HAPPY EASTER

It was the Ruggiero Family's turn to host Easter this year, so thought we'd try something different.  With Alissa and Alan's help, we were able to reserve a nice ramada at Power Ranch where they live.  The weather was beautiful on Easter, with just enough breeze for a little kite flying...not too warm to melt the chocolate candy, and cool enough in the shade to relax and visit with everyone. (This was the theory anyway... "Relax" is the word that most of the parents of little ones did NOT experience, however!)

With Terry and Ken's help, we loaded up extra tables into the pick up trucks, along with ice chests, games, lawn chairs, blankets, food, and all the paraphenalia that goes with eating food at a picnic!  I borrowed orange safety cones from our Security Department at Skyline for the "unloading on a busy street" process as the parking lot was some distance away from the ramada.

Here MaryBeth and Brock are ready to eat!

Terry, Chris, Bode & Brock are keeping cool in the shade on one of Terry's pretty quilts!

Here Cailyn and Landon are enjoying some fresh fruit and chicken tenders, plus they enjoyed a few potato chips, M & M's and jelly beans later! They are sitting at a children's table that our children used at their grandparent's house 30+ years ago too!

  They received cute little wagons from their great grandparents so those became their easter egg containers during the traditional egg hunt.

The children's parents had their work cut out for them...trying to steer them away from the lake (until duck-feeding time later)...and chasing them at the playground, plus running to make the kites fly higher too!

Jen and Nick helped with the egg hunt and the kite-flying, and then left early to join Nick's family for their Easter celebration as well.

Everyone enjoyed the deli sandwiches, chicken tenders, potato salad, veggies, MaryBeth's deviled eggs, Corissa's fresh fruit bowl and the special desserts. Terry & Ken provided ice tea, lemonade and water for everyone. Alan's mother brought her "oatmeal candy" and "dirt pudding" dessert...YUM!  And my mother baked up these delicious and festive cupcakes for our holiday celebration.

Here are the O'Bryans: Joan, Alissa & Eugene

Vince, Alan and his brother John with his new adopted dog

Thanks to everyone for their help in making our Easter picnic a special celebration!