Easter

Happy Easter to you all first off.

Once again it's that time of year where I miss having a big family around. A casual family. A comfortable family. Not having to get dressed up with a matching hair bow kind of family. The kind of family where you can all get together for Easter lunch in lounge wear. That it didn't matter so much what we were eating as we were together. True there were some traditions like the now great uncles sharing their Pepsi and Mt Dew. Yet there was never a set menu of ham, lamb, or roast beast. No one argued about who was bringing or making what. Or maybe they did and we just never saw it being children.

I think my happiest Easter memory was sitting with my cousins after dinner and having the post dinner candy feast and comparison. I remember when the Starburst jelly beans were new and same with the Lifesavers brand. Of course you had to try them all and than combine the different flavors. Than of course tell everyone what flavors you had combined and that they had to try it. I still get excited when I see them on the shelf ever year. They are also in the Bigs Easter basket because well tradition and happy memories.

Ok so far this blog post is sounding like a commercial for sugary snacks. What it really boils down to is that we had these really great moments of happy. It wasn't a super extravagant day but it was a good day. We spent it with people that we loved or at least liked and were related to.  A lot of the happiest moments of my childhood I look back and they weren't wearing fancy outfits or eating gourmet food. Instead it is the time spent with family. It's hard to live across the country especially during the holidays. True I do have my own family now and while it's little and good the Minimonkey will never know the joys of being part of the cousin herd because that's not  how our life is. He also has to deal with the fact that his siblings are older and will be leaving the nest while he's still little. It's time to figure out new traditions and be grateful for the memories.