Arizona Trip - November 2017

Following DC, we visited family in Arizona and we heated the pool to 95 and we could not get enough. Diane and Dennis were also visiting and the entire family spent hours swimming. That's a pretty special Thanksgiving activity, I wouldn't mind making that a tradition! I have two nieces here and I loved being able to spend time with them and watch the cousins bond - plus Arizona has so many kid-centered playgrounds both indoors and out so we were never short on fun.

Brightyn's face!! I had to offset this picture with this precious one below.

He's a pro golf cart driver now... eyes closed and grimace on

The Mesa Temple's Christmas lights are a beautiful launch to the season

Wish we all lived closer 

A Little Kid's Guide to Washington DC at Christmas

Washington DC is an amazing family destination any time of year, but I'm not the first to admit it doesn't exactly cater to the toddler and pre-school crowd. However, if you look hard enough and off the beaten path there are a whole bunch of wonderful things for young kids - especially at Christmas. 

My first recommendation is to explore the National Harbor. It gets beautifully decorated for Christmas, has a carousel, ferris wheel, ice sculptures, a giant sandy arena with sculptures to climb on, music, yummy treats, gingerbread house making and itty bitty train rides (they are expensive and most likely not worth the money or the line, unless - like us - your child is obsessed with trains). 

 

National Harbor Christmas tree is everything!!

 The National Building Museum is another off-the-beaten path location that has two play areas for kids in it focusing on, you guessed it, BUILDING!

Ice skating at the sculpture gardens in the National Mall, another carousel just across the field plus long empty paths and grass fields is a child and parenting heaven. 

But maybe not a Grandfather's heaven. We tuckered him out!

The National Botanical Gardens hosts an amazing mini-train scene that is really fun. They were prepared for extraordinary crowds so my recommendation is to do all that you can to avoid peak times which I would imagine is weekends and afternoons, but we were fine first thing in the morning. 

There is also a new Museum of the Bible which is beautifully done and a highly recommended visit for all ages (and spiritual leanings). But the best part was an expansive kids play area. We let the kids play for hours while the all the adults (except an on duty parent) got to enjoy the museum. The play area was perfectly themed with interactive Bible stories and a big climbing structure.

Kai and my brother breaking down the walls of Jericho... I think... but maybe it was the temple... 

The Capitol tours are not fun for little kids (but you didn't need me to tell you that) but being tossed into the air is always fun and when you do it in front of the Capitol it makes for GREAT pictures... and really a smile with a scenic background? What more does a parent want? Peace... quiet... a vacation without their kids... oh um... did I write that out loud? 

Any time of year our most favorite thing to do in DC with little kids is Gravelly Point. Pack a picnic, maybe some bubbles or balls and watch the planes arrive at DCA every couple of minutes. It is an awesome sight seeing and feeling these planes rushing just over your head as they land and then listening to the air swirling around you in the aftermath. My kids were in love and their excitement was contagious. 

 But the number one reason to go to DC during the holidays is to spend time with family. Here's my dad, my brother, his now FIANCE (woot woot) Elisabeth and us. Kai was probably in time out or asleep because you know that time change nearly killed all of us. Three hours shouldn't be a big deal, but something flipped and yikes!

Mickey and the Roadster Racers Party

It probably comes as no surprise that for Kai's fourth birthday he wanted it Mickey Mouse themed. The extra fun came in making it Mickey Mouse Roadster Racers which is Disney's latest Mickey show featuring all of the friends competing in various races. Kids absolutely love it, but my kids especially. I had so much fun prepping for this party which I wanted to keep basic but it got a little out of hand. We only had over Kai's closest buddies from preschool and it was so much fun watching them race tiny pullback cars on the indoor track, or bikes on the outdoor track. They also jumped in our jump house, danced to Disney's greatest toddler hits, and watched Magic Trax whirl around the family room. We had a great time. 

My friend Joy is a cookie decorating pro and she made and then taught me to decorate these amazing sugar cookies. I loved making (and eating) those chocolate-dipped Marshmallow pops and I had Safeway make us the cake, because frankly I was keeping this party simple. Ha. Oh and yes, that's Mickey Mouse shaped sandwiches in the back, to go with our hot dog bar because why not and what is the deal with Mickey and hot dogs?

Every party guest got Mickey ears, they were so cute I am still chiding myself for not taking a picture of all of them together showing off their ears.

The birthday boy and his very best friend in their adorable Mickey Mouse Roadster Racer attire.