Families tend to get into traditions. The VWs have for years celebrated Easter with a nice dinner at Grandpa Dean and Grandma Jean’s house in the early afternoon. As Wendy and I planned for Easter this year, we thought it might be nice to shake things up and give my folks a break from having to make a meal and host. After getting the quick and joyful approval of my mother (“I don’t have to cook? YAY!”) we decided to broadcast the invite to the rest of our nearby family members.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. Sometimes traditions are hard to break and to be honest I didn’t think everyone would want to drive the 1-2 hours from Des Moines, Ames and Boone on a holiday. To our surprise, the only family to turn us down were the two college boys. So it was that 13 of us gathered here at cozy little Vander Well Manor for Easter.

My folks came down early and went to the 11:00 worship service with Wendy and me. Wendy’s folks and Suzanna, Taylor and Clayton, Grandma Vander Hart, and the Keithley clan (Scott, Jody & Emma) all joined us between 12:30 and 1:00. I took care of the main meal (Roast in the crock pot, herbed potatoes and glazed carrots with homemade Italkian bread). Others brought relish, veggies and cinnamon rolls. Wendy took care of the desserts: a key lime cheesecake  and white cupcakes decorated in a spring flower theme.

The weather cooperated with sunny skies and relatively warm temps for late March in Iowa. It was an awesome day with the family! Later in the evening after cleaning up, Wendy and got to FaceTime with Maddy Kate who celebrated Easter with Brett & Micki Strait in Colorado Springs. It was so nice to know she had some good Iowa love to share with on Resurrection Day!