Happy Easter Memories

When I was a kid, Easter always meant a new outfit. Everything matched. I always had a new spring coat and hat, a frilly dress, patent leather shoes, socks with ruffles...and always a new pair of white gloves! My mom loved dressing me up. When my kids were little going to church on Easter, and dressing the boys up in new clothes became a tradition, too. Of course, there weren't any wide brimmed pink straw hats and frilly dresses, but they always looked so handsome on Easter morning. Coloring Easter eggs on Saturday night to leave out for the bunny to hide was another tradition which began with my father. Just imagine what coloring eggs with a dad who was an artist could involve...mine were the prettiest eggs in town! I hated to crack them open for the egg salad sandwiches they'd become, and I wish I had some photos of those magnificently decorated eggs!

~Alas, then come grandchildren, and the egg coloring duties revert to the parents...The Easter bunny at Mimi's house stuffs plastic eggs with all kinds of treats. Money, and candy, and stickers, and coupons for movie nights, trips on the boat, outings to the zoo, and pizza parties. I remember one year when Michael would shake the eggs and if they didn't make any noise he would leave them for someone else to add to their basket--until he figured out that the ones that don't rattle with candy or quarters were the best ones filled with dollar bills and coupons!

Anyway, I love Easter. Our munchkins make the day so special.

*click on the photo to enlarge!

My Little Ballerina, Mia

Love Makes Everything Nicer

A wonderful thing happened to me the other day...my son called and asked if I could take Mia to dance class--as busy as I was, I said yes, without thinking of the consequences of giving up a few hours of my day to spend with my little dancer! The memories of my grandma taking me to dance class rushed back without any warning... As I stood behind the glass watching her prance and spin around the studio my grandma's spirit came for a visit and I just took a few deep breaths and enjoyed the experience of that connection. The other moms in the waiting area were busy taking about their designer shoes, and upcoming social events, all the while texting and talking on their phones--but not this Mimi...I could not take my eyes off my little ballerina. At one point during the rehearsal I even said, "Is it just me, or is my granddaughter just the best dancer out there?" Oye! After I said it, I could hardly believe that I actually uttered those words out loud, but I quickly explained that I had 3 sons and 5 grandsons before Mia came along...I barely got a smile...then they went back to their texting! Oh well, she really was the best one out there!

On the way to dance class Mia and I had this conversation:

Mia: "Mimi, I am a lot like Belle."

Mimi: "Yes you are, she is also pretty and very sweet, just like you!"

Mia: " ...and, My daddy is a lot like the beast...sometimes he growls, but when I love him he gets nicer."

Mimi: "Love always makes everything nicer."  

Mia at Ballet Class