Reflections - with my binders

For each holiday, I have created binders for my Family....when I am gone, if they so choose, they can replicate the holiday as we have for many years as a Family....

Since Easter is approaching, I have pulled that binder and I have noted each year what our menu is (which is a bit redundant since we always have the same menu!), who has attended the holiday and Family Dinner (sometimes we are not all together) and what activities were enjoyed.  (One year we all went kayaking! which was great fun!)

I noted  that in 2020 Bob and I were alone.  My entry page for that year reflected the Pandemic, which kept so many families apart.  I wrote:

EASTER, APRIL, 2020

This was the most unusual Easter ever.

It was the year of the Pandemic, world-wide.  Everyone had to stay home, in their houses, away from others as the Coronavirus was highly contagious.

Matango's Candies (where we the get the most wonderful jelly beans every year!) called me in February to tell me they were going to be short jelly beans this year due to a malfunction with a machine but they would put aside several bags for me so I would have them.

Easter presents were bought for everyone, the house was ready, the ham was in Nanny Barb's (my Mother) freezer.  All we needed was our beloved Family to be here.

That was not to be........the whole country was in lockdown.  No schools, no businesses (except for essential such as drug stores and food stores were open and we were not allowed out except for a bit of exercise and fresh air).  We also had to wear masks to protect ourselves and others.

THEN, the world moved on, albeit with many, many losses, and Easter, 2021 arrived and I wrote two entries:

EASTER, 2021

Finally, we are going to be able to be with our Family!!!  The New Yorkers will arrive Thursday, April 1st.  This is also the day I will be taking Nan (My Mother) for her second vaccination.

I have prepared foods that I can ahead of time so I can be with the Family and just hug and stare at them!!!  

I am beyond excited!

It is so hard to believe that we have "lost" one year of our lives....of our Grand's lives.....they will be so much taller, smarter and more adorable!!!!

And, then the "official" entry in my binder:

EASTER, 2021

The gang arrived Thursday night and we had a Pasta, Meatball, Sausage dinner.  It was so very wonderful to see the New Yorkers!  Tina came for dinner also but Brandon, Gary and Madeleine did not make it.

The New Yorkers stayed at a Hampton Inn in Hershey the accommodated dogs as "Louie" Kelly and "Chewie"  Giordano also came.

On Friday, Nanny, Katie, Mia and James decorated a "bunny cake for Barby Bunny!  Then we colored tons and tons of eggs!!!! We ordered subs, Pizza, Arrancini and salad from CD Pizza.  Nick and Berni visited in the afternoon.

On Saturday, the New Yorkers spent a lovely day outside and then dropped Kate, Mia and James off so Nanny and Bob could spend the evening with them.  They had macaroni and cheese for dinner.  We started to play Sorry and then Nanny taught them all how to play Chinese Checkers.  They loved it!  They all wanted to sleep overnight so we messaged their mothers and they brought their clothes up.  However, James decided at the last minute that he wanted to go with his Mother.  So, just Katie and Mia slept overnight.

Easter Sunday Nanny put the ham in the oven early and the girls showered and dressed and we did Mass on the internet. The girls spent the morning creating beautiful, intricate Easter cards for everyone.

We had Bob, Trish, Nanny Barb, Pudgie, Tina, Brandon, Katie, James, Barby, Sean, Katie and Mia for our Easter dinner.  We had ham, macaroni and cheese, potatoes au gratin, mashed sweet potatoes, baked corn, asparagus, green beans, pickled eggs, Victoria sponge cake with fresh whipped cream and fresh raspberries, Lemon Mousse Pie, Matangos Jelly Beans, and Chocolate Egg from Ann D'Amico.

Tina organized the BEST EVER egg hunt/obstacle course for the kids, which we held on the side lawn.  It was so much fun!  Even the neighbors enjoyed watching the activities.

Our evening ended with Easter Pie and Charades in the courtyard.

How perfect!