Monday, April 17, 2017

An Easter Celebration


Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that you had a lovely 
Easter! Thank you so much for your dear Easter wishes
and all your sweet comments on my decorating.
I'm always hesitant to put myself 'out there', 
but you are all so very kind! 

xoxo 

I was very busy preparing for our Easter gathering at my son's home,   
which included two birthdays - my daughter, Jennie's
birthday is in April and so is my daughter-in-law, Jen's Mom, Julia.  



I created some flowering Easter baskets for all the ladies. 


I painted the terra-cotta pots, inside and out, with porch and floor paint,
planted them with purple allysum and bacopa, then
 added twig 'handles' wrapped with ribbon.


Tiny speckled eggs, fuzzy chicks and sweet vintage style tags
complete the 'baskets'. 


I made one large planter for one of the birthday gals, 
my DIL's Mom, Julia. 

Our gathering included my whole family, my daughter-in-law, 
Erica's parents, and my other daughter-in-law, Jen's Mom. 



Speckled eggs, fuzzy chicks, and sweet, vintage style tag. 
This one was planted with English daisies and false rock cress (aubretia). 


I also baked some Easter cupcakes. 



I've made these before and they are super easy. 
Just tint sweetened coconut with green food coloring
to make 'nests', and add tiny speckled eggs to your favorite cupcakes.


Of course, I had to bake extra for Ramblin' man :)

I also made deviled eggs, and put together
Easter baskets for my two grandchildren
which I forgot to take photos of !



It was a warm and very spring-like day, 
and we caught a view of beautiful Mt. Rainier
on our drive over to my son's house. 


The fields are lush and green, and the trees are 
just starting to leaf out. 

You can see the white flowers of native wild cherry
and plum, here and there. 


Both of my son's live in the same neighborhood, 
which is an hour and a half drive from us.
This is my son, Dustin and wife, Jen's home, 
as we drive by.  
I am so glad that they live close to one another :)
They are both 'Techies', one at Microsoft, 
which is close by, and one owns his own IT business. 
When they talk 'tech', it is like a foreign language :)


There is a little pond in their neighborhood, 
and they have lots of wildlife, including
deer, raccoons, and even bobcat. 



It is an older neighborhood with established 
trees and landscaping, and in the spring
it is full of flowering trees. 


We arrive at Gabe and Erica's (and little Ethan's) home. 


We place our gifts in the front room. 
The little pail with whirly-gig and basket with two lambs
on the far left are for my little grandson's, Ethan (almost 2), 
and Gavin (5 mos.)



Yummy food! DIL, Jen made the 'bunny' fruit tray :)

The 'wreath' is an egg and bacon pastry wreath,
made by daughter, Heather. 

Meals are always a collaborative affair. 


Mimosa Cheers! 




Ethan's first egg hunt. xoxo

Don't you love those little jeans? 

And those chubby cheeks! 


Speaking of chubby cheeks! Our little Easter Bunny, Gavin, 
with Mom - daughter, Heather. 


O.K. that's enough of that! Let's eat! 


Quiche, spinach strawberry salad, and roasted potatoes. 
Yum! 


Erica sets a beautiful table. 


There wasn't a crumb left. 

Afterwards we sang Happy Birthday to the 'birthday girls'
and had cupcakes and ice-cream. 


The birthday girl, Auntie Jennie with baby Gavin.
She is my 'middle child', with all the diplomatic, 
negotiating skills entailed.........
She is also very petite, so she had to hold her own
with an older sister, and two rowdy brothers :)
Hard to believe my girl is turning 37! 


Ethan with 'Poppa' putting toys down his shirt.
They are silly together.  

You never know what your grandchildren will call you :) 

I am 'Mooma'. Too cute! 
Ethan is just starting to talk in sentences, 
although.....his favorite word right now is 'no'! haha! 

I so wanted to get a group photo, but the day was busy
and went by too fast. 

Next time.......for sure! 


I did manage to get this one, though! 
They are a year and a half apart. 
It will be fun watching them grow up together.


I chose a potted miniature rose from
Erica's dear parents, Jeff and Jane, and then it was time
to say goodbye.

I am so thankful for these precious moments,
spent with dear friends and family.


Now they are lovely memories in my heart.

xoxo

33 comments:

  1. Hello Karen, I'm so very glad you posted this beautiful collection of family togetherness.
    The Easter Baskets you made are delightful. Your baking is wonderful as is that of your DIL and daughters. Such a happy occasion filled with love, nothing is better than that. Thank you so kindly for sharing it with us in your elegant way :D)

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  2. What a beautiful Easter you had! I love the flower pot Easter Baskets that you made. They are so pretty.

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  3. Karen, your flower pot baskets are absolutely adorable! What a wonderful idea. I am sure everyone loved them. And those cupcakes! Your Easter holiday looks lovely from the gifts to the food to the family to the scenery. Thank you for sharing it all with us.

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  4. What a truly wonderful day. Thanks so much for sharing it with us, Karen.

    You have a beautiful family - all your homes are so awesome, and your mountain is breath-taking.

    The Easter brunch was amazing and I feel honored to have a part in it with your post. Hugs.

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  5. I'm amazed at those beautiful baskets of flowers you made. The chicks and eggs really topped them off! Fantastic post. Happy birthday to all the celebrants.

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  6. Loved seeing your Easter celebration. Aren't families the best? Especially grandchildren! We had ours over but didn't take a single picture!

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  7. What a beautiful Easter celebration! The flowering Easter baskets you created are just gorgeous! Those grand-babies are just adorable. I know you just can't get enough of those sweet faces! Have a wonderful week, my friend.

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  8. Looks like you all had a great time! Loving the food, the trees and the babes. I love the flower pots. Great job.

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  9. Dear Karen, this looks like you had a lovely and wonderful Easter with all of your family! Belatede Birthday Wishes to the Birthday girl :O)
    I love the Easter Baskets you made for the ladies, such a sweet idea!
    Thank you also for your sweet Easter wishes!
    Wishing you a wonderful new week,
    sending Love and hugs and blessings to you, Claudia xo

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  10. Utterly gorgeous from start to finish - looks like an amazing Easter!
    Wren x

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  11. Karen, your Easter looks wonderful and full of love.

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  12. what a beautiful easter celebration!! i pinned the fruit bunny and the baskets, so creative and fun!!

    your trees, our trees too - spring is here and it is looking so fine!!!

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  13. Looks like you had a very happy Easter. The photos are great and especially loved the ones of your family.

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  14. Hello Karen, looks like you and your family had a lovely Easter. The baskets you made are beautiful. The cupcakes and food look delicious. Happy Belated birthday to both of the girls. Wonderful Easter photos and memories. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day!

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  15. Happy Easter dear Karen. You had such a lovely celebration with your dear family. The cupcakes and baskets are so cute! And, little Ethan and Gavin are so adorable. Have a wonderful week, Pat xx

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  16. Your Easter / Birthday celebrations look and sound so happy & delicious. The Easter baskets are cute and a nice present... It is always a joy to look at your posts - have a great week!

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  17. Happy Birthday to your daughter and daughter-in-law! Loved seeing your family celebration. The babies are so sweet. It looks like everyone had a great time. And that food looks amazing! We just had a ham, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and rolls with coffee cake for dessert. Nothing special. It was so good to have the family here! Glad you had a wonderful Easter! Lots of beautiful decorating and cooking....I need to do better next year! :-)

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  18. What a sweet Easter you had with family!

    Have a wonderful week and Happy Spring ~ FlowerLady

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  19. What an absolutely wonderful post, Karen!! The flower baskets that you made are such a beautiful idea!! Also, that fruit platter in the shape of a bunny's head is something that I've never seen before. I've seen lots of bunny cakes but never a fruit platter. What a fantastic idea!! I pinned it to one of my Pinterest boards so I can make it for next Easter. : ) Your photos are wonderful and you're so blessed to have such a beautiful family. xoxo

    ~ Wendy
    http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  20. What a lovely Easter Karen! Those collaborative meals are the best - less stress for the host & lots of different yummies. ;) Your Grandsons are so adorable!! And those planters you made were just beautiful.

    Blessings on the rest of your week Hon! Xoxo

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  21. Such a wonderful day shared with family creating good memories. Love the mountain view! Looks like you will have many more memories ahead watching the grandchildren grow.

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  22. Karen, I love the Easter 'baskets' you made for the women in your family. They are really clever and beautiful! It looks like you had a wonderful day celebrating birthdays and Easter together. The grandkids are adorable! So many sweet memories made together. Have a great week! xo Pam

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  23. What could be better than spending Easter-time with family enjoying such fun and making special memories.

    What a lovely post, I'm so pleased you had the most wonderful time.
    Your grand-kids are adorable.

    All the best Jan

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  24. Nice day and what beautiful flower pots you made. So very special for all of you! The scenery on your drive is lovely.

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  25. Karen, your family celebrations and get togethers are always enjoyable to read about! You have a lovely family! Thanks for letting us join in!

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  26. Yes, memory enables us to relive these moments of family togetherness. What a lovely gathering you all enjoyed. Your Easter basket planters are so creative. A great idea.

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  27. I love that you are, "Mooma". A friend of mine is called, "Tammi". Not sure why! lol Looks like a lovely Easter celebration with your family!

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  28. It sounds like a wonderful Easter, Karen. Those cupcakes caught my eye right away, they look Yummy. I love coconut, and don't see people bake much with it any more. The picture of the chicks and the blue eggs is so sweet. What a lovely drive you had seeing the Pink blossom trees and Mt. Rainier. The food looks delicious. I think my favorite picture on here is the little one trying to get the Pink egg, that's priceless.

    A happy week to you, Karen.

    ~Sheri

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  29. Karen,

    Thanks so much for sharing this special day with us. The who time I read and looked at your photos, the more I thought we could all be from one big family! The relaxed celebration, delicious and fun food, babies, a little fuss here and there in the right places...

    I'll never tire of seeing your photos of Mt. Rainier, the lush fields and county roads. Beautiful! You live in a heavenly place and your love for it shines through in every post.

    The baskets you made are precious...I'd love to try a few for birthdays. How did you attach the handles (and how did you make them as well!!!)? The cupcakes are very sweet. Have to remember the coconut trick.

    Your grand babies are so precious. I now know what the fuss is about. I have little Madelyn all to myself on Mondays and after she's gone, I'm tired but then I start to long for her again!! Being a mother was/is the most important part of my life so far and now that I can hold my daughter's little girl in my arms, it's bursting with memories and love.

    Happy Easter to you, Karen!

    Jane x

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    1. AW! Thank you, Jane for your sweet and kind words. It is true that you never can know the intense love you can have for a grandchild until you have one of your own! It is like the love of your child, but with all the memories and sweetness included! I had fun making the little Easter 'baskets' and really didn't know how they would turn out when I began. The 'handles' were made with bendy branches I found in the yard. Any flexible shrub branches would work, but they have to have lots of 'give'. Just stick them deep down into the soil on each side after planting and then wrap with any thin ribbon. I made separate little bows on each side at the bottom. So that is it - easy as pie. If only pie was easy! Lol! Sending hugs to you xo Karen

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  30. Dearest Karen,
    Wow, you sure had a very lovely Easter period with Birthdays included.
    Cannot believe how tall Ethan already is; your first grandchild's first Easter egg hunt. Many firsts...
    It is so rewarding for preparing for such a family gathering and even better when no crumb is being left!
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

    PS Our Easter was lovely too with a dinner at our best friends with combined food contributions. I'm working very hard as we have guests for dinner and very special guests for Pieter's birthday; my youngest brother with wife and daughter. He and his wife were here in 1999... Than my performance with the choir on May 6; twice that day at the local theatre for about 600 people each time.

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  31. Looks like you had such a fun time with family and a pretty drive there too! How wonderful that you all could get together. Love the fruit tray that is just too cute. Your grandbabies are just the sweetest, how fun to watch his first egg hunt :)

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  32. So glad you all had a lovely time together, Karen. My youngest daughter made carrot cake cupcakes decorated like yours, and my Grand Girls did some egg hunting, too, which I will show you when I finish my next post :)

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Thank you for stopping by! Your comments are important to me and are very much appreciated. xx Karen

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