Easter Weekend | 2016

We had a pretty chill Easter weekend.  I decided to forgo an egg hunt and Zane was the only one of my kids who mentioned missing it (after the fact).  Maybe they're getting too old or they're just being patient with my laziness???  We did dye eggs this year, which we skipped last year. Sooooo...#winning? 

Word to the wise – DO NOT ever buy the dip dyed egg kit.  Nightmare!!!  All the colors mix and overflow and drip weird.  It was stressing us all out.  Especially Brenner.

Easter morning baskets were a success.  I couldn't help myself and ended up putting together a basket for my baby girl, too.  Complete with the softest stuffed lamb in all the land. 

I tried to get a picture of everyone looking dapper before church and was less than successful at getting everyone to look at me.

We had our friends, the Rodriguezs, over for Easter dinner.  It's one of my favorite things to set the table and make things festive for holidays.  I got some help from the hubby and kids, hence the fork and spoon on the wrong side :)  

– On the menu –

Honey-orange glazed ham with béarnaise.

Potatoes au gratin with gruyère and thyme. 

Homemade rolls with whipped vanilla bean honey butter.

Spring salad with strawberries, pecans, feta, and champagne vinaigrette.

Roasted asparagus.

Strawberry shortcake with basil infused whip cream.  

I'm so grateful for my Savior, his life and resurrection, and all the hope that that brings.

Happy Easter! 

Easter Weekend 2015

Oh man, was this Easter weekend awesome.  We started celebrating on Saturday morning – and kept on until Sunday night.  In between celebrations we listened to General Conference while I baked stuff.  

Oh, did I bake.  

Saturday, between sessions, we went to the Smurthwaite's for a potluck brunch and Easter egg hunt for the kiddies.  Jordan is basically a master at celebrating anything.  Everything was just darling and the backyard egg hunt was legit.  SOOOOO many eggs!  I made the mango + basil pavlova. Mmmm, mmm good. 

 Jordan pointed out that Indy came dressed like a minion. HA!

 Saturday night Sean and I fell into bed around 11:00PM – and just as I started to doze off, I realized we had forgotten to fill the Easter baskets {WHY?!?!}.  So, Sean gathered all the stuff and I filled them while half asleep sitting up in bed. Torture guys. Torture. 

Worth it?

Of course.  

I love seeing my babies excited on the morning of a big holiday.  Pure joy!

 We went over to the Meilsoe's for Easter brunch and for this little ball of love's baby blessing.  I'm not sure if I've ever loved someone else's child like I love little Atli.  The way he smiles at me melts me into a puddle of mom butter.  Plus, just look at those fluffy cheeks and chick fur for hair.  He's perfect.  Just perfect. 

Erin's amazing Easter spread. That speckled cake guys. Yummo.

 Oh, and one more egg hunt for good measure. 

 My friend, Stephanie, {that I grew up with} just moved here with her family and we had them over for dinner.  Her family is adorable.  Whenever I'm around sweet little girls I start getting this bug that I want to try one more time for a girl.  Oooooh man am I crazy.  Or am I? 

I am.  

The kids helped me set the table and kids table {one more reason my boys will be great husbands}.  I love a reason to use the pretty dishes and make more of a fuss for dinner.  I really do enjoy it so much.  I didn't get pictures of the food {dang}, but trust me it was delish!

 Dessert was Pavlova with a mango crème brûlée filling and strawberry shortcake with basil.  Great way to end a weekend filled with family, friends, fun, food and reflecting on our Savior. Hope you all had a fabby Easter too! 

#BecauseHeLives

Easter 2014

We started off Easter celebrations with an Easter egg hunt and potluck on Saturday afternoon. My friend, Jordan, hosted in her be-yoooo-tiful backyard. The decorations and food were top notch! She's a crafty little bugger, that one :) I brought Pressed Italian Sandwiches & Macaroni Salad. Erin made her famous coconut cake and all was right in the world because of it.  

Easter Sunday just happened to be on Brenner's birthday this year. We tried our best to make it feel birthday-ish too, but Easter kind of dominated. We celebrated his birthday on Saturday so he was content with that. We woke him up with donuts and singing, followed by Easter baskets and a good ole chocolate binge.

Man is it getting harder and harder to get a picture of all the boys together. Indy is always ripping off clothing and trying to run away and no one ever looks at the camera. Grrrr!!! This was the best I could do.

I set an Eastery tablescape before church and we had some friends over for a Potluck Easter dinner after church. The menu was glazed ham with an apricot rosemary sauce (made by me), Roquefort Pear Salad, Au Gratin potatoes + Bearnaise (made by Erin), rolls + whipped butter, roasted carrots and bacon brussel sprouts (made by Stephanie). For dessert I made Strawberry Shortcake with basil infused whip cream, which was also Brenner's birthday cake. 

I love the festivities of Easter, but I'm so thankful for the celebration of our Savior and his resurrection. Because of Him I get to be with these people I love forever. The best gift in the world! 

Happy Easter from the Boyds!!!