Spring Break!

We have just come off of the most successful, fun spring break I can remember having in over a decade.  We played super hard the whole week! When we were deciding what to do for fun I asked the kids to make a list of all the stuff they wanted to do during the week.  Here's the list

Notice we accomplished everything except play "I Spy".  I think when the kids take over the planning not only do they have more fun, but they are motivated to do all their ideas.  So here is our week in (a gazillion) pictures:

Started out our week by letting me pick out their outfits for church.  They would look this cute every week if I had any say over it.  Notice the faces.

 All the boys got a haircut.  Much needed.  Then they ran around the back yard and let the wind blow the hair off their necks.

 We did crafts.  My crafting skills are pretty much shown to their max here: cheerios glued to paper. 

 Hiked up around the Veteran's  Memorial.  A really cool view of the valley.

 Read lots of books.  Afton had a goal to read eight books, she got through five.  Not bad!

 Cade learned a new face.  Oh how I wish this hadn't turned out blurry.

 We stumbled upon a Mini-Masters art class at the library.  It was free, it was crafty, it was heaven for the kids.  We went for two days in a row.

 Ben making his spring scene

 Picnic.  In the back yard.  The weather the whole week was dreamy.

Mini-masters day 2: making collages

  Afton putting a border on her collage

Special treats.  Sugar cookies in Easter shapes.

We had a SUPER fun impromptu visit from my brother Chris and his fam Amber, Piper and Briar.  We love this little family and had a blast every single second.  There is something to be said for spontaneity.  It can make for some seriously awesome fun.
Here's Amber doing a special 'do on Afton.  She lets Amber do whatever she wants to her hair without a single peep.  How 'bout that.

 Piper and Ben were in their pretend world the whole time.  I caught this moment of Dr. Piper checking out a willing patient Ben.

 We took a long walk along the river and threw sticks and rocks in until we were all so itchy and sneezy from the dust we had to go.

Afton contemplated life by the river.

We had our own Pinterest FAIL.  Just so you know, dying Easter eggs with shaving cream and food coloring does not work.  At all.  Instead it made for some squishy fun and the eggs were a good treat afterward.

  There were many moments to wrestle.  Since Cade and Ben think wrestling is a daily necessity and Chris was willing to be a human trampoline it all worked out.  You can see Briar in the background wondering why boys are so weird.

 We went to our annual Easter Egg Hunt party at our friend's mansion.  It was a perfectly beautiful day with lots of sunshine, ideal temperatures, tons of eggs to find, and yummy food.  I don't think I have spent a Saturday in a more happy place or state of mind in as long as I can remember.  Can I just bottle that day and press repeat? 

 Afton was giddy to find money in some of her eggs.  I guess when you go to a mansion for an easter egg hunt you get some extra perks.

 The kids got a ride in a trailer around the 9 hole golf course and grounds.  Yup.

And no holiday would be complete without a car incident.  We went to start up our car and found a dead battery.  The good news was, it was just the battery.  No need for a new alternator.  And I wasn't stranded in the middle of nowhere when it happened.  Jared and Chris took care of it in about half an hour.  No prob.

 Easter Sunday was a nice day.  We let the kids have a little egg hunt in the back yard.

Then I cornered them for a picture after church.  This is all the cutesy Easter photo we got this year.  Jared and I were too busy chasing them around to be in the picture.

It was such a fun week!  Thanks for the visit Carlstons!  Happy Easter and Spring Break 2013!!