Easter, Spring break, General Conference… all at once

Last year, they came one at a time: five days out of school, two days of General Conference and a few weeks later– Easter. But this year, all three landed on the same weekend which sent my tradition-loving heart into a quandary: do I make our traditional Easter breakfast or General Conference crepes? When will we do the Easter egg hunt or even find time to dye eggs? Somehow, everything essential fell into place and I didn’t worry about the rest.

Lest you worry about poor Mary dyeing eggs alone (YCS= youngest child syndrome), be assured she loved using every color, claiming the egg lifter as her own and enjoying her own creations.

While many of our friends left town for the break, we were lucky enough to fill our table with friends.

We even went to IFA and picked up a few chicks.

My lovely, lovely boys spent much of their free time constructing a rose arch for our side garden. Every year, my roses pick up our arch and shake it around, but this one, 1.25 gauge steel sunk 18″ into the ground, isn’t going anywhere.

Another one of my projects: we had a stack of pavers on the back patio and I had the bright idea to build an outdoor fireplace. Um, yeah, unfortunately I always need help executing my ideas. Poor Erik, poor Xander, they were very patient with me.

When the boys left for Priesthood Session Saturday night, Mary and I decked the trees.

This is when I start singing Fiddler on the Roof’s “Tradition, tradition.”

Sunday morning Mary roused everyone at 7:30 for the Easter egg hunt and the annual pre-hunt photo.

No one around here is too mature to search for candy.

While the indoor hunt remains fairly calm, the outdoor one involves confetti egg fights and Easter basket flips.

Next comes the serious part– dividing the loot. Everyone gets four chocolate carrots, two baby bunnies, two Ferrero Rocher eggs (the rest is up for grabs).

Somehow it didn’t add up,

and there were tears,

before Stalin bunny came to the rescue.

Before her tears have fully dried, Mary sets up her annual Easter trading booth.

Xander doesn’t take part.

Everyone else negotiates while Mary facilitates trades.

protecting his loot

After 30 minutes of serious brokering, the moment conference started, Mary swept it all aside saying, “Gabe you can have the rest.”

Our traditional crepes. Recipe courtesy of my French great-grandmother: Anna Diana Maria Frechette.

2 cups flour

2 cups milk

4 eggs

1/4 powdered sugar

our traditional Lego binge

Mary’s tradtional nap on the ledge(is Sister Wixom blue and black or white and gold?).

Just like every general conference, when it ended we called it the ‘best conference ever.’ But this was truly, truly the best. Especially the Sunday Morning Session.

And if you only listen to one talk, make it this one: Elder Holland, Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet.

Don’t read it! Watch the video or listen– half the beauty comes in Elder Holland’s delivery.

Kubb on the lawn.