Easter 2018

"Nana doesn't mind when I wake up early!" Shane said.

Yes she does!

Nana made it clear that Shane was not allowed out of his room before 7 AM. I found them watching Blaze and the Monster Machines when I sauntered down for coffee.

Shane really wanted to see what the Easter bunny had brought him. "Have you all been talking it up or something!?" Nana asked.

Nope. Shane talked himself into getting excited he might get some presents. I never said a word or promised anything.

Nana and Pop put together a small bag with some books and eggs with money. Shane went nuts. Especially over the cash. It was only $6.53, but from his reaction you'd have thought the eggs were full of solid gold.

We all went to the 8:45 AM church service. Shane went with Nana and Pop to Children's church. Cole and Evelyn were there. Carrie and I went to the contemporary service. The bass/music was too loud for Carrie, so we ducked into a side room and streamed it. Shane went to Sunday school next. Carrie and I didn't have a class. We took our time moving around and drove around town a little before picking him up at the appointed time.

From there, it was back to the house. The weather was beautiful. Indy was happy to have company.

Shane was happy to climb.

It was a minor challenge to keep Shane from searching for Easter eggs. Kathleen, Stu, and cru showed up after noon.

Energy levels were high (and obvious statements are obvious).

With everyone here, the egg hunt could begin.

The kids each had their own rooms to search. Evelyn was in Nana and Pop's room. Cole had the den. Shane had the TV/Living room.

There were 18 eggs hidden for each kid.

Carrie upgraded the difficulty of Cole's eggs for him. She thought they were 'too easy!'

Plus, it helped keep Shane from searching for his eggs while we had to wait.

I love these kind of events. I'm not good at organizing them myself, but they're Nana's bread and butter.

Tenley stuffed her face. She's less shy than she used to be.

Megan called over Skype.

She's in Norway with Billy and B. They're visiting friends. Megan took a temporary job with Fleur and lived with Nana and Pop for a month to pay for the trip. Nana and Pop provided childcare for B. Megan and B had only left a couple of weeks before Shane, Carrie, and I moved in for Spring Break!

Kathleen's bunch went home for nap and rest time. Shane watched TV, so that Nana could have her daily nap.

It was time to dye eggs when Nana woke up.

It was also prime chicken shooting time. Shane won a pair of rubber chickens at church to stretch and shoot. He'd already lost one and we discovered that a lucky shot could make the chicken stick in unlikely places.

That chicken could fly! "Who said chickens can't fly!" Shane ran around and squawked.

And fly it did. Carrie sailed it right over the fence. Shane has to ask the neighbor to throw it back.

While the chicken was away, Shane finished dying his eggs.

That's another seasonal activity I'm glad Nana set up. If it was up to me it probably wouldn't have happened.

Carrie and I slipped out for a half an hour walk. She kept an eye out for turtles in the pond. A duplicitous decoy duped us into thinking a pair of ducks were enjoying the bubbles from an underwater jet ('jacuzzi!").

I set up Nana's new switch when we got back.

Then I put it on the TV.

Kathleen returned with her kids, so they could dye eggs, too.

Nana discovered that she had NOT brought out the hard-boiled eggs for Shane to dye earlier. She'd brought out normal eggs! We were lucky there were no breaks! She brought out the hard-boiled eggs, said something, and of course the boys started to test the eggs. Shane started to crack a hard boiled one, but when Cole followed suit he found his egg raw.

I threw it away before their was a mess. Cole strikes things with less initial gusto than Shane. He's more cautious than my son.

Shane and Cole took a Pokemon Go break while Nana cleaned up.

Then I showed them Mario Odyssey.

The boys did an admirable job of sharing. It went way smoother than I anticipated!

The girls filtered in and soon it was a regular party.

They weren't as interested in the video game as much as the company.

Kathleen took Evelyn and Tenley home for bed sometime after 7 PM. Shane and Cole continued to play on.

Yes, that is a box of nerds Shane is inhaling. It's Easter! It's a holiday with family! You have to celebrate and live!

I took the box away before he could get himself sick on it, though. Nana and Pop took Cole home for bed and Shane calmed down for his own sleep schedule. It was a full and exciting day! I love being around family. Especially for holidays.

Happy Easter, all! Christ is risen indeed!