Happy Easter!

It's a tad delayed - but then there's always a lot going on here - so I blog when I can. Easter Sunday is just over one week past and the boys are still talking about the fun they had with their cousins and we're still also parceling out one Easter basket candy per day or two. I tried to put our Easter decorations away, but Austin in particular really enjoys the musical stuffed bunnies we've collected from Granny over the years - so in an effort to continue to see him dance everyday after work/school when he turns one on - we'll ride out this holiday just a tad longer.


Easter Sunday the boys woke to find their baskets on the floor of their bedroom - and they didn't think we could hear them trying to eat as much candy as they could while we were still "sleeping". We let them sneak some - then got up and confiscated the baskets until the early morning sugar rush wore off. We headed to Mass which is always an ordeal. Even if - and I do mean IF - the twins are decently behaved, Austin treats church as a personal speedway. I mean, what else are slanted, descending aisles for if not for an ideal pathway down which to gain speed - in front of a rapt audience no less. We try to keep him focused on the aisles at the back of church - but needless to say one of us is always up and on the move following behind a toddling runaway.


After Mass we went home to hang out for a bit before Paul's cousins and their families came over for an afternoon Easter Egg Hunt in our backyard and then a fine dinner of Honey Baked Easter Ham (yum!). We were happy to have Ashley & Tate Westbrook (Ashley's dad is Granny's oldest brother Tom) and their three kids: Holly, Cate & Thomas, and Heather Jo Ashton (HJ's dad is Granny's other older brother Mike) and her two daugthers: Taylore & Giselle.
If you're keeping count, that's 5 adults and 8 kids - so outnumbered no doubt. But bear in mind that 7 of the 8 kids (all save for Austin) are between 4-7 years old. This makes for such a great time - always - but especially on a holiday that revolves around candy (after church, of course).


We kept the kids inside while Paul & Tate hid a ton of eggs in the backyard and we went out to get our cameras ready for the official opening of the fence gate and the onslaught of kids and also to let Austin roam about and accidentally stumble (literally) upon an egg or two himself.
Paul opened the gate and it was like the running of the bulls. Grade schoolers everywhere the eye could see (only 7 of them, but at the pace they were going it was like cockroaches scattering when the lights go on - they were everywhere - seemingly all at once).

It was hilarious - and we were blessed with no rain and a slightly chilly but very sunny day.


Sugar rush #2 of the day for the Dean boys before dinner - so even though the kids sat at the table, they didn't eat much - which was fine by the adults.
















It was a great day with family and fun
and we hope you had as wonderful an Easter as we did!