Spring Break Plan B was A OK

 Last week we had planned to leave early Thursday morning for a spring break trip up to Spokane.  It's rather a long story of why we didn't go-- but in short, Fox Hill is currently entangled in a little legal dispute, and a couple days before our scheduled departure, we learned we wouldn't be able to stay at Fox Hill.  So amid much disappointment, we opted for a staycation.  We've never done that before, and understandably, no one was very hyped.  I suggested we do all the things the kids always want to do, but we never do because... you know...$$$ and time.  

Plus there was this.  We have had SO. MUCH. SNOW.  this winter.  It just kept coming.  But none was so depressing as the major storms we had during the week of spring break.  Too much snow in April.  After breaking the news to the kids and trying to sell the virtues of the staycation-- Faith and I went on the first fun outing of the week---thrifting and Chick-fil-a.

The goal was to pack the rest of the week with as much fun and activity as we could possibly stand.  Faith took the kids upstairs and had a planning meeting -- voting on what everyone most wanted to do. As you will see, I think we slayed the week!

Tuesday night we bowled.  Spoiler alert:  We bowled a lot this week.  We bowl like we cornhole.

Not surprisingly, we're both pretty good bowlers:)

The first stop on Wednesday-- Airborne.  

Greta's tricks

She's still got it.

George flying high

Cannon always the showman

Peter had a blast at Airborne, but I didn't see him much, so I didn't get many pics of him.

The next stop was Fat Cats in Saratoga Springs (the Bluffdale one opens next month).  Cannon on down did the arcade for half-price Wednesday and Faith and I bowled again.  

This was our highest game.

Thursday morning was half-price bowling for all of us.  So much fun.

We went across the street for an economical lunch at Costco where Elinor and Brandon met up with us.

The afternoon brought a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf.  

A little treasure hunting at DI on the way home.

We all met up at Black Bear Diner for dinner and had such a great time together.  I'll write more about the dinner on another post.

Abe decided to work rather than take the time off for our staycation.  We missed him while we played, and we are so thankful he works hard to take care of our family.  

We took the little kids home and the eight of us did the Prison Bus Escape at Alcatraz escape room.  Several of us have done escape rooms before, but we had never done it together.  It was awesome!  We totally failed-- but it didn't even matter.  We worked great together and had a BLAST!  The whole day was just the BEST!

Friday morning started with a 10:00 AM viewing of the new Super Mario Brothers Movie.  I don't think it was the target audience, but the little kids especially loved it and the big kids said it was pretty good for what it was.  But we did discover an inexpensive theater in Pleasant Grove that might make going to the movies more often a real possibility.

Greta's top choice was Classic Fun Center-- she had never been and she was so excited.  We bounced a lot.

We roller skated a lot

Faith made it up the big warp wall

Peter made it up the medium one

Yours truly made it up the short one.  

We all had to be present to sign up for laser tag.  I was like herding cats to gather us all together.

Abe made it in time to join us for laser tag.  Ridiculously fun!

By this point-- after three days chocked full of fun and lights and noise--- our bodies were so tired and sore.  But did we stop?  Did we go home and rest our weary bodies?

Well, some of us did.

This gang started their Lord of the Rings marathon.

Faith, her friend Alyssa, and I went back to Fat Cats for more BOWLING! Confession:  going back out for more fun required a hefty dose of caffeine. 

But

But it was worth it-- we had so much fun.  There was a little wait for a lane to open up, so we played another round of glow golf.

"Cotton-Eyed Joe" came on and Faith got dancing and lost her bowling focus. 

And then she was sad because her game was not going well.

These ladies were good sports to let me hang out with them.  I mean, granted, I was paying for the fun and games, but still.  In fact, the whole week was so interesting to me because we just played so dang much!  I am usually so concerned with keeping things in order and making sure we're all doing what we're supposed to be doing.  It was delightfully refreshing to just spend all our energy playing.  I haven't done that for quite a while.  I'm not sure I'd have the energy or money to do it very often, but I loved every minute of it.  I think the best part for me was how much we all enjoyed being together.  

Easter Egg Hunt Gone Wrong

 Because we had originally planned to be in Spokane for Easter, we did our Easter dinner and egg hunt a week early.  Misty and Jon and girls joined us for dinner, along with Brandon's sisters, Elise and Donna.  Brig and Dev and their family joined us later in the evening. 

Jules's face is my favorite!

It started out innocent enough...

That is, until Faith decided to join in the hunt (she's just a wee bit competitive).  And then Clark and Cannon made it their mission to keep her from collecting eggs.  Not surprisingly, violence ensued.  

The initial take-down

Did it take two of them to bring her down?  

You see where this is going, right?

Poor Cannon.

And they weren't even successful.  We laughed so hard about this picture of her running away.

Good luck, Clark!

They were gracious in defeat

More than his pride was wounded

She is fierce

Then the tables turned-- she went on the attack

It was a mistake to engage

Cousin mayhem

All friends in the end