Grandma and Grandpa Boot and Johnsons visit!

Jackie and her kids came back up from Kansas city again on Tuesday. It was so much fun having them and my parents here all week. We took the kids (besides Kara) to the zoo. 

All of the kids besides Jolee piled up in this little hole. I wouldn't have thought they'd all fit in there. 

We've only ever seen the sea lions from the above viewing area, as there's usually a huge line to the under water part. 

It was pretty fun, and the kids loved it.

On Thursday, my parents treated us all to dinner. It was pretty fun and tame for having 6 kids in a restaurant. They all behaved so well. 

I got to sit by Kaymie, who is such a sweetie, and Cash made me a picture on the back of his placemat. 

Friday was really nice, so we took the kids to the park. 

When we ordered our Halloween costumes last year, they accidentally sent us a ninja sword kit with a sword, dagger, nun chucks, and ninja stars. My kids weren't interested, so I've been holding on to it still in the package. I thought Cash would like it, so I asked Jackie if she was okay with him having it.  He was in heaven with it. He thanked me so many times, and kept saying how much he loved it.

Kiersten hasn't quite mastered the monkey bars, but she doesn't stop trying. 

After Kara got home from school, we let the kids play around outside for a while. Baby Jolee went down for a nap, and didn't stay out for long. 

Evie insisted on wearing her warmest winter coat, though it was almost 70° out. 

After Ben came home from work, he grilled burgers for us all, and we enjoyed dinner out on the deck. By that point, Kiersten was the one in a winter coat.  

We had birthday gifts for Jojo, whose birthday we just missed, and Cash, wo will turn 5 at the end of the month, so they got to open those. 

And Kiersten was thrilled with the nail polish and lip gloss they brought her for her recent birthday. 

I bought a little candy kit for the kids to decorate bunny and chick cupcakes. 

They all loved it, and it was simple, so they didn't need too much help. 

I told them all to hold up their favorite one, and they all chose their bunnies. Good to know for next time to skip the chicks, which were messier to make and harder for them to eat. 

They all left early on Saturday morning. It was so fun having them here, and the kids were sooo good. When they were about to leave, Cash was in the dining room, hiding in the corner. I asked what was wrong, and he said he wished he could go to Keirsten's soccer game, and stay longer. I reminded him that he'll be coming again this summer, and he cheered up a little. Then he thanked me again for the ninja kit, and I said, "now I'm your favorite aunt, ha?" and he answered, "yes. but mostly because you played wii U with me". And of course that made my day, even if I had to fish for it.

Easter Sunday 2013

Kiersten got her face painted like a bunny at school. She was really proud of it, til it was time to scrub it off. Then she wondered why her teacher would do such a thing to her.

Evie fell asleep early on Saturday, so Kara and Kiersten took care of coloring the Easter eggs. 

We were lucky enough to have Grandpa and Grandma Boot, and Jackie, Josh, Cash, Kaymie and Jolee here for Easter. They were super anxious to get outside and start hunting!

While the rest of us were at church, Ben and Josh stayed home with sleeping Evie and Jolee. Some guy thought he was at the right house when he saw our yard, and lightly knocked, and then let himself and his kids in the house. Ben was pretty surprised, and it sounds like it was awkward for everyone. 

Kiersten was the first to find her Easter basket. 

Cash was nice enough to find Evie's for her and bring it out from behind the bush. 

sweet Jojo! she loved that lamb so much!

Kara was the last to find her basket. 

Evie may not have found hers by herself, but she found Grandma's!

Happy hunters!

Mom and Dad with their Easter spoils. 

Easter family

the kids were so funny opening their eggs, and going through their baskets. They were overly excited about each item.

Kaymie got the most money, I think over $13. I thought that was pretty good for a 3 year old. Kiersten got the next most at $9. And kara got the least except for baby Jolee, who only collected a couple eggs.

The girls were really excited to have cupcakes for dinner on April fool's day. I usually like to think of more pranks, but this year, it was the day after Easter, and I didn't focus on it much. Besides the dinner, I put different candy in Ben's Easter basket than was there the day before, and pretended it had been there all along (which he fell for, but didn't turn out as funny as I thought it would). I put a plastic spider in Kara's sandwich box, and Ben put a raisin in my Mom's water glass, which was kinda funny. Also, when my mom picked up the salt grinder, the whole bottom fell off into her food, and I thought Ben did it on purpose, but it turned out to just be a funny coincidence. 

I told Kiersten she had to wait til dinner, but I knew she snuck a taste of her cupcake, because she came and asked me what the frosting was made of (mashed potatoes). and then she tried to say it didn't look very sweet. Evie was a little upset to find a meatball instead of a cupcake, so I felt kinda bad. I'm surprised Kara fell for it, since I made the exact same thing last year. 

my mom made these candy peas, corn, and broccoli. 

Kiersten was so eager to finish her "dessert", so she could have "dinner". She was way jealous when Kara got hers, and said they were candy. 

Kara ate her peas for a change. Evie ate the peas and corn, but refused to touch the broccoli. The girls tried to convince her it was realy candy, but she wouldn't believe them, and threw a fit every time they brought it back up. So she didn't get to try out the broccoli candy.