A bunch of pictures from a raucous weekend with kids

 Matt came home and the rest of the children wanted to say hello. So they all came for a visit. Katie of course has her own house close by so she didn't need to stay with us, but the others all had to share space in our little house. Matt has his own room, Jimmy and Jimmy used the family/tv room (Blair couldn't come), Hayley (Austin couldn't come either) slept upstairs on the couch, and Paul and Bethany used the little room/Jim's office. We all squooshed in together and had a good time. Friday night, Katie came over and the kids all stayed up much later than Jim and I did; we fell asleep to the sound of them all laughing downstairs. It was a pleasant sound.

Hayley was first to arrive. She immediately set to playing Mario Kart with Matt.

Then the Jimmys showed up. Little Jimmy found a tiny plastic pumpkin and put his nuggets in it.

Then Katie brought her kids over and Caroline and Little Jimmy played in the same area. They didn't play together so much as they were interested in what the other one was doing.

Friday night getting ready for the ward trunk or treat party. Little Jimmy is a rooster

Alien invasion decorations. I do like the ease of this set up. Glow sticks and LED lights make it stand out.

Christian is ON VACATION and Jimmy is holding his little rooster

Emma and I (in green hair as an alien) sip hot chocolate while the alien invasion goes on around us. Sadly I do not have a picture of Katie "Weird Al Yankovic on my camera".

Sleepy boy

Caroline is unimpressed with the ball of twine.

I have now provided a trip to the shrine of the Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota to all of my children. My parenting work is done. Hayley and Matt were the only two who had not seen the ball of twine. 

Matt signs the guest book at the ball of twine

Hayley signs the guest book (It's just a steno notebook)

The Weird Alley road sign

Emma's sleeves (she and Jackson are borrowing oversized sweatshirts because they did not bring their jackets)

4 out of 5 children and one in-law and dinner

Caroline is impressed that Little Jimmy is standing on the chair.

Matt's homecoming cake

I wanted a picture of my children, and this is how they "cooperate."

Again with the "cooperation"

STOP MISBEHAVING.

It took 5 minutes of yelling at them to get them to settle down. They are all 5 year olds.

Christian had to take some selfies on my phone. 

We were recreating a photo from 10 years ago.

kids and grands!

Little Jimmy liked being in the kitchen. He was constantly opening cupboard doors and either inserting toys or taking pots and tupperware out.

Not a fight, but a staredown over a certain toy

Mini pumpkins were the toy of the day.

Settlers of Catan at Katie's 

Christian won by the way.