After Easter

 Normal life resumes... Sean went to Emily's preschool class to talk about what he does at his job. He threw some x-rays up on the window and made the kids guess what they were showing. They did pretty good. He did not include any "foreign bodies" because then the kids just want to know how someone gets a flashlight there...

 The next day my little helper took the big ferns to the car. Dressed herself of course.

 I just have to say that while Highlights is kind of expensive for a magazine, it is worth every single penny. All the kids spend hours pouring over it and Emily was quiet all morning so I could work on PTO financial reports. Okay, she did interrupt a few times and make me find the hidden items... And let the record show that she picked out the raisins herself as a treat from the store. Otherwise I would never allow them into my home. Blah.

 Came to visit Megan at school for the history fair where her topic was Dr. Seuss.

 This is from the junior high dance that the 6th graders hosted last week. None of the 6th graders were delighted that their parents were chaperoning and some were so in denial that this was possible that they assumed their parents were teasing them and that it was all a joke. Nope, no joke kids. I even got video!! This was from the beginning when it was still light out and the music hadn't started. I have to give the junior high teachers (Brockman and Vrbas I believe) huge credit here because they did an amazing job of getting everyone on the dance floor and making them do all the various group dances. Megan and one of her friends had coordinating dresses which would be a prom nightmare, but a dream come true in junior high. Mandrell sisters flashbacks, remember when they had the same dresses but in different colors?

 Megan with some of her friends, and a photo bomber. Sweet kids, hope they stick up for each other when it comes time to navigate high school.

 The next day Megan went to some science day at K-State and we put the other three to work. First up was operation mulch. I made a few trips to pick up 95 bags and then the kids helped get it to the backyard and Sean spread it around. We managed to cover about 1/3 of the area. I will attempt to get that percentage up to half and then let the other half look wild. Not sure of our overall plan for the yard yet, hate to invest too much sweat and mulch in it but I couldn't take looking at the black weed cloth back there anymore.

Then I noticed how cloudy the hot tub water was and remembered that we are supposed to drain it once in a while (or every few months). I know we could rent a pump or something but we didn't think it would be a big deal to use buckets and squirt guns. Other people let their kids have big water fights to empty it, run outside with those big guns filled up, but we only had tiny guns. This was never going to end, plus Patrick was hoarding the guns, didn't understand the concept. So on to popcorn bowls and trash baskets. Seriously, it was never ending and even during it I knew this was going to live on in family legends. The best part was at the end when Sean informed them that it was just warm up for the next day... when we emptied the pool. ha ha!

Easter Monday, everyone home

We got out all sorts of old baby toys to entertain Lane and Erin. And just like with our own kids, they fought over them. Hilarious, poor Erin!

 AJ's Pizza for easy dinner out on Monday while Sean worked.

I should find more stuff to add to this post but I am exhausted. Just had to get these posted before I totally forgot. A few days off between guests and leaving on our trip, I should be packing...

Easter Sunday 2014

 So excited to find his basket. 

 I guess Emily's was under my make-shift table in the front hall. 

 Emily had been asking for a Frozen t-shirt for a few weeks now and would point out anyone we saw who was wearing one. This one is a little more into fashion than her sisters...

 Good buddies, Emily and Lane, 4 and 3.

 Sens family

 Grandparents and grandkids, kind of standing together.

 Was windy and sunny. And yes, poor Megan is wearing an old dress of mine because we ran out of time to take her shopping for one.

 Wearing my shoes too...

 Game on for the Easter egg hunt!

 Anna in action.

 Patrick was very competitive about it, no surprise there.

 Erin not quite sure what was going on.

 Emily back in the area that seriously needed more mulch. We took care of that this past weekend, more on that later.

 Staging some for poor Erin.

 Watch out for snakes!

 Megan being very nice and helping Patrick. It's an Easter miracle.

The only one who would wear the bunny ears...

Easter guests, first few days

Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Wednesday from Texas on their way to Michigan. Then on Thursday Katie, Mark, Lane and Erin flew in for the long Easter weekend. Weather was perfect so we spent a LOT of time outside. Loving the new backyard, perfect for kickball, dodge ball, racing, basketball, tired just thinking of everything we did. Also, perfect for Easter egg hunts. Now for the photos:

 Kickball with the neighbor's grandsons. I think we sent them home tired.

 Even Grandma played, as did everyone else. Some of us were more serious about it than others. Sean suspected that I was working some aggression out towards the kids when I would whip the ball at them, dodgeball style, to tag them out. Best mom forever and ever.

 Captain Erin

 Bubble time

 I think he was chasing bubbles here, or else breaking out some dance moves.

 Uncle Mark and Grandpa saving up energy for legendary kickball games that I believe lasted for days.

 More of Erin, too cute and tried so hard to keep up with the big kids.

 Just observing for now though

 More bubbles

 Love the ball in midair here. I guess Patrick had kicked it but Anna wasn't leaving first base. It took a while to explain the whole concept of the game to them. Since there has never been a baseball game shown on a TV in our house, the kids were pretty clueless. I guess we aren't American but we do love apple pie? Hmm.

 Erin and Katie, cheering section.

 On to basketball. Let the record show that Patrick will use the pink basketball when he is desperate.

 Water table, the list of activities never ends...

 Oh here we go, a game they made up with lots of big cups. I think it was like bowling. I was busy grilling dinner and smoking up my hair.

 And now for tennis.

 Resting on Uncle Mark.

 Ah yes, it WAS like bowling. I didn't take these photos, fun to see what I missed at times.

 Yeah, like who let Emily run around outside in pajamas?

 So innocent.

 The big girls do exist.

 Playing dog cage? Got some guys coming to take this down, better enjoy it now!

 I baked the first cake at Freddy's and the second one at Bourbon and Baker. Both had cakes available on a Saturday afternoon in time for Grandma's birthday, which was technically on Sunday but we figured we should start early because they looked delicious.

All the grandkids except Erin, maybe she was sleeping already? Okay, Easter photos up next. I am on a roll now!