What a week!

The kids had spring break for the week of April 14-18 and I am still recovering. We didn't go anywhere exciting or anything, so I had to think of some fun things for everyone to do. I am so lucky to have my friend Audrey or I swear I would spend my life in my house doing nothing. Not that I am opposed to going out and doing things, but I am not good at coming up with stuff and getting it all set up. So here is the break down of the week, pictures included.
Actually our week started with celebrating Clara's Birthday. It is hard to know what to do for something like that. It is a hard day, but it also is something that brings some peace. So we took flowers, pinwheels, and cake to the cemetery. I have the absolutely sweetest friends. One friend wrote me a sweet note, one friend sent flowers, a couple of friends just gave me a hug and told me they were thinking about me. It is strange to think that other people care enough about me to think about Clara's Birthday. My Mom did something really neat and gave us a couple of children's books that teach good morals and values and tied it into Clara's birthday by saying if we try to do these things and live our lives more Christlike every day we will be able to live with Clara again. I thought that is a neat tradition to do. I also am going to take a little dress and blanket to the hospital for them to give to someone else who is in the same type of situation we were.
This is Jake and Emma looking at the books at the cemetery for Clara's Birthday.

Monday: THE ZOO!!!
What a great day. It was hot, but so much fun. A bunch of us and our kids went to the school. If my friends weren't all so fun 17 wild kids would make me crazy. It was great because my friend Rachel who I don't get to see nearly enough met us there with her kids. Emma and her daughter Katelyn were great friends, so it was fun to see that when they got together it was like not a day had passed. It made for a long, tiring, hot day but well worth our time.
Here is a picture of a bunch of the kids taking a break on the rock ledge.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Grandma and Grandpa McGuires
We spent a couple of days at my parents. My kids had a ball. My Dad has a Playstation 3, I know he is hilarious, so needless to say Jake was in video game heaven. Also, my sister Nat and her husband Jeff have moved in with my parents so we got to see them. We played, watched movies and saw Ju and Brack, and Bob, Erica, and Brody. It was great. We went to a little farm and saw some sheep, ducklings and chicks. It was a fun trip.
Jake petting one of the baby chicks.

Thursday: Jumpin' Jacks!
Did my kids love this place or what. No, I didn't take pictures. There was no way to keep up with them long enough to catch them on film. They ran and played so hard that they were absolutely sweating by the time I said it was time to go.

Friday: We went to the park and had lunch with some friends. I love doing things like this for the fact that the kids are entertained and I can actually sit and talk with my friends. We have to periodically stop talking and chase down a child who has snuck a cell phone or snacks or whatever, but overall it is such a great thing. I am so glad that our weather is getting good enough to go to the park more often.