The Oregon Zoo

This November we visited some friends in Eugene, Oregon and stopped in Portland on the way. We spent most of the day at the Oregon Zoo in downtown Portland. The girls really enjoyed it (Mom and Dad had fun too). 

 Here is Rosen riding the goat at the entrance.

 Naomi likes to be the baby and ride in the stroller.

 Except when sister is riding a goat! She has to do EVERYTHING big sister does!

 First stop: BEARS!

 Our little man in the backpack - his favorite way to travel.

 Loving the Oregon greenery.

 Our family getting cozy in an Eagle's Nest.

 Taking a break for kisses!

 Mama's girls :)

 Rosen: "Look Mama! An American bird!"

 (crawling through a log)

 Naomi is checking out some fish

 Our inspiration garden.

 Looking at the animals in the barn.

 WOLVES!

 Who knew a sign could be so much fun?

 Some of the locals.

 Checking out a HUGE sleepy polar bear.

 Penguins!

 I call this "Interacting with Art"

 a shy orangoutang.

 A sleepy boy.

 Looking for elephants....

 Where ARE they?

 THERE they are! :)

 Super Dad!!!

 A vulture sunning himself.

 Naomi feeling the beat with some African Drums.

 A family portrait with a special heat sensitive camera.

 A cat on the hunt. (Rodents running through the tunnels)

 A very sweet little girl. 

 MUFASA!! :) 

 Naomi's Hippo. (She claimed him) It was love at first sight.

 Naomi came back to blow kisses to "my hippo".

 Mama's favorite: Giraffes.

 Nathan's favorite: a very well endowed bat. 

 Otters.

And with that we said goodbye to the animals and took our very sleepy but very satisfied family back to the van for the drive down to Eugene. :) 

Happy Harvest!

Rosen all dressed up for her harvest party at preschool. She made a beautiful bride.

Her preschool class before the party

Before the festivites Sunday Night, Nana and Aunt Ashley came over for some stew 

and watched the kiddos get ready for the night. 

My little Gator

Our little Lady Bug. Cute as a bug's ear! :)

Some quick trick-or-treating with the neighbors
before heading to the church for the harvest party.

Big hugs for Charli May

The bouncy castle at the party

Naomi playing a carnival game

Rosen showing her loot!

Liam being a good sport even though its late.

The girls climbing up the GIANT slide

Afterwards we stopped by Grandma & Grandpa's for a quick visit

Naomi LIKES this candy idea!

Fall Fun

This year we have LOTS of leaves to clean up after 

but thankfully I've got some good helpers to get the job done! :)

"Many hands make light work"

Rosen making a pile - to jump in!

Liam was on stick patrol

Naomi was a good supervisor. She did help out by doing a little vacuuming.

Rosen also helped Mom sweep off our huge driveway.

Pajama Time!

There is just something extra cute about kids in PJs. 

Snapped these pics before bed the other night and just had to share. :)

Building the Braid Castle - Thank You!

Just wanted to take a moment and say thanks to everyone who has helped us thus far in our adventure of castle building.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!!!

• Bill & Kathy Braid (My In-loves). I could not even begin to list all the ways you have helped. Without you this would not have been possible. Thank you for believing with us and sharing our dream. Thanks for all the times you've picked up a paint brush, a broom, watched the kids for us, made innumerable dump runs, gone shopping w/us, laid flooring, helped with the boiler, brought food, and all the other little things you've done. Your encouragement and faith in us is priceless.
• Ashley Wells (my Design Star & Sister) Thanks for all your inspiration, encouragement and guidance. You gave me the courage to make decisions I felt incapable of making and your guidance has been extremely helpful. Thanks for all your hard work. We really appreciate it!
• Justin & Gloria Braid (My bro & sis-in-loves) Justin- thanks for taking time out of your vacation to help us paint, sweep, vacuum, work on the boiler and plan. Gloria - thanks for making us a nephew and helping watch the kids and sacrificing Justin on your vacation. You guys rock!
• Mary Hanna (My Mama aka Nana). Thanks for all your help with clean up and all your encouragement. It seems like every time you come over there has been a new layer of dust that you've selflessly cleaned up. Thanks also for the yummy cookie bars! They gave us some extra energy to keep going. 
• Dennis Runcorn (My Daddy aka Papa). Thanks so much for the KFC dinner. It was so nice not having to worry about running home to make dinner in the middle of our work. Can't wait to have you over for a BBQ this summer!
• Brittany Schaefer (My BFF). Thanks so much for volunteering your time to watch the girls and keep me company while I tried my hand at tiling the bathtub surround. It made the time go by so much faster and less stressfully. Love ya chic!
• Jolene Tobius (My new good friend). Thanks for sacrificing your time to come paint with me! :) Many hands makes for light work. You are always a joy to be around. Thanks also for sacrificing your husband to pull out shrubs. I know you guys don't get a lot of time together so it means a lot.
• Chad Tobius (Nathan's good friend and coworker). Thanks for sacrificing your SKIN!! I know you must of had a nasty sunburn after pulling out shrubs with your truck all day.  Thank you! Thanks also for giving up most of a saturday to help us do yard work (every man's dream, right?)

Building the Braid Castle - Painting

Justin and I primed the bright colors of red, green, coral, and battleship grey in preparation of my pretty pastels.

My Mom-in-love Kathy helped paint the girls room a super soft pink.

This is what I looked like after painting the ceilings. The girls called them my white freckles.

  

My friend Jolene came over and helped me paint.