2023 was probably the busiest year of our life (so far).  With Sofia taking over ownership of the café, both boys in preschool, and Richard balancing school and work, we had very little downtime.  We spent most of our time in Tacoma: at mama’s café, at the glass museum, at the beach, or just taking the light rail for a joy ride.  

Noah had his third birthday on June 2nd.  He has turned into a full fledged toddler this year.  He is still attached to mama and papa and notices immediately when we leave the room.  He asks questions all the time, and has perfected his angry face when we say no.  Noah learned the word Friend this year and will often remind us that Henry is his Best Friend.  They maintain a friendship that has its own hilarious games and often devolves into screaming and crying.  

Henry turned five on December 27th.  He has become absolutely obsessed with trains—from the Brio tracks running all around our living room to the light rail that he asks to ride every single day.  Henry has blossomed in the last year—quickly building an expansive vocabulary.  He is independent and know what he wants.  He rides the bus to and from school every day and loves it.  He is excited and ready to start Kindergarten next year.

Sofia became a business owner!  She bought the first half of Red Elm Cafe on January 1, 2023.  She will become sole owner on January 1, 2024.  The cafe has about ten employees and sits at the center of the Hilltop Business District.  Sofia spent a good deal of the year learning the ropes and preparing for the role of sole owner.  Sofia has quickly become a recognizable face in the neighborhood and often will run into people she knows from the cafe.  

Richard balanced his job as the Assistant District Manager at Social Security with taking classes at Tacoma Community College.  He is currently on track to graduate with an Associates in Accounting in March of 2024.  He took over the bookkeeping for Red Elm Cafe in September 2023.  In October he spent a week in Colorado for his father’s surgery and returned in November for the first round of chemotherapy.