The Diagon Alley Project

The kids had a half-day before Thanksgiving, so we headed down to Ballard to finally visit the Diagon Alley Project.

Parker was Harry Potter for Halloween, so he has an awesome costume (that I made), but he refused to wear his scarf, he does, however, have the scar.

This place is incredible, it's just built into the driveway beside these people's house, but you feel like you're wandering down the movie set.

The Mantel

I cleared out the mantel in preparation for Christmas decorating, Cecily has claimed it as her home.

Today's Project ~ I made a sign!

I posted a picture on Facebook and ended up making two more of these for my friends...by the third I think I finally figured out how to do it correctly!

Trip to the tiny zoo!

We made our first trip to the tiny zoo.  They have a new "photo op" section in a yurt with several sleds.

Cecily liked this sled, it's "Cecily sized"

Today's Project ~ Family Name Sign

MONTHS ago, a friend sent me a photo of a sign and asked me if I could make one for her family.  I said sure, and then we forgot about it off & on for months.  They moved into their new home in November, so a house-warming gift seemed like a good enough reason to get going on it.

I wanted it to be black with yellow writing, so first I painted the whole thing yellow and put on the stickers.  

To be honest, I could have stopped right there and everyone would have been happy, but why do things the easy way if there's a harder way available?

Now, a coat of black:

Then, spend hours picking all the tiny stickers off, and it's done:

Slumber party

We had some friends over for the evening and they got to stay for a slumber party...clearly everyone must sleep on the floor.

Salish Lodge

Last year, my Dad gave Keith & me a gift certificate for one (week) night at the Salish lodge, along with 2 spa treatments and breakfast for 2.

We forgot about it over the summer, but fortunately the kids had 2 days off in November, so we sent them to Grandma's and headed up to Snoqualmie.

It was so amazing!  Honestly, if we were independently wealthy, I don't know that we would have much a much fancier car or house, but I could totally see us spending much more time in luxury hotels.

We had a fireplace in our bedroom and there were fireplaces scattered all around the hotel.

We got engaged (almost) right here, (almost) 13 years ago!

...of course, we're off by a few weeks, and that gazebo is long gone, but whatever.

Since we were there, we had dinner in the hotel restaurant as well.

We've done brunch at the Salish a few times, it's one of our favorite Birthday/Anniversary spots.

Check out that million-dollar view!

...it actually did clear up by the time we finished breakfast.

 

...clearly one of us is better at lining up our shots than the other.