hanging out on Saturday at Priority Health Chiropractor at 19215 SE 34th St Camas, WA near the QFC off 192nd Ave. We took our car this time, but during the week you can take the Camas Connector from Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. I forgot my permit for the reindeer again so they had to stay home.

The event was set up by the Chiropractor’s office and the Fire Department, if you took a toy you would be able to get a free picture with Santa. The toys where going to be donated. That Santa is such a great guy.

When you first walked in you could get treats and your face painted. Monks got a pink snowflake on her cheek. Of course it had to be pink. While she got painted up I chatted with Mrs. Claus, she said that Monks had grown from last year and hoped to see us again next year. I told her that we would definitely be there again as we had been coming for some time.

They also had a room where you made a decorative Reindeer ornament, and another room you where able to make a ring countdown with a star at the end, so you keep track of how many days where left to the big guy showed up.
They had Christmas movies playing in another room where you could take your treat and relax while watching the movie. We got to see the Grinch that Stole Christmas, live action one.
We have been going to this event for the last couple of years and have tons of fun every year. Last year they had caroling, this year they where not able to find someone who plays the piano, but they hope to next year.

So we hope to catch you next year with us singing, getting our picture taken with Santa and making lots of crafts.

The Vancouver Parks and Rec have this great event every year where kids come to have fun for a really great price of $9.00 a kid and parents get in free. To Dance with the Elves, visit Santa and have lots of fun.
                                                             
While there you can have a free picture of Santa that is sent to you later at home. Make some crafts; they had at least 5 different ones. Monks colored a potholder for me and decorated a gingerbread house. She was also able to take one home to do later, which will be a real cute ornament. Don’t forget the face paint. Monks didn’t she got three different things painted on her face.
                                                            
Now no party is complete without snacks and drinks. They had carrots, cookies, pretzels, hot cocoa, coffee and water. You do work up an appetite when you start dancing with those fun “middle school” volunteer elves; the other ones at the North Pole are really busy this time of year. Elves where all dressed up to party in the festive red and green outfits.
                                                            
During the fun they also had raffle draws for lots of fun items like free meals at Home Buffet, tickets to Golden Skate and JJ Jump to name a few. Sorry to say Monks didn’t win but we where a partied out girl when she was done.

This goes on every year. So you better watch out and better not cry cause Santa is dancing with elves every year. We’ll save you a spot and see you there next year.