Besides business owners, you two are both parents of four very adorable children living in beautiful Washington. Your home seems very inviting, bright, and happy. Could you talk to us a bit about what home life is like and why/how Washington is fitting for your family?
When it comes to the morning routine in our home, our focus is on fostering independence. I (Katie) wake up at 5:30 and head out of the house to get some exercise and alone time. I am home just as they are waking up. I help the boys get ready and make sure they leave the house prepared for the day. Liberty (the baby) usually wakes up in the middle of all this and joins us at the breakfast table. Some mornings it feels like I'm herding cats, but for the most part, the boys do a great job being responsible for themselves. Once Ben and the boys are off, it's just me and Liberty for the day. We play house together, do the dishes, laundry and run errands. Luckily she is a great sleeper and on a very consistent schedule. This allows me to get my Puj work done during her nap time or in the evenings after stories and bedtime.
We have a very simple yet playful home. Because we have 4 kids and we live in a place that rains through the winter, it was important to make the interior a great place to play. The basement is very open so the kids can race their cars and play tag. And we also created a network of secret passageways connecting the boys' bedrooms and several closets. With 4 levels and 6 entrances, it is a big hit not just with our kids but with the whole neighborhood.
One thing I love about Washington is the people. I think it's the rain and gray days that keep everyone here grounded. And summers in the North West are absolute paradise. There are business tax advantages as well. I also love the great creative community in the Portland area.