Easter preparations

Saturday was our annual Easter celebration.  Friday night Neal helped me get furniture moved to make room for the tables to be set up, tablecloths put on, dishes and center pieces put in place.  All in preparation for the Saturday celebration that would begin at 4:00 p.m.  The bunny rabbit cake came from Schmidt’s Bakery.  Just couldn’t resist buying the little fellow.  This year because we only had 8 adults I was able to use Annette’s china, which I love and what a perfect time to use it. 

Everyone was going to gather around 4:00 p.m.  Jeff G., Emmi and Neal decided to go golfing Saturday so the Gertsons came in early.  Annie, once again, put on her creative cap and came up with a lamb made out of bread dough and baby bunnies that some thought looked like kittens and others thought piglets.  So I fondly named them bunny guinea pigs!  These pictures are the beginnings.  The final creation will be shown later on in the post.

The finished product.  Annie didn’t want anyone to eat the lamb, but, finally gave in after the bunny guinea pigs were all gone.  I must say, I was again impressed with what Lynda Ann can come up with. 

We were missing more than usual.  Maren and Taylor were in Ogden for a dance recital.  Taylor did her first solo and took first place!  We are proud of you Taylor.  Greg came with Jaden, Brock and Boston.  By the way, thanks Greg for changing the storm door out for the screen door.   Mindy called and said that Grayson was really sick that morning with a fever and not being able to keep any food down so Jeff came with Maddie and Ryan. This was what the Gertson children were doing while waiting for dinner.

We had a blessing on the food and sat down to a dinner of ham, roast beef, baked potatoes, vegetables and salads and rolls provided the Maren, Annie and Mindy.  Lyndsy was assigned the guacamole which always is delicious.  Teenagers at one table and the four younger boys at the other.  If you look closely you will see that Brock hid behind the table. 

Next we had the Easter egg hunt.  Emmi, Mallory, Jaden and Maddie took all the eggs outside and hid them.  Neal had the younger kids down stairs to entertain them until the eggs were placed around the yard.  All the children from Taylor and Abby on down wanted to still gather eggs.

Counting and looking at what is inside each egg.  It was quite a project.  The picture below shows the aftermath of the four boys.

Then came the Easter egg contest and with a new set of rules.  One of them being that if you are not present, no matter the reason, you cannot be part of the contest.  You have to be there in body.  That wasn’t my rule that was the general consensus of the family.  If you’re absent you’re out.  Boy this is getting very competitive! This is everyone getting ready and Jeff working on the bracket sheet.

AND THE 2013 WINNER IS:

New new family rules by Emmi:

The Rules called “EGG CONTEST COMMANDMENTS”

1. Only chicken eggs can be used

2. No herky-jerky bashing – straight hits only

3. Egg coloring dyes, sharpies and acrylic paint are allowed.  All others are not allowed to compete.

4. No eggs with stickers can compete.  NO STICKERS

5. No side hits on opponent’s egg

6. You can only use eggs you did yourself, no substitutions

7. Only family members are allowed to compete

8. You must be at the contest to compete in the contest.

9. Hitting and being hit will alternate

10. All contestants must stay awake – (that was for Pa’s sake who was fast asleep at the table)

11. The same egg must be used.  If it’s dropped, too bad.

Commandments of the Egg Contest will go into effect Easter of 2014

Tucker, you can add the above picture to your collection.

It was a very fun day and I hoped enjoyed by all who were here.  Neal and I wish all a Happy Easter and hope that as a family we may all remember what the powerful message of the Easter Season is really for.  We love you all!!!

Another finished stitching project.

I finished this project while we were in Mexico.  This is one of my favorites and will hang in my sewing room when Neal gets it framed.

Another adventure with Ron and Judy. St. George

We left Friday evening about 6:30 and headed for St. George where we would stay overnight and the leave the next morning for Rosarito, Mexico.  We arrived in St. George about 11:00 p.m. and settled in for a good nights sleep.  The next morning, Saturday, I got a text from Emmi telling me that she was with the Stansbury golf team and they were golfing that morning at Sunbrook.  Ron had meetings that morning and we weren’t planning on heading to Mexico until about 1:00.  Neal was working on papers and Judy and I decided to run some errands and see if just maybe we could locate Emmi on the golf course.  We were not allowed to take a golf cart and just quickly buzz around the course so we had to drive on the outskirts of the course hoping to catch a glimpse of Emmi.  We stopped and asked some people on one of the holes if they knew Emmi and sure enough they did.  He told us that she was two holes behind them.  We finally found her and I was able to run over and give her a hug and wish her good luck.

As you can tell, it wasn’t the warmest day for golfing.  I think the temperature was about 56.  A bit chilly to golf in my way of thinking.  A very quick hello and goodbye and Judy and I were on our way to pick up a few items for the trip.

Ron got back from his meetings about 1:00 and as we were in the car ready to pull out, Ron realized that he didn’t have his keys.  Judy had her keys to the car and so that wasn’t the problem.  Ron had the key to the carrier on top of the car that housed his and Neal’s golf clubs!  We spent about 45 minutes hunting all over the condo and then the club house where Ron had been for his meeting.  But, with no success.  The keys were not to be found anywhere.  Neal got on his phone and began calling every locksmith in St. George.  He finally found one that wasn’t open but was willing to help us out.  His place was on the way out of St. George so we headed to his home where he successfully made not one but two keys to the carrier.

After a successful visit with the Loc Doc we were finally on our way.  Of course we stopped in Vegas at the outlet mall and then in Primm for more shopping and a bite to eat.  We arrived in Mexico about 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning.  We had determined that we were going to get up and go to church at 9 a.m. no matter how tired we were.  We didn’t wake up in time but were able to attend a 1:00 o’clock meeting instead.

After church we stopped by the Taco stand for a quick lunch and to say hello to our friend, the owner.  He always remembers us and it is always fun to see him.  The food inspectors in the U.S. would never allow this place to stay open, but we are in Mexico so we just don’t look to the right or the left, eat the delicious food and hope that the coke we drink with it will kill all the germs!  Surprisingly, no one has had any issues after eating there all these years.  Let’s just hope it stays that way!

If you look closely, you will notice the gob of guacamole on Neal’s cheek.  These tacos are very sloppy to eat but oh so delicious! 

Below are some random pictures.  Our trip to the super market for some last minute items and a double decker ice cream cone.  A picture of the beautiful post card sunsets.  A little hummingbird that constantly hung around the bird feeder, Neal actually cleaning up the dishes, and Judy’s miss matched socks that we gave her such a bad time about.  She did finally find the right mates.

A typical non golfing day in Mexico.  Judy and Linda (Annie do you recognize your 6th grade teacher?) reading, Ron also reading and Neal working on the computer.  Later visiting the hot tub and that evening playing a few hands of bridge.

Of course, we golf every day that we can. 

One night after golfing we headed toward Tijuana to have some Mexican food.  Yes another place that would never pass inspection.  But, the food was delicious and no one got sick.  Neal paid the gentleman to sing us some Mexican songs. 

Linda and Barry Johnson (who are the part owners with Ron and Judy) had not planned on being in Mexico when we were there but they were having some trouble getting some papers signed that they had to have for ownership of property in Mexico.  We left Saturday morning to head back to the states and Linda and Barry will have to continue to stay until the legal work gets finalized.

On our way home we stopped in Primm and had a buffet breakfast at one of the casinos.  I noticed these cakes on display and had to take a picture of them for a friend that I work with who makes fancy cakes as a side hobby. 

That sums up another fun filled trip to Mexico.  We love it down there and are looking forward to many more!  Thanks to Ron and Judy for the invites and the great friendship!