Katie, Michael and Emma's Spring Break

This year Katie's Spring Break coordinated with our Spring Break here in Virginia. So, we were lucky enough to be able to have the whole week together to play (minus Ben who still had to go to work 4 of the days). It was so fun to have her visiting. We did a lot of fun things (some of which I will post below), but this is picture captures the bulk of what we did with Katie.


Katie always has a little project going that the kids love helping her with. Here they are making sugar cookies (I think while she was here I ate about 4 dozen cookies myself). Nate and I hung out and helped and visited.

So, what did we do?
Sine's Irish Pub, of course. They have the best Fish and Chips EVER! Stefano and Ele joined us.


Build-A-Bear. Soooooooo fun. We took the kids and let them each choose their bear and some accessories. I loved to see what each one chose. I think I was most surprised by Michael. He really had fun too and he has his bear ("Jimmer") right beside him every night.


We went to the zoo. We had a ton of fun in the bird exhibit. Some of the time the birds would avoid us completely, and then the next minute you were swarmed.


We made steamer clams. Katie let the kids help cook them. They LOVED it! I think Sarah ate 35 . . . that girl is somethin' else.

I think my favorite thing that we did while Katie was here was a Family Scavenger Hunt in Maymont Park. We had to solve puzzles and search for animal exhibits . . . it was awesome.


We took some breaks along the way to roll down a huge hill.



In the end we found all of the clues and solved all of the puzzles and even won a prize.

But mostly it was just fun to be together!!

It was also Easter this week and we got to do the traditional EGG related activities . . .

We spun eggs.


We dyed eggs.



We made Rice Krispy eggs with candy inside.


We hunted eggs at the ward.


Easter afternoon we had to take Katie to the airport. I always hope that when I drop one of our family members off at the airport their flight will be canceled indefinitely and I will be able to pick them back up at the airport and take them back to our house for a few more days. But, curse those airlines they took her away. Miss you Katie. Thanks for a fun week!