Grant's Party Pals

Ella

Grant and Sydney--loosen that choke-hold buddy!

Grant and Alayna

Grant and Jake--still best buds!

Grant turns 4!

Well, I finally got up the courage to host Grant's first friend-party. Our theme was bugs and butterflies, and the kids had fun hunting around the room for hidden bugs, catching butterflies in their nets, and busting open a ladybug pinata. For lunch we had dirt, snails, and bug juice. The kids were a bit skeptical at first, but joined in when we explained that the dirt was really pudding, the snails were pizza, and the bug juice really grape juice.

Here's Grant and his pals putting stickers on their bug-catchers. I just love Target's $1 section!

I made cupcakes in little flower pots and Grant and I adorned them with cookie flowers and worms.

Easter Cuties

Here are the kids all dolled up for Easter Sunday. Thanks Nana for Ella's cute dress--she and Grant matched perfectly!

Round Two. . .

As if the kids didn't already have more than enough candy, we headed off to Grandma and Grandpa Clark's home in Eagle for egg hunt #2. There were candy eggs to find, as well as money eggs, and one BIG money egg. Dan spotted the big money egg early on in the hunt, but we had to find all of Grant's other eggs before we could claim the prize. Unfortunately, he let it slip that he knew where the egg was, and was restrained while all the cousins made a mad dash for the egg. Better keep your mouth shut next time Dan!
Ella and mom hunting for eggs
Ella
Grant
Another special event this week was seeing baby Meg sealed to the McCauley family. She is such a sweetie, and we feel so blessed to have her in our family.

Easter Egg Hunt and Brunch

On Saturday, we hosted an Easter egg hunt and brunch for our friends, the Tanner's and Hom's, and Pam's kids. The kids each had 19 eggs to find--way too much candy!
Here they are opening their eggs and sorting their treats. . .

We found these cute girls (L-R Brinley, Ella, and Sydney) under the tramp stuffing their cheeks with treats.

Boys in the house

This weekend Pam and the boys came to stay. Grant was beside himself with happiness at having so many brothers to boss around. They brought him a hotwheels race track for his birthday, and they all had fun (including Dan) building it and racing the cars.

The New Family Trampoline

Well, we finally gave in and got a tramp for the kids. Dan and I wrestled this thing together last night, and the task just about put me into early labor. I swear I felt my hips separating a couple of times as we each tugged those darn springs into place! But we finally succeeded, and Grant is loving it. Ella, however, is a bit more aprehensive. She refuses to even set foot on the thing--she must be in someone's arms at all times. I am looking forward to sunny days ahead when I can send the kids outside to jump their little brains out and then come inside for a nice long nap.
Testing the waters. . .
5. . . 4. . . 3. . . 2. . . 1. . .
Blast off!
Just look at those happy faces!

Dying Eggs with the Hom's

On Monday night we had Brad, Lacey, Sydney, and Brooklyn Hom over to Dye easter eggs with us. We managed to get through the whole night without tipping over any of the dye cups, so we consider this event a success! The finished eggs are now sitting on our kitchen table, and the kids love to gaze in pride at their artistic creations.

Cousins

Grant and Ella loved having baby Grady come to stay during our trip to Cancun. If they give our new baby half as many kisses as thay gave Grady, then we'll know we've successfully integrated #3 into the family!

Cancun or bust!

On March 29th, The Clarks, Tanners, and Homs left on an adventure to Cancun, Mexico...without kids!!! It was awesome. The ladies all coordinating for our flight.


Upon check-in, we were served with fresh juice...we think. The first couple days we went down south to Playa del Carmen which is about 30 minutes south of Cancun. We stayed in an all-inclusive resort called Bluebay Esmeraldo. It was given 5 stars, but we weren't too impressed. I think 90% of people that stay here are going for the unlimited alcohol. When we asked for a 'virgin' drink, they looked at us like we were downright mad! After a few swigs of what tasted like cough medicine, we decided to ask for 'no alcoholamos'. Again, they thought we must have been kidding. Little did they know, we were in hog heaven with our unlimited sprites and pina coladas! We've arrived! Now what?

This little wonder was a gelatinous side dish we think the locals wanted to see what crazy American actually would eat this. We wouldn't be fooled. I'd take carrots in jello over this anyday.
Our first night was a treat with a show of native dancing and costumes.
We just missed the closing gate at Tulum. All the way from Boise and no sympathy. Isn't it a cultural thing to jump border fences? When in Rome!!!

Night Swimming in Cancun

Real Mexican food or just indigestion...the jurys still out.
Downtown Cancun. 2,000 miles from Boise, and as I'm walking in the center of Cancun, the guy next to me was a companion on my mission in England. Apparently, he now lives in SE Boise. What are the odds?
Chocolate City Restaurant...Ben had a chocolate pizza for dinner. (Hold the onions!)
The Westin 'Heavenly' Robe wasn't as heavenly as our night swim and card game. Easy on the starch Mr. Westin!
Cancun beach at night!

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Cozumel island. Great guac made right at your table. Inflated climbing hill in the ocean in Cozumel.
Mopeds in Cozumel. Love the spandex board shirt Dan! That's hot.
Our all-inclusive resort in Playa Del Carmen. Let's be honest, all inclusive only means "All Drunks". Actually, it was nice to have a lot of food available even though it wasn't your Black Angus steak.
Teaching Ben the ways of body boarding. Score: Ben - 0, Ocean - 5.

Dolphins jumping at Xcaret (pronounced Ish-cur-et) in Playa. This Disneyland style theme park in Playa is an eco-marine park with snorkeling, swimming, and cultural learning. We even swam in an underground river.
Friendly game of shake the native off the rope into the platapus invested water.
Xcaret ruins
Our 'private' snorkel cruise. Includes a glass bottom boat! Watch out for the jellyfish...ouch! We dove at a shipwreck site and many coral sites.
The guys.