Easter Carnival

Stacy has been gone for a week and a half, but I am just now caught up to her last day here. There were SO many adventures!  Our last day was a good one.  We took the kids to an Easter egg hunt and carnival at Chick-Fil-A.  It was free and full of fun. There were games and prizes and a bounce house and an egg hunt, of course.

After a while, it got really crowded, but the kids still had the best time. Stacy and Paul and I took turns waiting in the lines so the kids could just run from one game to the next. They won cute little stuffed cows, candy, cookies, and lots of coupons for free Chick-Fil-A food. Yes please!

The egg hunt was supposed to be for little kids first, but everyone charged in. It was a mad house, but our kids each got their 10 eggs, and were completely thrilled about it.  Also, I scolded a 14 year old (stranger) for scooping up what could have easily been 40 eggs. I guilt tripped her into taking only the 10 eggs that she was supposed to, and no, I don't feel badly about it.

Grandma got the kids lunch for the road and we headed to the airport. It was the happiest good-bye yet. Matix still got teary-eyed, as he always does, but the pile of candy next to him helped him drown his sorrows. :) He was fine for a couple days, then I heard him say his prayers and ask Heavenly Father to please send Grandma back to him.  He was crying, and so I went back into his room and let him talk to Grandma on the phone. She sang to him and he went to sleep happy.

Thanks Stacy for another lovely trip! We miss you already and are so glad that you came.  Matix, by the way, still thinks you should come out for his birthday and Uncle Shane can take care of Auntie Coco and the new baby!  Just an idea, think about it.

family night

We went to Chick-Fil-A on family night. We didn't actually know it was family night, so it was surprising when we walked in to see lots of games and activities set up for the kiddies. They were super excited, of course.

beach day

Paul bought a skim board. So far, he is the only one who can ride it proficiently, of course. The kids and I have tried it, but it's a skill that needs some training.  Fun though, we'll see if the rest of us can pick it up.

Trying out the new sand toys Grandma bought. So fun!

Solace loved scooting around, see the long wavy trail behind him in the sand? That's what baby Sully tracks look like. :)

We found a million dried up jellyfish (we think...?) and lots of barnacles and shells.  The kids love hunting!

Loving life at the beach. Why do we still live in a city?! :)

Stacy attracted huge flocks of birds with animal crackers and pretzels.  They hovered close enough to touch them. It was crazy!

Dirty sandy Sully. He loves being free to explore!

Story Time

There are a couple different story times that we like to go to. My kids love the songs, the stories, the interactions with the other kids, the crafts... Solace usually sits on the carpet and attends to the songs and sometimes the books too. 

When story time is at the Children's Museum's library, then we also get to play there for a while, which of course, makes it even better.

zoo

We went to the zoo again with Grandma. Can't keep us away, we love it there. Plus, they opened the splash pad there, which we have yet to try out.  But it's warm enough to now.

Lots of babies at the zoo. We watched a new baby elephant get a bath.  We also saw a cute new lemur clinging to his momma.  Adorable.

The African area of the zoo. So fun!

Lullaby got to see her beloved giraffes. Her favorite animal to see. Plus she wore her giraffe shirt, she's pointing at it in the second picture.

Catching bubbles, who doesn't love bubbles?

Solace learned how to pull himself up to stand. Now he does it all the time.  Sitting back down is bothersome to him though, and he cries if he stands up and can't get back down. Sweet boy.