spring sphere roll to the Burg

I made a surprise visit to visit my family at Easter time a few weeks ago. I was not sure if I was able to make it back given the crazy schedule I had but when my little sister invited me to color eggs with the kids, I couldn't resist. 

Just look at the amazement on my Nephew's face and egg dye on his hands as he waits for his first little egg to incubate in the blue dye.

nephew first egg

Coloring the eggs was only half the fun, finding them in the yard after a visit from the Easter Bunny was the other. The kids searched for 3 dozen eggs at Honey and Grandpa's house which meant about 1-1/2 hour of laughs and amusement for the rest of us. 

Honey gives Nephew a hand

Mr Noah found a few

Easter Bunny

We wrapped up the day with Easter Sunday brunch, a contribution from everybody, and it was prima. Especially the Easter Punch!

Auntie M's special Punch

Mama's little Helper or Mama's little Eater

As a little treat for my sister, I offered to do a spot of kid sitting on Saturday.  I took my Niece with me to do a little running around while her Mama did some of the baking for the brunch. I was only two stores in when my Niece blurted, "Tante, Im sick of buying things". It was my first taste of quickly readjusting the plans to take advantage of the "happy" window of time a child actually affords you. Somehow I did make some fun for my Niece in creating a story around the beautifully dressed mannequins who sometimes come to life, riding the magical escalators and lifts across the mall, visiting a friend and her son and buying happy meals (I know, I swore i would never and this was what, 3 hours in?), stopping for a visit to Andy Warhol's gravesite (morbid obsession with graveyards runs in the family) and ending the day with a beer store run.

Love this photo, Niece gives a few pointers to the mannequin

Old Soul

Beer run

Today was a such an beautiful spring day here in NYC, and somehow the sunshine conquered up memories of my Easter weekend.  The 2 days  certainly went too fast, but it was filled with hugs and love and family and friends and could not have been more perfect.

me and Dad

Love being a Tante

voodoo charm

just returning from new orleans where i spent the last few days listening to a great lineup of music at the Jazz Festival, including Arcade Fire, Henry Butler and Golden Voices choir.

if you have never been you most definitely should.  and if you are like me, you will not only fall in love with the music festivals, but also the lively street parties, friendliness of the people, tasty broiled crawfish, beauty of the old Victorian homes, romanticism of the St. Charles St streetcar, sounds of brass bands on French Street, strong drinks and the sweet banana fosters

Yahtzee peeling more crawfish

Laissez le Bon temp rouler!