Easter

Tristen and I visited Grandma and Grandpa for Easter. We usually visit in February or March, but this year we decided to horn in on the huge egg hunt Mom throws for the grandkids every year. Tristen had never hunted for eggs and didn't even know who the Easter bunny was when we got there. But he sure gets it all now!

Some highlights:

• Cousins! Tristen and Elaina were fast friends, as usual. They raced their baby strollers around, had tea parties, dropped matchbox cars down Grandma's homemade ramp (an old piece of house siding), played with playdough, and snuggled up for movie time.
• Will and Ashten: go-fish sharks. Great kids!
• Dena was in fab-u form for someone recovering from salmonella poisoning.
• Bowling! I got to sip an especially yummy, extra-dirty, extra-olivey martini while watching Bo, Dena, JB, and Jennifer round out the bowling season. Third place for the season!
• Bath time at Grandma's.
• Mom and I tried to get Tristen to sit on the Easter Bunny's lap, but he would only stand nearby and stare. Mom took the lap spot in the end.
• Lunch at Olga's with Mom and Carol (Simcox!). Has Carol aged in the last two decades?
• Fun catching up with childhood friend Jeff (Simcox!), also in town for Easter.
• Nice chats with Mom while Tristen napped.
• Evenings on the couch with wine, knitting, movies. Very relaxing!
• An afternoon visit with Mr. and Mrs. Renken. Mrs. Renken had made us cinnamon roll coffee cake -- and she had a special Easter surprise for Tristen. So great to see those guys doing so well!
• Roger -- my partner in crime.
• I had a nice chat with Mrs. Cox, too, after a sunny run on my high school route down Union School Road.
• Pizza with all the Alton Marshalls, Iowa Marshalls, and Sharon and Steve, too. Loud, chaotic, fun.
• The elusive Eleanor quit winning things long enough to join us this time. She had a cold, but persevered. Thank you, Eleanor!
• Easter morning: what would the Midwest be without bacon gravy?
• Afternoon walk with Keith. Memories are written in the cursive of tree branches...
• Easter evening at Bo and Dena's -- thanks for letting me fall asleep on the couch in the middle of it all!

And the egg dying, Easter bunny, and egg hunt? Check out the pix below.