Vacation

Almost a month ago, we (Leighton, Randy and I) made the 16 hour drive out to Jackson WY for vacation.  You can probably guess by the destination it was Randy's turn to pick a vacation spot, cause really WY in the winter....brrrr! 

The drive actually wasn't too bad...all I  know is that if you think Iowa is boring to drive across you haven't driven across Nebraska! Leighton was an awesome rider, beside a little car/altitude sickness and one speeding ticket (Randy's), the ride was pretty uneventful.

Our main purpose of this destination was to ski. Due to cold weather and lack of good snow, once we arrived we figured this vacation was going to be a bust, but then the skies got cloudy and dumped about 5 FEET of snow on the month!  Making for one happy skier in our clan (Randy)! 

We were able to get Leighton up on skis, short time as it was, she seemed to enjoy it.  We saw wild Elk, horned sheep, lots of snow, played in the children's museum, did a little swimming, and managed to sleep in each day! (Thanks to the boys playing back in Buchanan Co @ grandma's/nana's...we did start to miss them...well at least by Thursday!)

All and all a good vacation even with lots of snow and very very cold temperatures.  I am sure we will be back for a summer vacation once the kids are a bit older.

(yay for me after a good year for finally figuring out to insert a slideshow, now will I be able to it again?)

Our first DIY courtesy of Pinterest

I am sure many of you have joined or checked out the new craze called Pinterest, if not, let me warn you it is addictive!  It is a hodge podge of people ideas consumed in one website to share...recipes, do-it-yourself projects, hair styles, fashion, kid crafts...you name it you can find it out there! 

Given I am a loyal follower/user of the site, I came across a potential solution for the following issues...

Issue 1: Clutter, Clutter, Clutter  (and yes I am mildly embrassed to post this photo) this is our laundry room/changing station on a typical day

Issues 2,3,4,5 in no particular order

Leighton using her laundry skills and starting the dryer.  She likes "helping" and our clothes are always extra dry or she love throw and few item in the washer and starting it.

Ryan notroius for pull handfuls of clothes out while loading

His partner in crime, Grant, gets a kick out of Mommy telling him "no no" and throwing the clothes back into the washer multiple times

Tag teaming the washer

Last issue and probably most concerning, is the boys trying to climb into the washer

Our solution I came across on Pinterest and here is our new laundry room!!

How much better is that!! I love it!! The washer/dryer at this height makes them much more user friendly and we will able to store laundry baskets and items under the washer instead of on top.  The only down fall is our changing station is gone, but that's what the floor is for right!?!? (just kidding mom!)

Now here's the best part...can you believe Randy made this!?!?! Don't worry, I am still a little shocked myself! When I first showed him this project, I commented "I wished we lived closer to home so my Dad could build this"  I guess that start the challenge as I did actually think he want to build something!

It took us one day and numerous trips to Menards, but for our first project, and Randy never having any shop, saw or building skills in his aersenal...we are pretty proud of the outcome!

Doesn't he look "handy"

Got to love our garage/woodworking shop

The finished product before paint

Not to shabby!