Happy Easter

Hope everyone had a nice Easter. We did, on the quiet side, but it was nice being home and I always love the preparation: a little decorating and a little cooking and of course, the grand kids.

Can't see the eggs very well - a pig, a sheep, and a bunny.

We stuffed a lot of eggs. Not much Easter egg hunting went on as I thought, but we still had fun.

Easter egg tree.

Goodies waiting.

Yes that's Dave with 3 doggies. We kept Max while Kari and her family went to New York for a few days. We missed seeing them on Easter, but will get together with the them soon.

Amy and her family had a bad time of it since Thursday. All of them were sick. Strep throat and stomach virus. So they arrived later on Sunday than planned. Amy was still not feeling well. We're glad they got to come over for a while anyway.

I loved this little bunny with it's cute outfit - carrots all over.

Meg loves to give kisses, especially to Daddy. She is so affectionate.

Since it was late and too cool outside, Dave hid some eggs around the house. Meg was really into it, Alex not so much.

This was Alex favorite thing - a Spider Man Bubble machine.

Easter yummies:

Dave's favorite, Cheesecake with cherries.

Paula Dean's "Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding" - sooo good! Dangerous stuff, I sent some home with Amy and took the rest to work so I wouldn't eat the whole thing.

Hot Potato Salad - also Paula Dean. I made shrimp salad from her most recent magazine also.

This was fun to make, not as pretty as the one in the magazine, but it was tasty:

Before placing in a warm place to rise.

Just out of the oven - a little lopsided.

Raisins for the eyes and almonds for the teeth.

Dip and veggies added.

Meg takes a dip.

Eating an Easter Jello wiggler.

Wigglers made from molds that were free from the grocery store.

Bunny hats were completed just in time.

So cute. They had them on for about 2 minutes.

Getting a good picture of them together can be challenging.

Papa can get them to smile better than anyone.

It didn't take long for them to get out of the hats and to be silly.

Hope everyone had a great day.

A few pictures to share

Our new wallpaper and newly decorated wall in the kitchen:

The kids enjoying their bubbles during a recent overnight stay:

I love to see them at their little table. They won't sit there often, they like sitting at the big table. They are outgrowing this great flea market buy. $5 for the set!

They love being in our bed.

Alex, so cute in my specs.

I bought this cooking magazine at the grocery checkout. The recipes are easy and delicious. We have tried the sesame chicken and fried rice:

Amy gave me this rice cooker for Christmas 2 years ago - a must to have to cook that great, sticky rice for Chinese recipes.

Fresh ingredients make a big difference - ginger and garlic!

The yummy results:

I work with a physical therapist that is in the office for a short time most mornings that I work. He cooks a lot and is always telling me about good recipes that he has made. His wife is a vegetarian and he cooks tofu often (I just don't like even the thought of tofu) but he says it is quite tasty if cooked correctly. Anyway he likes meat and shared this recipe - skirt steak with tomato, corn and black bean salsa. Very yummy, Dave even liked it - he usually wants hamburger instead of a steak.

Black beans, lots of good seasonings and a beer, simmer until thick:

The finished project, I think he said it was a Rachel Ray recipe.

My neighbor brought her nephew over for a visit. He is staying with her until April. His name is Trenton - 20 months old, so cute:

By the way Roxanne is from St. Louis - she still visits and has been filling me in on the area.

He really liked the puppies.