Sometimes there are so many things that have happened that it would be a short novel if I elaborated on each one so in light of the cliche', a picture says a thousand words, here we go.  All the Aunties were in town for Easter and the days surrounding it.  On Easter, we also had quite a few good friends over that are just as close a family.  It was a colossal weekend of projects, food, laughs, good company, more food, hikes, and roars.  The guys were hard at work and the kids used the paint up for some outdoor creativity with Auntie Amy, and succulent dissection between Reghan and Nonnie. 

 

 

Saturday morning hit the ground with haircuts for all by Auntie Katie.

Later on the kids went to "Candyland" at the community center for a massive Easter Egg hunt.

 

Ashlyn and Heath were in the first wave then the older kids got a run at it.  They were quite serious.

 

 The older kids were a bit more ruthless.

Back to the house where the guys were still working outside so we began Easter dinner preparations.

 

Followed by playtime in the garage.  Who knew a messy garage could be so much fun, Auntie Amy knew, that's who.

 

Coloring Easter Eggs.

Planting the Jelly Beans because we all know that if you plant Jelly Beans, only the Easter Bunny's magic can make them grow into suckers the next morning.

The Easter morning sugar high begins.

 

And continues when they run outside to check on their Jelly Bean suckers that miraculously grew overnight.

Mmm, suckers.

 

 On to the chocolate fondu for breakfast.

 

Continuing on with the day of gluttony, it was time to get the legs of lamb that had been marinating on the grill.

 

  Friends begin to arrive with a backyard Easter Egg hunt and lots of energy.

 

 

 

 Snack time in the play room.

Reghan was loving taking care of Bea.

 

 Brian sporting a lovely apron that so brought out the color of his eyes.

Time to eat.

Emily fit in perfectly at the kiddie table during dinner.

What's an outdoor dinner without water guns?

 

Before bedtime, we had one more egg hunt.  Plastic eggs were filled with miniature glow sticks and in the black of the night we witness pure joy when the kids went outside and saw the eggs glowing all around them.  They ran with them, threw them, played catch with them, all the while all we could see where the eggs moving and hear their laughter.  A great way to end the day.

 

Because Sunday wasn't enough, the next day awoke and we headed out for a hike.  I took the day off but Steven went in and Reghan had school so we had the younger ones with us.

 

 

The view for most of the hike since after about 50 feet the kids decided they didn't want to walk anymore.

 

Happy boy.

Down the hill to the beach for a picnic lunch.

 

 Auntie Jen Jen braved the cold water to stay by Heath's side the entire time.  Brrr.

 

 The obligatory sand angel.

The last dinner with all of us together for a while followed by an early birthday celebration for Ashlyn.

She loved her gifts with a breakout present of a pirate purse filled with finger nail polish compliments of Auntie Amy.

Blow on those toes Ashlyn and Auntie Jewelz.

I admit, when we get together we oftentimes abide in a bit of spirits that cloud our adult judgment  which led to the recreation of the kids activities earlier in the night of eating the cake as a group which quickly turned into a food fight.

Leaving no left overs for the kids the next day...ah what a family.