Because Grandma needed new mantle pictures

My mom has decided to cover her fireplace mantle with individual grandkid pictures.  She's been sending me nice, mostly non-threatening emails for the past year asking for new pictures.  And I just haven't gotten around to it.  So even though it was lunch time, we decided we'd better drag everyone out in the sun while we were still dressed in our Easter Sunday best to take some pictures.  Of course taking pictures is quite an ordeal with sun in your eyes and 4 wiggly, hungry kids.

A different angle? Nah, someone's picking their nose.

And no one's looking- not even the padres!

Okay then, on to individual portraits.  Perfect.

Decent except for the squinting eyes.

Yep, that's what I expected from at least one of them.

But Easter candy bribery works like a charm.

Okay how did that perfect picture sneak in there?  With her little posed arm and all!

All the kids now?  Kind of, 2 out of 4 at least.

And then guess who decides to start being silly and it's over.

Oh well, at least grandma got a few good individual shots.  At least they're all cute in their pastel duds.

The Easter Bunny found us!!!

Isaac was convince that he wouldn't find us.  Ethan is old enough to remember that Santa found us on the cruise.  Miles wasn't even sure who the Easter bunny is.  But they were all really excited to wake up and fine treats and toys.

No way is she going to eat the cheerios with all the colorful things to put in her mouth.

Ooh, bubble gum!

Thanks Mr. Easter Bunny!

Back again cause Ethan and Dad missed out

Grandma Tina's park was so fabulous we just had to make a quick run over to show dad and Ethan.

Isla enjoyed more attention from the grands.

While Ethan was overjoyed with the zipline.  It didn't hurt that Taylor is extremely stronger than my mom and I and would not just push the boys down the line but actually fling them with great force.

Fly high!  Hold on tight!

Miles was not as interested in the zip line and spent most of his time up at the top of the spider's web.

See the flinging?

And here's the upswing when the pulley hits the spring at the end.

Okay so it looked like too much fun for even me to pass up.  I hang a bit lower than my boys :)

Miles did come back for one more try.

But every single time he'd spend the ride down just laughing his head off, then swing up when the line jerks and get this horrified look on his face like he was going to die, then after a 2-3 second pause he'd start giggling like a little girl.  So funny.

Yep, dad's better at this than I am.

Everyone was happy.  We just need a park like this in Utah!

Eggs and more eggs

We couldn't miss Easter or all the fun traditions just because we were in Chicago.  So we dyed a few eggs- literally since not too many people were willing to eat them the next day.

Apparently dyeing eggs is as cool as the zip line.

Or we're just all really silly!  12 whole colored eggs- woohoo!

Then it was time to fill plastic eggs for the egg hunt.  Isla got to "help" with this one.

Yep, she was very helpful.

Maracas!

And then we all took a break to play with toys while...

Taylor and Grandpa hid all the eggs.

We can hardly wait.

And they're off.

Grandma thought she was so funny and came equipped with popper guns to shoot at the boys while they ran for the eggs.

Isla was pretty cute with grandpa.

And then since I couldn't resist, we let her have her own little "hunt" inside afterwards.

Grandpa is so funny, always hiding and playing games with Isla.

So fun to be thoroughly entertained by people who love you.