Easter finds a way to become more and more special to me each and ever year. My dad had just gotten home from surgery last year at this time, so Tyler and I decided to host and keep things small and simple. Remember I made dad's famous ham?? The holiday represented a fresh start to the new year, welcoming spring in all of it's colorful vibrancy and life after the chill and stagnancy of winter. This year, Easter came early! But it still made my heart smile. This winter has been particularly long it seems, so having the sun shine on Easter Sunday and the temps rise just a bit was such a treat, even though we're barely into April and the flowers are just beginning to bloom.

This is our first holiday celebrating without Tyler's Opa. Normally we'd spend part of the day with them, and of course my MIL Karen, and then head to my mom's sister Nina's for the rest of the day. But we thought it would be nice to do something different for Nanny this year, and give some change in the usual holiday routine. Nina and Denny always welcome anyone and everyone into their home, especially at Easter, and invite family members and friends on all sides. So of course they were welcome, and have been in the past, but this year was particularly different for Nanny, and for us too. 

So the morning started off with going to Nanny's Easter church service with her and Karen. It was very nice with a bell choir and all of my favorite rejoicing hymns... We went back to Nanny's afterwards to exchange a couple of cards and chocolates, and hopped into our cars to venture to the Morrison's! 

After everyone arrives, we come together to have prayer in a big circle out front. Everyone contributes a dish and we all sit around the house and eat while visiting while the kids play before the Easter Bunny comes (usually one of the teenagers dresses up) and the egg hunt begins! 

This year, Tyler took a big Panoramic pic of all of us before we also took a group shot in front of the house after Uncle Denny said our prayer!

Uncle Rich always does a waffles and strawberries bar which everyone absolutely loves... They are seriously the best! 

Did you see Nanny with her giant piece of Coconut Cake? She loves sweets... :) After everyone has eaten and the bunny has arrived is always my favorite part of the day. The girls (and a few gents too flow in and out) congregate on the porch with blankets and wine to talk! talk! talk! We call them "porch talks" and they are always so wonderful. 

That was Zack trying to get out of the "porch talk" with the girls that got brought inside since it got chilly, hehe... He eventually caved and stayed and talked with us! :) So did Tyler and dad too. It's always such a wonderful time to be together and bond as a family! We are all so very blessed...

Happy Easter everyone!