Eastering Together

Since becoming empty nesters, we honestly  go through some pretty dry spells where our lives are pretty uneventful, but lately it's been a pretty steady stream of nonboringness and we are enjoying it!  In fact, it's felt a bit like a whirlwind here the last month or so, so there's a ton to blog about.

This post will focus on the happenings of Easter weekend.  

On the Friday before Easter, my sister Heather was down in Provo with my Mom taking Emma's graduation pics (more of the recent excitement) and we decided to join them for a spontaneous little dinner and treat night.  Besides Heather, my Mom, and Emma, McKenzie (my niece), Riley (Emma's roommate), Adam, Spencer, and Glen and I were there.  We ate dinner at Don Joaquin's...

and laughed when our receipt was #74, which induced a lot of giggles on our parts...

We ended the night at Brooker's Founding Flavors ice cream shop near BYU.  Zwahlens in PA is still our gold standard for the best ice cream ever, but Brooker's isn't too far behind.  Plus the colonial / Founding Fathers theme of the shop makes us nostalgic for the DC area.   We were there on the snowy day mentioned here, so it wasn't great ice cream weather, but the place was still packed and we laughed that they had an outdoor DJ there that night.   

It was way too cold to be sitting outside and eating ice cream, but we chatted with the DJ on the way out and were impressed that they were celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere that night.  

I doubt any of you blog readers have been around long enough to remember that Emma was OBSESSED with the poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow back in the day!   We both could quote several stanzas of the poem from memory and I had to pull up this picture I found here on the blog to pass around to everyone!    "Listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere..." 

Then on Easter Sunday we attended our new YSA ward and LOVED it!   The talks and music were Christ centered and beautiful.   I think we are going to really enjoy this season of serving down at BYU. 

After church, we hosted dinner for 12 people!    Guests besides Glen, Emma, Spence, Adam, and I, included our niece, McKenzie, my sister, Heather, my Mom, my cousin, Trisha, and her 2 daughters Lily and Sylvie, plus Adam's roommate, Ty.

Glen woke up at 2am to  smoke  brisket and later made mashed potatoes, Heather brought rolls, and I made broccoli salad, pie,cupcakes.  Adam, Emma, and McKenzie were our sous chefs.  Everything was delicious and we ate well! 

It was so fun to get these first and second cousins together again. 

Meanwhile, in Alabama...the B family was enjoying their own Easter.  Yes, Cami and I were wearing matching dresses that we both bought on a recent sale!    And Cami sewed Lucie and Oliver's matching outfits!    Apparently Lucie had the time of her life with all the Easter celebrations, but Oliver wasn't so sure...

And, in California, Ellie was busy teaching people about Jesus, while celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.   She, along with the other missionaries serving in her ward, ended up performing a musical number in the Easter sacrament service without any previous notice.  Overall it sounded like she had a beautiful day. 

It turned out to be a lovely weekend with  a lot of good food, lots of reflection on the atonement of our Savior, and  with lots of good company... just the way Easter should be!  💗

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Day 256--Family Get-Together

We have a monthly tradition of meeting together with my brothers Matt & Pete and their families, my cousin Aaron and his family, and of course my sister AnnaLisa (who lives with us). We each take turns hosting and really enjoy the time to reconnect with all of us East Coast Crains.

We had our gathering today at Pete and Mika's house, which with the visit of my Hepworth cousin Josh, Chelise, and baby Jonas it brought the grand total of attendees up to 26 people (15 of whom were children).

Mika & Pete made a feast fit for kings with their ginormous freshly grilled hamburgers. The kids love spending time with their cousins (and first cousins once removed) and we love chilling with the other adults.

{Please do NOT look at my haggard looking face in this picture. I'm a seminary mom now...remember? I've aged 10 years in the last 6 days}.

I also thoroughly enjoyed snuggling little baby Sammy (Aaron and Trish's son). I can finally say I'm to the point where I can enjoy holding a little baby without even the slightest tinge of baby hunger.

Day 230--Laundry and Baseball

The start of Spencer's two-a-day football practices has brought with it a new urgency to keeping up with the laundry...

and Spencer experienced his first bout of jealousy with his new sporting commitments when he returned from practice to discover that everyone but Ellie and I were downtown at the Rockies/Nationals game.

They came home happy to report that the right team won the match-up.

Rockies 4--Nats 3.

(You couldn't expect 2 Colorado boys {Aaron and Glen} to root for anyone else now could you?)

Day 217--Splashing and Jamming

In the midst of a crazy day, somehow we found enough time to go try out the fountains at Fairfax Corner. I felt a little weird traipsing eight kids in their bathing suits through the parking lot of the mall, but in the end it was totally worth it.

It was way more fun than I ever would have thought they'd have...

and everyone left cool, refreshed, soaking wet, and happy as can be.


Then we came home and made homemade blueberry jam with the 99 cent pints of blueberries from Safeway and homemade wheat bread to spread it on. YUM!

Day 216--Snow Babies...

My cousin Aaron and his wife Trish came to hang out on their last night before little Snow Baby #5 arrives. Aaron and Trish have gone home now and Snow Babies #1, #2, #3, & #4 are staying here for the next few days. So if you feel like hanging out with eight kids mostly eight and under this week be sure to stop by our house ( you may want to bring working gloves though).

Day 208--El Pollo Rico and New Windows

After spending the last month as the ghetto house on the block with our duct taped windows, we finally got back up to speed today.
Then, after a long, painful visit to the orthopedist for Spencer (where they told us everything was normal and fine) we met Aaron and Trish for an early dinner at one of their family favorite restaurants, El Pollo Rico. The food was simple, but excellent and the company was even better.

Day 158--Fast Sunday Festivities!

Every Fast Sunday we get together with my two brothers (Matt & Pete) and my cousin Aaron and all their families.  We take turns hosting and cooking.  Today it was at Matt & Karey's (our first time in their new place) and Karey made us Cafe Rio (yum, yum)!

We also take the opportunity to celebrate that month's birthdays.  Here is the June crew--my sister in law Karey, whose birthday is actually today, Lily whose is at the end of May, and my cousin Aaron (in a few weeks).  Glen should have been in there too enjoying this fabulous cake that Cami made, but he'll have to wait until next month. 

Day 95--Dogpile Spencer!

Our house
+
24 people
+
General Conference
+
Dinner
=
Lots of time outside + Very tired parents