It was an overcast, but not terribly cold Easter weekend. Saturday morning was spent in rehearsal for the big Easter services at church. Wendy and I have been so busy with work and play rehearsals that we haven't had time to clean up the house and yard in preparation for Wendy's family gathering on Easter Sunday, so we busied ourselves on Saturday afternoon getting things picked up before Jesse, Heidi and Sophia arrived mid-afternoon. They were kind enough to pitch in as we finished up some chores and we spent the late afternoon enjoying what sunshine we could eek out of the spring afternoon on the patio.

We enjoyed a leisurely dinner together. Madison, then Taylor & Clayton, stopped by to see Sophia. Sophia had been chattering on and on about both of them. When Madison arrived, Sophia climbed into her arms and clung to her for quite a while. Four over three and a half hours we sat around the dinner table in conversation. It was wonderful. Jesse, Heidi and Sophia headed to their hotel just after 10:00.

I was up early getting chicken in the crock pot and bread into the breadmaker. Wendy and I spent Easter morning volunteering behind video cameras for two of the three Easter services at church. Madison and Taylor (with Clayton looking dapper) were at the 11:00 service with their mom. Madison then headed to Des Moines to have Easter dinner with the Vander Well clan while Taylor and Clayton headed to his grandparent's house.

The Hall/Vander Hart clan all converged at our house with lots of food around 12:30. It was nice enough to stand out on the patio to bless the meal and the feast began. Everyone ate and then "filled up the corners" with seconds and dessert. After dinner the family sat around the living room and talked and laughed and talked and laughed some more. Everyone had headed from home around 5:00 p.m.

photo above: Wendy's dad, sister Suzanna, and sister-in-law Heidi enjoying some after Easter dinner laughter and conversation.