Happy Easter! – Easter Sunday

Alleluia!  He is risen…

This beautiful Easter tree was given to us a house-warming gift by my husband’s Aunt & Uncle a week or two ago.  It’s beautiful and was the centerpiece for our Easter table.  A few close-ups follow.  


 
I know some choose not to eat before Sunday Mass, but I need to eat or risk being faint.  So, breakfast was served at 7am on Sunday morning.  The menu included fresh fruit, COFFEE & Chai Tea, Spicy Sausage Quiche, and Hash Brown & Ham Quiche (a favorite from last year).

All 16 adults and children had eaten by 8am and were dressed and headed out to the vehicles by 8:30am.  I was impressed!  Mass was at 9am and a 20 min. drive from the farm.  In small rural towns, it’s possible to arrive only 15 min. early and still ensure the ability to park VERY close, have time to get the kids to the bathroom, and find space for everyone to sit within the space of two rows, too.

Our second Easter Mass at the small country church was easier – and more joy-filled … the presence of family and a deeper sense of thankfulness.  Baby Louis was hungry/fussy, so he and I spent most of the Mass in the cry room.  But, I joined my SIL, Laura, and her son, so we weren’t alone!  It felt so good to sing the Alleluia.

This year, for the first time, I remembered and had time to  put a little plate of goodies together for our priest.  Angelina was in charge of the delivery.

Upon returning to the farm, we enjoyed watching the kids search for their Easter goodies.  Too muddy to have an Easter egg hunt this year – and the eggs would be hard to hide in the mud! – so, clues were given to each child which lead them to three or four small gifts (books, coloring books, rosaries, and kites or bubbles).

  Uncle Pat & Aunt Anna with Louis (above) and Uncle Eric (below).

  This is my 3yo God-daughter.  She’s a ball of energy and a little bounce of joy wherever she goes. 


 

My SIL, Laura, with her children.

 
Uncle Eric and Graham (above) using the clues to find Graham’s Easter gifts and my brother, Doug, (below) helping his daughter in her search

 
Graham, above, with his kite – an Easter gift tradition in my family and Grandma Golden Acres with Leo, below.


 I forgot to take an Easter pic of ‘just’ my kids.  OOOPS!  Maybe after Divine Mercy Sunday Mass??  Anyway, above are all kids present at the farm for Easter. 

We have three April birthdays among members on my side of the family; we usually try to celebrate them on Easter weekend.  So, Grandpa Dave, Uncle Pat & Dash opened a few birthday presents, too.  Here are the three birthday guys – pictured below!
  SOMEONE was a little tired after all the action!  She’s so darn adorable.

 
Graham became attached to this sword after playing with it at a friends.  I ordered it for him, he will be paying for a portion, and I asked if he could wait until Easter to ‘get’ it.  He agreed.  So, after everyone left, I let him open this special toy.  It was a big deal to this 3yo.

My MIL cut a few forsythia branches for me on Friday.  I wasn’t sure they’d bloom, but Sunday morning, two flowers had popped.  That evening, this is what the the branches looked like.  Beautiful and sunny.
  
My mom offered to stay and help us on Monday (today).  Everyone else left for home between 3 and 4pm.  Eric left at 4pm for a wake/prayer service in Fargo.  My mom and I put our feet up and visited for the rest of the afternoon/evening.