Easter and Visitors From the West

Yay! We love visitors from the West - or any visitors really. We were so lucky to have Grandma and Grandpa Mann come to stay with right after the Shurtliff cousins left. The kids adore their grandparents and relished the attention and activities Grandma came up with. Here's what we did during their stay (not necessarily in order).

We ate at a delicious pizza joint in Blowing Rock called The Mellow Mushroom. Super yummy pizza.
The week of Easter and the kid's spring break was gorgeous. It stayed sunny and in the 80's all week. Perfect weather for sand playing at Jetton Park beach on the lake. Grandma and Grandpa soaked up the beautiful weather. It was even more enjoyable knowing that it was snowing in Utah that week.

The kids wanted to try out their new swim wear from the Easter bunny. Who needs a pool when you have plastic bins?

And who needs a stage. A table works just great for the kid's impromptu show.

Every great once in a while General Conference falls on Easter Sunday. This was the year and it makes the day extra special. Every conference we make 7 layer dip and other yummies. The kids enjoying playing Conference Bingo and coloring in the Conference packets. They actually listed to quite a bit of it and Addie kept saying, "I love conference". She was sad, as was I, when it was over. I think she really enjoys the good food and the feeling conference brings.

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We had the missionaries over for Conference and Easter dinner on Sunday. After dinner the Elder's inner child came out with an inventive game of "hippity-hop bop" where you try to knock your opponent over by bopping into them with the hippity hop. The kids thought it was hilarious. Even Rob gave it a try.

Alex sporting his new goggles, or as he says "gwobbles".

Since we didn't have regular church on Easter Sunday due to General Conference the kids got new play clothes rather than Easter dresses. I wasn't up to making dresses this year and they have plenty anyways. Alex just wanted to wear his swim suite and "gwobbles". The girls looked adorable in their rainbow plaid shorts.

Here's what this year's Easter basket looked like.

We played "hot/cold" to help the kids find their Easter baskets. Maycie was the last to find hers. I can't tell you how many times the kids walked right under the basket hanging on the dining room light. Good hiding spot Easter Bunny.

Every time we went to Target (which was often) Alex would sit and play with the airplane candy toy while I checked out. Every time he asked if he could get one, I said no. And every time I told him to put it back when it was time to go, he did so without much of a fuss. So, the Easter Bunny rewarded him with an airplane candy thingy that lights up and spins it's propellers- just like the ones at Target .

The annual rock hill Easter egg hunt.

The big rock hill across the street is the perfect place for an egg hunt. Lots of nooks and crannies to hide stuff in. We joined in with our neighbors, the Sixts and Alex's little neighbor buddy, Dillan.

Maycie insisted on wearing a size 12-18 months bunny costume to the egg hunt.

Dying eggs with Grandma Marilyn.

I think Maycie and my hands were the worst. It took us a week to get all the dye off.

We took a trip to the mountains up to Blowing Rock, NC. It's a touristy little town with a great community park. The kids played in the huge climbing trees, made sand angels (see Maycie above) and messy with ice cream cones. It was a perfect day and the drive was beautiful with all the pear trees and red bud trees in bloom.

Thank you so much, Grandma and Grandpa, for taking time to come and see us. We had so much fun with you.