This is the home we walked into Sunday night that filled me with love for the people we call family. Steve’s brother and wife hosted a beautiful Easter dinner for a large crowd, not an easy task. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was peaceful (except for the screaming toddler – what were thinking bringing Briggs?!).

For those wondering how to feed 44 people – there were two/three people assigned to every food category and everyone received two assignments. This year I was assigned 1/2 of the rolls and 1/3 of the salad. Next large family dinner I might be assigned vegetables and dessert.  And sometimes we’ve had people sign up for categories and someone might choose to sign up for two assignments in the same category – they end up bringing all the salad or all the rolls. Let it be known – the food never disappoints.

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

The annual grandkid picture – although I can see we’re missing several people that were there last night. I need to be better at my gathering skills.

Easter 2017

The numbers for egg hunters seem to get smaller and smaller every year, but the excitement never fades.

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Uncle David wanted to add some excitement and try to get the teenagers to really do some searching so he added one egg to the front yard – away from the kid’s egg hunt. An egg that everyone wanted to find. The teenagers/adults searched for a bit before some of the younger kids made their way to the front yard and started searching. Hunter had eyes like a hawk and spotted the white egg in the tail pipe of one of the cars. Try as he may, every time he tried to grab it, he pushed it a little further in. Luckily they started the car up and it shot right out. Pretty sure he has a new favorite uncle.

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Steve’s sister has 4 boys just like us and they line up in age pretty well. It’s fun to watch them grow together. They are anywhere from 6 weeks apart to almost a year – not one of them will be the same year in school. They’re all just barely off from each other.

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

Easter 2017

As the kids finished the egg hunt, the sun faded behind the horizon and we were left eating strawberry shortcake under the sky with cafe string lights strung across the yard. I loved listening to the sound of Steve laughing with his siblings and the kids playing with their cousins.  It was a beautiful night.