Easter: Part 1

Growing up I loved Easter. I totally believed in the Easter bunny. And I'll tell you why. One early Sunday Easter morning when I was young I remember going to San Clemente to visit my grandparents. On the way out of our tract I saw him. The Easter Bunny. The real, true-live kind like you see at the mall. He was hopping down the street in my tract. And he waved at me. I felt pretty darn cool. I think now that it was just a coincidence that I saw the Easter bunny that day. I think he was for the enjoyment of the family that lived behind us, we just got lucky to spot him when we did.

Our family always had Easter at my grandma and grandpa’s. My grandma would take such great care in setting the tables to perfection, would pull of the good China, and would have a little treat at each table setting for the grandkids. That was always the first place we ran as we walked in the door; to see what treat was at our seat. Then we would raid the bowl full of cashews. Kinda weird, I know, but cashews for some reason were a hot commodity in our family and Easter was one of the very seldom times we had them.

Even when I figured out that the Easter bunny I saw hopping down the street wasn’t real, I still loved Easter. My mom always did such fun things for us on Easter morning. She is an amazing riddler. When we woke up we would find a plastic egg next to our bed with this complex, peculiar, thoughtful riddle as to where the Easter bunny hid our basket -- out in the garden, in the box full of shoes next to the back door, in the dryer, next to the 12 pack of Cola on the garage shelf. Sometimes one of us girls would cry because we couldn’t figure the riddle out. Sometimes one sister would find a basket that wasn’t theirs and have to hurry and hide it back where they found it. Sometimes it took all 5 girls to find a single basket. It was so much fun. I hope my mom has kept some of those riddles; I could use the help now. How she came up with 5 riddles for my sisters and I and hid our baskets in a new spot each year is beyond me. She amazes me and made it so much fun. My dad always hid the Easter eggs so well. As fun as it was though, one of us would end up crying during the hunt for eggs as well (that's what you get with a house of 5 girls) and that just made it all the more fun for my dad!!

When I moved out, Easter kinda went downhill. There was no special plastic egg by my bed. No riddle to make me think. Sometimes no basket at all. And definitely no coveted Golden egg for the lucky Easter egg hunter.

Now, Easter is back in full form. I have my sweet husband and two growing boys and we’re surround by our family again. We have some new fun traditions, and some we’re making our own. Part of what I love most, we celebrate Easter on Saturday and Sunday.

So, here it is. Easter: Part 1.

Dying Eggs & the Kreipl Easter Picnic. Oh! And the dessert I made! Just what we needed...more TREATS!! Which, by the way, Wyatt says. Well, he doesn't exactly say treat, but he tries hard and comes fairly close. We just know we better hand something over quick before the meltdown begins. These little puppies definitely got the Wyatt stamp of approval!!

To be continued.....