Adios a los Ruiz:(

 The cake Alice and I made to celebrate Adam's graduation and new job, Whitney's birthday, their upcoming move, and bon voyage!

 Cousin time in the grass before they left. Alice, Darius, Charlie.

 Good old Charlie.

 Sweet little Danny.

 Silly Paul during our pipe cleaner fun with the kids.

 Grace wanted pipe cleaner glasses too.

 Sisters having fun.

 Happy?

 Making the marble layer cake.

 Charlie played around in this cat costume for hours. Unfortunately, it led to him licking everything in sight.

 Fun with stickers!

 Princess bride.

 Grace has been asking to hold Danny a lot ever since Kramers and Malones visited and she saw her cousins holding their baby siblings.

 Our family's entry for the ward pinewood derby: "LOVE" (Grace's design).

 The kids loved watching the races - and we won 3rd place!

 Charlie and Darius riding the Adam horse.

 What happens when I tell Alice and Charlie to set Danny up with some toys. 

Paintings we did for FHE when Whitney was here: mine, Grace's, Alice's, and Charlie's.

 The beautiful painting Whitney brought us that she painted for Charlie's room. Well, it was originally painted for Darius' room, but I told Whitney how much I liked it, and she gave it to us!

She also painted one for the girls' room: pointillism of the Jefferson Memorial and the cherry blossoms. I love both paintings so much that they're still on the piano stand so I can look at them instead of sending them up to the kids' rooms:) Thanks a lot, Whit!

Malone Visit!

 Danny driving the ship at the playground.

 Happy little nature boy!

 Charlie and Alice like the playground too!

 Playing with blossoms.

 The kids were playing dress-up, and Charlie came upstairs in this little number.

 Sunday selfie!

 Our indoor garden after one month. The back 3 plants were planted for the first time this week. The others we replanted this week any that didn't take.

 Unimpressed with the baby swing.

 Paul and his friend Chris, who he went to school with in Santa Cruz.

 A preview of the family pictures. Sarah doesn't want me posting any of hers until she works her editing magic:)

 Joely and Danny.

 Norah and Grace.

 Alice and Hazel.

 These four girls played downstairs for hours with almost no fighting.

 Paul, Matt, and Joely had a planking contest.

 Then a push-up contest.

 Joely wrote a song on the piano with his little fans Charlie and Henry watching the process. Matt was less enthusiastic.

 Mind meld.

 Matt can tune out a surprising amount of noise.

Uncle of the year. Paul was able to get Henry to stop crying for a few minutes by reading him books. Milk finally made him happy for a little longer.

Paul's 31st birthday!

 Crazy Alice. She was not happy when I told her the lamb ears would be put away with the Easter decorations, but she got over it.

 Lounging around in jeans and a zip-up hoodie.

 Donuts for Daddy's birthday breakfast.

 Krispy Kremes from the grocery store - yum!

 I love this old man!

 Tahoe melts for lunch: French bread, mayo, leftover Easter turkey, avocado, tomato, and provolone cheese.

 Grace's awesome superhero alter ego: Kindness Girl! She made her own mask from pipe cleaners:)

 Cowboy Charlie.

 And his sidekick.

 Alice was Grace's sidekick.

 They called themselves "the Kindness Couple"!

 First time trying on underwear after a random success in the potty!

 Charlie's final playdate with best friend Max, who moved to Utah this week:(

 Happy birthday to Paul!

 Caramel apple birthday pie, inspired by Lynne making it recently from the Pioneer Woman's recipe. It was so good!

 The view out our front door.

 The popcorn trees are in bloom!

 Waiting for Grace at the bus stop.

 Danny liked his outdoor time.

 Paul got the memo on the blue hooded sweatshirts so he could match Danny.

 Four cuties on the deck.

 Spring flowers at the temple.

 Temple time!

 New kids exhibit at the visitors center.

 So sunny!

Photo booth at the visitors center.