Pre- 12 Family Celebration

We had a small family celebration for Josie's 12th birthday on Friday, the 28th, the day before her actual birthday.  The meal she requested was "Favorite Soup" This has been her favorite soup - thus the name- since she was 2 or 3.  It is a recipe from a Colophon Cafe.  In my 10 years of living there I went there many many times.  One time when Marty and I were early dating we went up for the weekend and stopped at the cafe for lunch.  I bought their soup recipe book and have been making their yummy soups ever since.  The soup is actually called Mexican Corn and Bean Sopa and it is the simplest soup to make.  I'm thankful her favorite meal is a simple one.
cool restaurant in Bellingham called
Marty and I both wrote her heartfelt words in her birthday card and both

teared up a bit when she was opening her gifts and her card.  She gave us both hugs, told us how much she loved us and then in her 12 year old way said "please tell me you guys aren't going to cry at my party tomorrow night?!?"  We wiped our eyes and assured her we would hold ourselves together ;-)
Marty always gets the kids VERY nice gifts.  Too nice, if you ask me.  They are typically practical so it is hard to complain.  Last year Josie got a brand new cell phone that she has taken very good care of and has not shown any signs of being addicted to it.  Benjamin for his 8th birthday got a lap top.  Josie a few

years ago got a laptop too but for some reason her several year old lap top just completely stopped working.  Marty, in his true "I give big gifts" kind of way, pulled out all the stops with a brand new Mac Book Air.  Which was received with a lot of hugs and a lot of
THANK YOU's. 

Benjamin got some collecting sleeves and a notebook to put his Pokemon cards into. He was busy with this for a good solid hour!
Happy HAPPY birthday to Josie.  She truly is one of a kind.  She has a heart of gold and is not only very kind, intelligent, beautiful and funny but truly one of my most favorite people on this earth.  I love you, sweet Josie Marie!!  You are an amazing young woman!