Easter Sunday

It was a glorious day to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  

Our family attended 8:00 am Mass at the same parish we have been going to for our whole married life (almost 30 years). 

It was a rainy morning and a bit chilly which can be expected for early April. We had so much to celebrate and so much to look forward to that despite the unfavorable weather we were as happy as could be. 

We also had my parents coming over for Easter brunch (they are both in their 80's so I treasure treasure treasure every holiday with them) 

We have oh so many pictures outside these red doors over the years of our daughters lives. They are all so special to me. They were real troupers to walk over puddles in their 'easter best' and stand there for a quick picture (while I was also holding an umbrella!) 

The church looked magnificent that morning. And sounded even more so... 

My darling daughters now 22 and 18... 

After Mass we headed home for a family picture (of course!) 

And then Easter baskets and a really special egg hunt. 

Clues to a puzzle that took them quite some time to figure out!

And then they all helped get the last of the preparations ready for Easter brunch. 

Then it was time for dessert! Lemmon cream pie and carrot cake... yummmmm 

A glorious day indeed. 

Easter Prep & Easter Table Setting

It was a three day holiday weekend for us and oh boy... we needed each day! We spent two days preparing for Easter, one day 'doing' Easter and then went back to school kinda tired from all of it. I don't want to complain. And really that's not where my heart was this weekend, but it flew by and I longed for one more day off to enjoy it all. 

Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love everything homemade from scratch. I love to decorate the table. I do love it all. 

Baking: 

We made homemade rolls for Easter brunch. 

I baked a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. 

The girls colored eggs while all of this was going on. 

We even made homemade bread for late night Easter leftover sandwiches. 

And my favorite part of all... setting the table. 

I love to start early, pull out things I already have: dishes, silver, glasses, napkins, decorations and then I play play play, trying it all out until I just love it. 

It's kind of weird how it all happens. With everything around me I usually don't like it at all and then suddenly one different combination (maybe I add something that makes the napkin color work) and than wow... I love it. 

This year I used ironstone blue (new to me) vintage dishes. Lovely. They had blue in them and matched the table cloth (from here) just perfectly. 

I added our wedding silver that is just for Easter. 

And the centerpiece had candles (from here) with blue in them, bunny figurines (vintage), some greens and then real tulips in vases throughout. I love that mama bunny (above) looking like she's watering the greens. 

Pink embroidered pillows (from here) on the chairs in the corner to tie it all together. 

And those little bunny baskets filled with candy pulling all of that pink pink pink from the tulips together. 

I'll share Easter day just as soon as I can!