Easter/ my birthday
My birthday didn't fall on Easter on this year but it did fall the day after Easter. A long time ago, one of my friends looked up a calendar of when Easter will fall in future years and I believe in 2070, my birthday will fall on Easter. I plan on celebrating that Easter with the Holiest of Holies in heaven!! I couldn't help myself and just did a search on what dates Easter will in the upcoming years. It appears that in 2022 and 2033, Easter will fall on my birthday (either my memory was off (the most likely scenario) or my friend told me incorrectly). Where I'll be five and 16 years is not certain; this year, 2017 my birthday fell the day after Easter and I'm alive and well enough to report on it :).
Traditionally on Easter, we go to church, followed by lunch at a restaurant with some of Donnie's family and then back to Donnie's mom's house for dessert and an Easter egg hunt. This year, we decided to make our Easter -after -church lunch be a birthday celebration for me (can we do this for every holiday? Let's all go out to eat together and people can bring me presents?? Kidding, of course) as well as an Easter meal together. We met at Chuy's restaurant. Their chips and salsa are so good. The girls split a kids' meal so that they could fill up mostly on chips and salsa. Pretty smart on their part and it saved us money on our restaurant bill :). Family members attending lunch at Chuy's included our family, Don, Donetta, Bev, Denise, Doug, Mark and Cindy.
The weather forecast for Easter was bad. There was an 80% chance of rain/ storms. I had originally wanted to go to a state park after we ate lunch that is about an hour away from our house. Easter is still sacrosanct in terms of no soccer games are scheduled or dance competitions are held the weekend of Easter. With the day ahead of us (we did the 9:30 church service and lunch immediately afterward), we decided to chance the weather holding out for us (it did) and we went to nearby Caesar Creek park for a fun family afternoon of nature and fellowship. I would be lying if I said this sounded appealing to the kids, especially the teens. But, they didn't have a choice what with the day being Easter and my birthday the next day. Add in no outside activities and there was no excuse to miss family fun time in nature!!
The trail we walked on was pretty, especially considering the area in which we live isn't known for its stunning natural beauty. I loved the various water "features" we encountered including being able to see the Caesar Creek reservoir during part of the hike, a pond, and a small waterfall.
Easter Sunday was also special because the kids had one day left of break (Monday) so Sunday evening didn't consist of the usual end of weekend blues. Instead it consisted of consuming lots of Easter candy and staying up late. Not a bad way to end the weekend.
The next day, Monday, was my birthday. I loved the kids being home on my birthday. We decided to go to Dayton to meet Donnie for lunch and to see his new office. He recently nabbed a corner office when one of his partners retired. The kids always enjoy going to see Donnie at work. We had lunch at the usual spot when we visit Donnie: Pizzeria Uno's. I LOVE their pizza and with it being my birthday and all, it was a perfect place to have a birthday meal.
Here are some pictures of Easter Sunday and Monday:
Note that this was the first Easter ever where I've taken more pictures of food than traditional Easter pictures, like, say, of kids. I took no pictures of the kids before church mainly because we were so rushed but also because the kids didn't have special Easter outfits this year. A casualty of growing up I suppose- the kids wore an assortment of quasi appropriate Easter attire. Alyssa wore the same dress that she wore on Easter two years ago-she's grown length wise but not girth wise by much, apparently. Abby wore the one skirt that she owns and a blouse and Jacob wore a nice button down shirt with khaki shorts. I also took no pictures of the Easter baskets that we got them or the little baskets that Grandma gave to the kids at Chuy's. I did, however, get pictures of a very special component of Easter and that's pictures of junk food.
Denise brought these sugar cookies to Chuy's for everyone to enjoy. They were too cute and they tasted good, too.
The cake that Bev made for my birthday that we all enjoyed at Chuy's- it was delicious!!
Mark and Cindy came to lunch at Chuy's and brought this for me (YES!) and candy for the kids from Esther Price chocolates. Their birthday present to me arrived in the mail later in the week. This bad boy was quite the present in and of itself.
And at Chuy's our waitress brought me these sapodillas when she observed that we were having a birthday celebration. I'd never had this delicacy before and it did not disappoint. This picture cracked me up because it represents so much sugar and yummy tasting food. Not pictured but close by was my chocolate bunny.
At Caesar Creek State Park- the kids were very underwhelmed with the trail at first. Not sure what they expected; we weren't exactly in Yosemite or other famous park.
So pretty!
We found a froggy friend...
Shortly after we crossed the swinging bridge, we came upon this purty area.
Three Rineer I- don't- want- to- be- in- this- picture kids
We did part of the yellow perimeter trail.
Emerging from the trail's exit (or beginning if you're coming from the other way) was Pioneer Village.
Such cute buildings...
Downtown Dayton pre lunch- we checked out Donnie's new office
He's chatting with the girls...
And this... I was good and only ate three pieces of this at the restaurant and took three pieces home so that I could experience its deliciousness for another meal (not to mention that the salad just about filled me up).
I *may* have mentioned to our server that it was my birthday (I have no shame when a free dessert is on the line) ...
And that was our Easter/ my birthday. So thankful for our Risen Savior, my family and yummy food.
Traditionally on Easter, we go to church, followed by lunch at a restaurant with some of Donnie's family and then back to Donnie's mom's house for dessert and an Easter egg hunt. This year, we decided to make our Easter -after -church lunch be a birthday celebration for me (can we do this for every holiday? Let's all go out to eat together and people can bring me presents?? Kidding, of course) as well as an Easter meal together. We met at Chuy's restaurant. Their chips and salsa are so good. The girls split a kids' meal so that they could fill up mostly on chips and salsa. Pretty smart on their part and it saved us money on our restaurant bill :). Family members attending lunch at Chuy's included our family, Don, Donetta, Bev, Denise, Doug, Mark and Cindy.
The weather forecast for Easter was bad. There was an 80% chance of rain/ storms. I had originally wanted to go to a state park after we ate lunch that is about an hour away from our house. Easter is still sacrosanct in terms of no soccer games are scheduled or dance competitions are held the weekend of Easter. With the day ahead of us (we did the 9:30 church service and lunch immediately afterward), we decided to chance the weather holding out for us (it did) and we went to nearby Caesar Creek park for a fun family afternoon of nature and fellowship. I would be lying if I said this sounded appealing to the kids, especially the teens. But, they didn't have a choice what with the day being Easter and my birthday the next day. Add in no outside activities and there was no excuse to miss family fun time in nature!!
The trail we walked on was pretty, especially considering the area in which we live isn't known for its stunning natural beauty. I loved the various water "features" we encountered including being able to see the Caesar Creek reservoir during part of the hike, a pond, and a small waterfall.
Easter Sunday was also special because the kids had one day left of break (Monday) so Sunday evening didn't consist of the usual end of weekend blues. Instead it consisted of consuming lots of Easter candy and staying up late. Not a bad way to end the weekend.
The next day, Monday, was my birthday. I loved the kids being home on my birthday. We decided to go to Dayton to meet Donnie for lunch and to see his new office. He recently nabbed a corner office when one of his partners retired. The kids always enjoy going to see Donnie at work. We had lunch at the usual spot when we visit Donnie: Pizzeria Uno's. I LOVE their pizza and with it being my birthday and all, it was a perfect place to have a birthday meal.
Here are some pictures of Easter Sunday and Monday:
Note that this was the first Easter ever where I've taken more pictures of food than traditional Easter pictures, like, say, of kids. I took no pictures of the kids before church mainly because we were so rushed but also because the kids didn't have special Easter outfits this year. A casualty of growing up I suppose- the kids wore an assortment of quasi appropriate Easter attire. Alyssa wore the same dress that she wore on Easter two years ago-she's grown length wise but not girth wise by much, apparently. Abby wore the one skirt that she owns and a blouse and Jacob wore a nice button down shirt with khaki shorts. I also took no pictures of the Easter baskets that we got them or the little baskets that Grandma gave to the kids at Chuy's. I did, however, get pictures of a very special component of Easter and that's pictures of junk food.
Denise brought these sugar cookies to Chuy's for everyone to enjoy. They were too cute and they tasted good, too.
The cake that Bev made for my birthday that we all enjoyed at Chuy's- it was delicious!!
Mark and Cindy came to lunch at Chuy's and brought this for me (YES!) and candy for the kids from Esther Price chocolates. Their birthday present to me arrived in the mail later in the week. This bad boy was quite the present in and of itself.
At Caesar Creek State Park- the kids were very underwhelmed with the trail at first. Not sure what they expected; we weren't exactly in Yosemite or other famous park.
When water came into view, the scenery improved.
I may be am a mean mom, but I'm not cruel. I made the teens come with us but I only "made" them pose for pictures at a couple of spots. Most of the following pictures will only depict Alyssa in them...
So pretty!
We found a froggy friend...
He was hopping in this pond...
The beginning part of a swinging bridge that we encountered
Shortly after we crossed the swinging bridge, we came upon this purty area.
Three Rineer Kids
Three Rineer I- don't- want- to- be- in- this- picture kids
After we spent some time at the waterfall area, that concluded our time on the trail and we turned around. Here we are going back on the swinging bridge.
We did part of the yellow perimeter trail.
Emerging from the trail's exit (or beginning if you're coming from the other way) was Pioneer Village.
Such cute buildings...
Monday morning- Birthday breakfast- leftover cake that Bev made and a dollop of whipping cream
Downtown Dayton pre lunch- we checked out Donnie's new office
Views outside of Donnie's multiple(!) windows
He's chatting with the girls...
This area is just opposite Donnie's desk/ chair (so he can watch infomericals :)).
At Uno's- my salad :)
And this... I was good and only ate three pieces of this at the restaurant and took three pieces home so that I could experience its deliciousness for another meal (not to mention that the salad just about filled me up).
I *may* have mentioned to our server that it was my birthday (I have no shame when a free dessert is on the line) ...
And that was our Easter/ my birthday. So thankful for our Risen Savior, my family and yummy food.
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