Easter 2019

Easter this year was obviously different than in years past. We were grieving and missing our Mom/ Wife/ Kiki.  And yet, in the same breath, we were all ecstatic to welcome new life into our family.  Sweet Beckett came early, but his arrival was a balm to our aching hearts.  Of course it was bittersweet.  My mom should be here, snuggling with him and showering him with her love in person.  But it was not to be and, as Shannon put it, Kiki got to snuggle with Beckett for two weeks in heaven before we welcomed him earth side.  As for showering him with her love…I think that Kiki continues to do that from Heaven.

Walking into my parents house on the Friday before Easter as hard.  I didn’t expect the emotions that welled up inside.  I had been at the house since she’d passed away, but not since the funeral.  It was different this time.  It felt more real, more final.  Even the kids seemed to feel the difference.  They were quieter and more subdued…at least at first.  The house was filled the flowers and plants from the funeral and it just feel colder somehow.  I remember thinking the same thing the first time that I walked into the Klare’s house after Aunt Linda died.  My sweet dad tried hard to make it easier for the kids.  He got donuts on Saturday morning and pretty much played whatever games the kids asked.  He also watched the kids for me so that I could go the hospital and finally meet my newest nephew.  He is so sweet and is totally giving me baby fever!!

 Saturday evening was spent at the Haglage’s with my dad’s side of the family.  I was so happy to get to see and actually talk to everyone.  I had seen most of them at the funeral, but it was a such hectic day and so completely draining and I felt like I hadn’t really gotten the chance to connect or talk to anyone.  The kids had an Easter egg hunt inside and we all enjoyed a delicious dinner.  Added bonus… GG got to meet her two newest great-grandbabies via Facetime!! I think seeing Macy and Beckett certainly brightened the day!!

Easter morning was filled with Easter baskets and candy.  The kids woke me up EARLY because they were excited.  I told them that we couldn’t got downstairs until Pops woke up.  When I dozed back off, Mitch proceeded to sneak into my dad’s room and ‘gently’ wake him up.  The kids found their Easter baskets and opened their treats while their daddy watched on Facetime (he had to work on Saturday so he didn’t go with us to Kentucky).  Then we all got cleaned up and headed over to Uncle Denny and Aunt Laura’s for Easter brunch.  As usual the food was delicious and again, I was very happy to get to see and spend time with everyone.  Plus, there are a lot of kids on that side of the family and they are excellent distractors of all things so it took some of the sting out of how much we were missing Aunt Linda and my mom.  It was much nicer day outside on Sunday so the kids were able to have an outdoor egg hunt.  They all had fun and had major sugar buzzes after that.

After brunch, we went to the Reynold’s house where I FINALLY got to hold my new nephew.  I remember the first time that I held each of my nephews and my niece.  They were all at least few weeks old at the time so I was SO excited to finally meet them since I didn’t get to see them on their birthdays.  I remember holding Avi and Asa and just being filled with so much love and awe, and holding Beckett was no different.  He is so adorably tiny and precious!  Evelyn was definitely taken with him as well.  She was so excited to hold him and feed him his bottle.  Evie has always had a special bond with Asa and it looks like she may have one with baby boy too.  Mitch refused to hold Beckett, but he did promise to teach him about all things Lego and Pokémon.  It will to be fun to watch Beckett become part of the boy pack – Mitchell-Man, Avi-Man and Beck-Man (as Pops calls them).  Lookout world!

We left Shannon’s and headed back to Columbus to meet up with Pat and have dinner with Rita.  After a delicious dinner, wine and more chocolate for the kids, we finally headed home to pass out from sheer exhaustion.  Lol.

All it all, it was good day.  It had hard moments, but there was still sunshine.

Xoxo