Easter!

Easter morning was so much fun.  The kids started out with an Easter egg hunt around the house.  The Easter bunny put quarters in the eggs which the kids were so excited about!  

Found one!

Then they spotted their Easter baskets on the fireplace.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle PJ's!  Nolan wasn't a fan of the slippers, but he begs to wear his TMNT jammies every night.  Even when they are dirty.

Maya got My Little Pony jammies and slippers.  She loves them too!  

After some candy fuel, Nolan shows off his karate kick.

After we got cleaned up and dressed, the kids posed for some nice pictures outside.  Then we headed over to Gramma and Grampa's for a no-cook Easter!  Bob and Gayla prepared some delicious fixin's for cold sandwiches and the rest of us brought some cold side dishes so no one was slaving over a hot stove all day on Easter.  On this beautiful warm day, it was a nice spring meal!  This was the first year for Gramma and Grampa to host at their house.

We started the kids out with an Easter egg hunt around Gramma and Grampa's house.

Luckily it was a beautiful day and the kids loved hunting outside.

Nana and Betty Jane were responsible for folding and stuffing 40 dollar bills into 40 eggs for the hunt.  That takes some time and patience!  Each kid left with $10 in hand which was like hitting the jackpot.  Bob and Gayla had driven up the day before Easter to get Nana and Betty Jane and bring them to Olathe for this celebration.  Jill's mother, Scottie, was able to come up with Raney, Jill and Asher.   I was lucky enough to have a few moments to visit with these three ladies while the kids played outside.  What wonderful stories they had...it is such a joy to be able to celebrate this holiday with them.

Asher was in town from college for this Easter weekend (he is a Sophomore) and it was nice to see him.  He was discussing finance with Brian as he contemplates declaring his major.  How time flies!

Brian also drew quite an audience looking through photo books of the kids. Maya certainly snuggled up to her uncle and enjoyed reading about her summers with Gramma and Grampa.

The amazing Schmanke ladies!  Sydney just made the Varsity Cheer team at her high school....as a Sophomore!  She has been on the Freshman squad and did so well at try-outs that she skipped JV and went straight to Varsity!  Needless to say the whole family is proud of her.

Sorting out the candy and goodies after the egg hunt!

And an Easter picture of me with my favorite sister-in-law!

It was so lovely to get together as a family for the first Easter in Bob and Gayla's house.  It is certainly hard to change tradition and not travel to Nana's as we have in years past, but it is wonderful to have family to spend the holiday with...no matter where we are!