First Dance Competition of the Season!!!

We traveled to Statesboro, GA for our first competition of the season!

 Picked her up from school early as we had a 3 hour drive ahead of us!  I wanted to see SOME of the little soloists we had competing Friday afternoon/night.

 This was playing at the start of our drive.  Thought it was totally appropriate.

We arrived at the venue around 5:30 had dinner and got to our hotel around 9:30 that night.

I went to the hotel I had reserved 2 weeks prior and found I had a slight problem.  I screenshot the reservation but NEVER scrolled down to the bottom of the page to submit it.  So I had NO reservation that night.  I asked if they had ANY rooms available and he said no, but under the circumstances he would offer me for that night only the "in case of emergency room", it was smoking but at that point I didn't think I had a choice.  I paid for the room and went to the room.

This is what I found when I ENTERED the room.

 I put her dance duffel on that chair in the corner of this picture and saw a shoe box in the corner.  I thought "well this is an out of the way spot maybe housekeeping just missed it".

 Going further into the room I notice what appears to be a slept on bed, the pillow case is stained with what looks like dark makeup, one of the pillows is flat and almost pushed under the headboard.

 This towel was originally ON the second bed.

 This towel was wet and IN the bathroom behind the toilet.

 This was hanging on the back of the bathroom door.

 Trash never taken out....

 I don't know if it's clean and just stained or dirty and needs a washing.

 Not sure what this was....

At this point I'm getting the heebey jeebies and I know  I can't stay in this room and get ANY sleep, wondering if something was crawling on me.  We packed the car back up and went to the front desk 20 minutes after we checked in.  Showed him the pictures, he was apologetic and said he hadn't gone behind housekeeping to make sure that room was clean.  I got a refund.

While we were cleaning up the room I hopped on travelocity and booked another room for the two nights we needed.  Thankfully Red Roof Inn had some availability.

 We instantly were relieved when we walked in.

  Kennedie with her wet hair was AMAZED there was a "cubicle" desk in the room.

 There was a big tub, couch and coffee table, a dining room table and two big chairs.

 I slept like POOP that night.  I found out early in our competition lives that I normally sleep bad when competition is the next day and so I started bringing a sleep aid.  TOTALLY forgot one and I paid dearly for it the next day, so 5:45 came WAY to early that next morning.

 Kennedie in her "IT" hip hop costume.

 She is a proud Washitonian - their production number this is year is based on Miss America.

 The girl loves Sushi and thankfully this venue brought in an outside vendor that has sushi and teriyaki chicken bowls.  Normally these things are priced SO HIGH but these were actually affordable - and we didn't have to leave the venue! Win Win!

 Awards after production went.

 Proud of this girl!

 Saturday night we stayed and watched some of the small groups and junior/teen soloists.  This girl PASSED OUT for 4 hours.

 She competed her jazz/musical theater piece on Sunday.

 This isn't her favorite costume as it's full sequin and is itchy! 

I love seeing how we have changed from year to year!  Mine is huge as i'm 35 lbs lighter!!! 

On our way down friday I saw about an hour and a half from our house was a Freddy's Steakburger.  We LOVED this place in Texas and I hadn't seen one in GA so we stopped on Sunday on our way home and ate dinner.  WE LOVE their fry sauce so I bought several bottles to bring home!

Washington State Vacation Day 8 (Last Day)

On Day 8, our last day in Washington, we had driven into Moses Lake the night before and then driven the rest of the way into Seattle the morning of the 3rd.  But first I had to stop at my favorite store on the way.  Thorp's has my favorite fruit logs and I haven't had them in YEARS.

We stopped for a snack and saw an outlet mall that had a Maurice's in it (our local one closed down last year so I made the family go stop for that store), as I was backing out of the parking lot I saw a glimpse of the Nintendo logo - drove toward it and it was some sort of Nintendo Plant.  Not sure exactly what it was but the kids were excited!!

 We arrived into Seattle about 11am and went straight into downtown.  I thought coming into Seattle on a Tuesday morning would mean less crowds, but what I forgot to factor in, is that it was the day before a holiday. 

 Coming into Seattle.  These houses are just stacked one on top of another!!

 Finally found a parking lot. Just as we walked to the market!!!

 Tim's favorite place to stop is the Pikes Place Brewery.

 In the four years we lived there I had NO idea there was a gum wall.  We went to the market quiet often too!!  You'd be surprised what the maps app can bring up!

 We combined all the gum into one piece.

 Our contribution to the Gum Wall!! 

 So much gum!!!!!

 This is the famous flying fish guys.  Growing up in Alaska I'm always surprised by the prices.

 I always loved buying flowers and wished that I would have been able to get some flowers to go home with me!

 She stopped and looked at all the art that was there.  We did buy her some from a local artist that did some AWESOME whale prints.

Outside the first ever Starbucks store.  There was a huge line so we just took a picture with the sign. 

 Talk about a calf and thigh burner!

 SPACE NEEDLE!!!  This is what Kennedie was most looking forward too.  We were planning on going up, but when we arrived at 2 the line was SO LONG and we would have to wait in line for 2 hours and we didn't have that kind of time.

 So we went into the gift shop got some things and went outside and took pictures with it.

 And I had a cute little photobomber!

 I also had no idea there was a troll under a bridge!  So we had to stop and find it.

 We came back from the Space Needle to go toward the water for dinner.  Our favorite seafood restaurant is called "Elliot's Oyster Bar".  And because I'm a proud Alaskan I had to take a picture of the street it's on.

 While I'm actually surprised they had a "Kennedy" at all - she will never be able to find one with her spelling.  Sorry girl!

 Eating dinner at Elliot's!!

 After Elliot's we headed to the airport to return the rental van and check our bags.

 She did NOT want to share her shoulder! :)

 She is typically not a daddy's girl so when they do this it makes my heart melt!

I got up for a leg stretch and saw this.  So cute!

We had so much fun on our vacation and I hope my kids have the memories from it to last a lifetime!  We love exploring our country and seeing just what makes America "Merica!".