Thanksgiving in Washington

We love travelling for thanksgiving.  I don't really care for the food and cooking it all by myself seems lik a crazy notion so we usually impose on some poor family member who forgot to silence their phone!  This year Jason and Christina drew the short straw!

Have you flown with two toddlers?  It isn't fun but the plane always lands no matter how pleasant or rotten they were!

 We have a family of bears.  London is our littlest bear but because she is a Las Vegas bear she does not know how to stay warm in cold climates.  I am really glad we brought her snow suit.  She ended up sleeping in it every night!

 Harper spent the whole time making friends  Here she is making friends with Addison, who is a few months younger than London.  

She made sure to stay in the good graces of Grandma and Grandpa.

But she probably had the most fun following Landon and Hayden around.  Landon was her favorite playmate.  He is such a good sport, he didn't even complain about this little two year old who worshiped him!

When Harper wasn't making friends she was finding new things to beg for.  The little four wheeler was adorable.  I think it we had more than a 12 ft x 30 ft back yard we might have considered it!

 London was a lot more easily entertained!  This box kept her happy for a few hours.

We had the best time hanging out with family and just relaxing.  Christina and Jason have an amazing house on a great property so exploring close to home was easy!  Thanksgiving is the best time to go on vacation. You get to see family and friends and then come home and hunker down for the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving in Washington: Reptile Zoo

This year we went up to Monroe Washington to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jason, Christina, Landon, Hayden, Grandma and Grandpa Huntley.  Knowing I had two very active toddlers I made sure to hit up Groupon to find out some fun activities that would be appropriate.  Only one stood out: The Reptile Zoo.

 I wasn't expecting much but this place was great way to spend a couple of hours.

Harper did not enjoy being eaten by a reptile out front.

They had a 300 pound Anaconda and you could crawl underneath to really good view of the little monster.  Harper was a little to scared to go under alone.

Grandma was the only one brave enough to come with us!

 London was still pretty young to be super interested but every now and then she would become fascinated with different turtles or iguanas.  (Notice the purple?  I want it back!)

 Man I love my girls.  They are so adorable it is crazy.

 Harper had to tell us all about this snake.

 London was not impressed.

 I always find it funny what Harper identifies with.  She will ignore the coolest animals and then be totally mesmerized but a practically empty tank.

 Brent is the best.  I come up with the most crazy plans and he seems to enjoy the ride just as much as any of us.  Who does not love petting a turtle?

 London LOVED this turtle.  I was tempted to let her ride it, but that did not seem wise.

 The Reptile Zoo had another special draw, we were actually able to HOLD the snakes.  Can you see how adorable London is?  This is the moment her personality began shining through.

 My girls are amazing, brave, fun and super spirited.  A slippery, slithery snake did not scare them at all.

 You had the option to hold one of three snakes but because there were so many of us we held them all!  I feel like anytime I get to do more than the average joe, I succeeded!  I also think the employees really marveled at how London and Harper were so interested, excited and calm around the snakes!

This was a great little outing.  I may not go there once a week but I hope to return next time we make a trip up to Monroe!

Bedroom Remodel

Brent recently went on a photography trip for 5 whole days.  I thought I was going to go crazy so I planned to surprise him with a bedroom remodel.  I have been wanting to do this for over a year but I refused to spend two thousand dollars on a bedroom set.

Here is the before.

 Everything in this room was less $50 altogether (minus the bed which was not much more)

 So I bought a bedroom set from a yardsale group for $160 and decided to refinish it all.  I found some fabric at walmart that I loved, so I purchased some particle board and batting and made myself a head board.  I couldn't figure out how to change our lamps to make them work and I didn't want to spend $100 on lamps.  Luckily $5 mod podge fixed that problem right up.

 I used chalk paint to finish the dresser, nightstands and desks to a nice royal-navy blue and spray paint to fix up the lingerie dresser. One thing I had to learn after 8 trips to the store was that spray paint to finish up the dresser. 

 One pet peeve of our previous bedroom was nothing on the walls.  It was so lonely looking.  I came up with this idea from a tv show I was watching.  I went to Goodwill to find some frames I could refinish and found out GOODWILL IS A RIP OFF!  Frames were just as expensive there as they are retail.  Luckily, they had a sale on certain colored tags so I had to spend and hour finding frames that would work.  After spray paint and pictures you get the following.

 I recently found crates online for 5 dollars. After spray paint and a few nails you get a printer and bookshelf for the desk I got for free. 

After new sheets and comforter we have my brand new room. Brent came home a few hours to early to have it all finished but I was pretty dang close and it is great because I seriously love my new room!

Halloween

Can you believe that I'm running a year behind at this point?  This year we spent Halloween with some great friends.  The Maresh's and Smiths.  Harper wasn't so sure about this whole idea. 

Getting the kids ready was an event.  We had faeries, bumblebees, ponies, and princesses.

My angel babies!

Everyone together. These kids are characters on their own so it was fun seeing them in costume.

London did not leave her headband on for more than thirty seconds at a time.  Thanks Grandma Forsberg for giving us the Snow White costime.

She was so so little!

We actually managed to do three different neighborhoods.  I was really surprised the girls made it through.

London didn't need to ask permission.  She welcomed herself to every candy bowl around.

One house was open to the public as a haunted house.  Harper was FREAKED out!

The whole gang!

Harper and Livi are so funny together.  They fight like sisters but then they are so sweet together.  I'm never sure what to expect but they loved being in the stroller together.

I hope she never has to deal with an evil step mom!

London was not thrilled that we handed her over to this werewolf.  He was a really nice guy and super patient!

The whole family.  I have the best little family in the world!

Halloween was fun and exhausting.  It took us 24 hours to throw all the candy away.  We do not need all that sugar in our life and all that temptation staring me in the eyes!