easter day

There was the usual pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt at church.

Early, we were pulled aside and asked if we'd help take down the tables and stack the chairs afterward. The guy said, "We could use your helpers." Sure, plus tall boys are good for stacking chairs.

It made me chuckle a little. All the jokesters with their super-funny wisecracks about how many kids we have--there actually are times having a lot of kids comes in handy.

Then party at my sister's house--dinner, Easter egg hunt, pinata, spring birthdays celebrated, trampoline to jump on, a wildly pleasant afternoon.

They're waiting for the eggs to be hidden. Notice Dan and Tim in a little brotherly bonding. Touching, isn't it?

Actually Dan's only teasing him, not really inflicting pain.

But back in the day when when I was a young parent, there was a book written by some guy--wish I could remember the name of it, where he suggested giving a little maneuver to the neck like Spock on Star Trek, to tame your squirrely child. I thought, "Good Lor-ED. I can come up with crap like this on my own! This is the kind of behavior I'm trying to AVOID!"

They're looking for the eggs my sister filled with candy. Ten each--if you find ten, then you are done and should help the toddlers.



Here are John and his uncle getting the pinata ready.



It actually took a lot of whacking to break it.


What's up with that face? Hates Dots? Not sure.

My brother told the kids it was filled with jalapeno peppers. Really? Noooo.

Back in the day he also referred to his child's diaper as "The Pinata of Doom." He doesn't remember this, but the name stuck in my family. This is still how we refer to a poopy diaper.

Yes, indeed. Pinata of Doom.

If you've ever been scared to crack open a diaper, you know.

What my dad is telling the girls, we don't know. (It's Maria in the middle with her cousins on each side.) My parents are getting chickens this summer--could be about that?

Here are a couple grandbabies on the trampoline. Check out the static in b.g.'s hair.

l.c. talks now and kept yelling to Dannell, "Look at this, Mom!" He's perfected the seat drop.

I think they're both sleeping well tonight. l.c. jumped until his voice was raspy. Alicia was actually sitting in the trampoline during all this, and in trying to coax b.g. off it, she offered him milk. He threw himself down across her lap to nurse.

That cracked us up. When you have nursed on a trampoline you have definitely nursed everywhere. She rolled her eyes and diverted him. Time to go inside.

Here area few pics from the birthday party.

My mama and Dan

John and Dannell

And upstairs where m.c. called John to observe the Barbie house model she wants him to build her. That Barbie house practically takes men and a crane to move.


Thank you Pamela, and also Paul and family for hosting a truly spectacular party today. We love you so, Val and Jay and Everybody