Easter Eggs and Candy and Cookies and more Candy

My stomach hurts.  Yesterday was Easter.  I woke up this morning and my body wanted to know what I had done to it.  My body apparently can no longer consume mass amounts of candy and sugar with no ill effects.  If I had not had lunch plans, it would have been a pajama pants sort of day.  Despite fighting an urge to detach my stomach from the rest of me,  I can look back fondly over our Easter Holiday.

There was no school Friday.  After lunch, we baked Easter cookies made with robin egg candies.  Then our friends, Colleen, Ari, and Vivian came over to dye Easter eggs.  The brilliant part of this plan was that it meant off loading half the eggs (the kids don't like hard boiled eggs) and some of the cookies.

Hopped up on sugar, the kids were feeling the need to become the Easter bunny.  Eileen has taken to walking around the house at all times with a basket full of plastic eggs (which of course is a source of conflict with her brother).  Linus and Robin claimed the bunny ears.  Inspired, Linus took it a step further and used markers all over his face when I wasn't looking.

The hospital scrubs are from the previous activity of animal hospital.

Saturday meant more Easter candy and cookies.  Thanks to attending Catholic school, Linus has been very aware of the religious aspects of Easter.  The Stations of the Cross seem to be weighing very heavily on him.  Linus has taken it upon himself to educate the rest of us.

The kids woke up Easter Sunday ready.  The Easter Bunny brought the kids garden stuff.  Linus tried to argue that the Easter Bunny had really meant for Robin's shovel to be for the whole family.  Right.  It only took moments for Robin to figure out the wonder and joy of unwrapped candy in baskets. 

We managed to snap a few pictures before mass.  It's never an easy task.

We got to mass way too early.  Robin was none too impressed.  Having discovered a joy of hats, he claimed Linus' as his own.

Mass wasn't too bad.  I did not love the music, but who doesn't appreciate a homily about zombies?  After mass was another church organized egg hunt, so more candy!

We came home.  I prepared a yummy fancy brunch--lemon brioche french toast with raspberries, maple sausages, frittata, oj.  My mother and brother joined us.  The kids were eerily well behaved and quiet during brunch.  I think it was because I let them use the good china.  Maybe I should break it out more often......

Settlers of Catan followed brunch.  After being denied a win that was mine, I took a nap before starting dinner.  The kids and Dave took advantage of the beautiful weather.  Linus and Dave created some sort of game while Eileen wandered around.

Grandma spent the afternoon playing with Robin.  He is finally starting to really like her, or at least not cry at her mere presence.

After an afternoon of snacking on candy and cookies, I prepared a delicious dinner--honey balsamic roasted brussel sprouts, carrot souffles, red wine and cranberry glazed roast over mashed potatoes.  My younger sister had arrived by then. 

Dinner was followed by more candy and cookies.  It was actually a very chill Easter.  I've managed to throw out some of the candy gotten through egg hunts.  The baskets are up out of reach due to the sugar crazed children that woke up this morning.   I think this is the last year I can get away with just eating all the kids' candy while they sleep.   All I know is that right now my stomach is begging me to take a break from the sweets.  The hard part is trying to listen.