A Top Five list from everyone in the office to celebrate an eventful, productive, and often hilarious 2011.

Andrei: Top Five Miscellaneous Moments from 2011

1. Favorite book I read this year: Welcome to the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan. Yes, time is a goon, and yes, Egan knows how to turn a phrase. Plus, there’s a chapter written entirely in PowerPoint! (Honorable mentions go to Never Let Me Go and 1Q84.)
2. Favorite example of a picture tells a thousand words: We built a house in 2011, and this snapshot represents the muddy, complicated, foggy and beautiful mess that is the process of homebuilding.
3. Favorite proud-father moment, courtesy of our 6-year-old daughter: “Dada, I think I like math better than recess.” (And this, coming from a girl who loves recess.)
4. Favorite work moment: Watching a younger colleague in an important client presentation and thinking to myself, “Damn, she’s got game!” Having a ringside seat to see our team grow and mature is a pretty fantastic thing.
5. Favorite I’m-not-as-young-as-I-think realization: Getting a thank you card from an intern inscribed to “Mr. Andrei Mylroie”

Casey: Top Five Age Appropriate Viral Videos of the Year

1. I told my kids I ate their Halloween candy
2. Webcam 101 for seniors
3. My daughter has chosen the dark side
4. Ojai Valley Taxidermy TV commercial
5. Rebecca Black, Friday

Cher & Jim: Top Five Achievements from 2011

1. Sara D’s amazing wedding and getting a terrific new son-in-law – like we told our other son-in-law at the wedding – thanks to him, the bar is really high in our family for this position. We couldn’t be prouder of our two surrogate sons.
2. Our 15^th DHC anniversary and remembering our humble roots in our basement at 5 mile, after the Elkins’ Trapper Creek Bar planning session that summer.
3. Watching the teamwork, support and innovative way everyone has pitched in during tough economic times.
4. Working with amazing clients – many since the beginning of our company – and enjoying every minute of the relationship.
5. Leading the team as a partner group – challenging each other, opening up possibilities and having a great affection for each other.

Honorable Mention: Oh and a kicker – watching Andrei complete his new house – admiration for his tenacity doesn’t begin to cover it!

Christine: Top Five Places She's Eaten on the Road This Year

1. The Capital Grille, Washington DC  
2. Bon Fire Grill and Bar, Scottsdale AZ
3. Lola, Seattle WA 
4. Departure, Portland OR 
5. Ben's Chili Bowl, Washington DC 

Emily: Top Five Reality TV Moments of the Year

1. Kim Kardashian dashes from her marriage… after 72 days.
2. The royal wedding. Even if it did air at 3 a.m. in the US! So worth it!
3. Charlie Sheen “wins” laughs from America and loses his TV gig.
4. Any and all of the republican party debates and the hilarity that ensued
5. The Jersey Shore cast takes on Italy in true guido/guidette fashion.

Kristen: Top Five Favorite New Businesses That Opened in Spokane This Year

1. Geno’s. Yummy Italian food and live music.
2. Trader Joe’s. Finally!
3. Saranac Public House. I’m dreaming of Saranac’s patio during summer months.
4. Farmgirlfit. Gonzaga alums opened an awesome women-only gym. You’ll be sore, but it’s worth it.
5. Sweet Frostings. Blissful Bakeshop. Delightful treats one block from DHC? Yes please.

Lisa: Top Five Quotes of Her 4-Year-Old Son, Lincoln, This Year

1. While watching a Mickey Mouse Christmas DVD: "Mom is Mrs. Claus Santa's friend or is there something else going on there?"
2. At a DHC workflow meeting: “Everyone, may I have your attention please!” Everyone turns to him as he lifts up his shirt. “I’m naked!”
3. While rubbing kids Vick’s cream on his chest: “Daddy is that dog slobber?”
4. Randomly: “I’m going to fly on a magic carpet ride to the circus, India and… Ohio.”
5. Eating Chex Mix and finds a peanut I forgot to pick out (he holds it up in the air): “Momma! You know I don’t eat ACORNS!”

Michelle: Top Five PR Bloopers from 2011

1. Weinergate. No elaboration necessary.
2. Facebook hires PR firm to smear Google.What were they thinking?
3. Charlie Sheen.#Losing.
4. Bank of America debit card fee.Single handedly launches a new national movement: Bank Transfer Day.
5. Netflix’s launch of Qwikster.Two words of advice: customer research.

Sara D: Top Five Milestones of 2011

1. Marrying Jake on October 1st at the Davenport Hotel. Our wedding was amazing. The lifetime partner I gained even better. Our marriage has officially lasted longer than Kim Kardashian’s.
2. Traveling on our honeymoon in the Grand Cayman Island a.k.a. paradise. We took two weeks of glorious vacation time and I’ll compare every vacation to it in the future.
3. Adopting Snow in March from the Humane Society. When we got her, she was anxious and scared of people. After lots of training, patience, and love, she’s a loving, happy dog and an irreplaceable member of the family.
4. First time for many things this year – scuba diving (it was a near fail…okay it was a fail), snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, attending a football game (Apple Cup) at CenturyLink, traveling to Leavenworth (such a great little escape right in our state). I also joined the Spokane Club this year and got to experience Amy Black’s Skinny Jeans class -- an intense boot-camp style work out at 6 a.m. I never felt stronger!
5. Celebrating 15 years of business for my parents and their partners. The anniversary was a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and hard work over the years.

Sara J: Top Five Miscellaneous Moments from 2011

1. Favorite book and movie: The Help. Second favorite book– Born to Run, almost made me want to start running barefoot through the streets of Spokane.  Almost.
2. Favorite quote of the year: “I’m mostly a genius,” stated by my 3.5 year old Eli Williams.
3. Favorite trips: It’s tough to pick a favorite!  We logged around 25 trips to Seattle this year and each one had its own special mix of road-warrior fun.  We had the opportunity to meet with clients and work on some amazing projects!   I also had the chance to visit Hawaii and Arizona and traipse along the outer edge of the Grand Canyon! 
4. Are you smarter than a 6^th grader moment: Discovered that my 6^th grader outsmarted her parents by finding a way to turn her iPod Touch into a cell phone and texting tool, after the decision was made that she was too young for a cell phone!  Have to appreciate the technical savvy and ingenuity.  She’s texting to her little heart’s content now.
5. Favorite surprise this year: A surprise party thrown by my mom, Sharon, on HER birthday for her kids and grandkids.  Since she’s not a fan of surprise parties for her, she figured she’d flip the switch and plan a surprise for us.  The result:  wall to wall trampolines, dodge ball against some tenacious 10 year olds, and somewhat successful flying leaps and back flips into a pit of foam.  Has to be my favorite surprise party I’ve been to yet!

Searri: Top Five Signs that Life is Changing in 2011

1. Hearing my kids quote what I would say to their friends before I have a chance. (When it is something they know there is no chance of.)
2. Having to look up for the first time when talking to my teenager.
3. You can’t even talk in code in front of the kids anymore.
4. Your daughter wants summer camp really bad when she sells 800 more boxes of cookies than normal to pay for it.
5. When you can escape for a date night and not have to pay for a babysitter anymore.

Tyler: Top Five Nerd/Fanboy Moments of 2011

1. TWO SONICS?!?! Sonic Generations: greatest videogame ever made. Ever.
2. The DC Comics Universe “reboots” for the first time since the ‘40s. No more colored outer-undies for Superman and Batman!
3. The Rock returns to wrestling. If you SMELL what the ROCK, IS, COOKIN.
4. “Time to find out.” Optimus Prime has had it up to here. Later much, Megatron.
5. Winter is Coming...  Games of Thrones arrives on HBO—Sean Bean is always awesome.