Easter Weekend

Easter was full of fun, family, praising God, chocolate, candy, egg hunts, and easter baskets. We sure have started some fun Easter traditions with our family in Charleston, and I hope to continue them for years to come.

Friday we loaded up the van and pulled into Charleston at about 6:30 pm. We had pizza and laughs with family...aunts, uncles, Mom and Jeff.

Saturday morning Ryan took the kids to Par 4 in St Albans so Nick could get some batting practice in. I went for a very HILLY 7.2 mile run around South Charleston. There just ain't no way of getting 'round those hills in WV! A random, friendly dog decided I needed some company on those hills, too. After our sports, we all headed to Dick's sporting goods and bought a new volleyball for the upcoming River bottom volleyball league. Then over to Steak Escape for some lunch.

Then the fun really began...we hiked it over to Kanawha State Park for the community Easter Egg hunt with the cousins, Uncle Matt, Aunt Heather, Uncle Dave and Aunt Trena. Story is that they 'hide' 8,000 eggs for the kids. I've seen it, and I believe it. There isn't much hunting that goes down, but the kids baskets were filled 2 times with eggs containing candy. PLUS, each kid also received a Easter basket containing toys and more candy. Holy Candy Batman!

We had was Easter ham dinner at Nana's. There we got to visit with Grandma Carte who is 82 years old (and hates her picture to be taken!). Cousins played outside, adults chatted, and we all enjoyed dinner.

Sunday the Easter bunny dropped off 2 fun-filled Easter baskets at Nana's house! More toys and candy for Nick and Lauren. Then off to Bible Center Church*. The kids absolutely enjoyed their classes; Nick was in 'Base camp' with Aeden and Lochlan and Lauren's class was taught by the one and only Aunt Heather! Uncle Dave and Aunt Trena joined Matt, Ryan and I in the big church service.

After church we all went to the Longhorn for lunch. Lunch was enjoyable and it is blogworthy to note that Lauren fell asleep while waiting for the food to come out. Poor tuckered out gal literally face planted in the bread plate in front of her. Charleston wore her out. Lunch marked the end of our visitwith family in Charleston, and we hit the road running back to the Shenandoah River a.k.a. home.

And just like that our Easter/trip was over. Unforutantely for Nick, that also meant his Spring Break was over and he headed back to school this week.

Here's a few more pics from the weekend...

*Note: The Bible Center Church has and always will be dear to my heart. Much has changed as the church is now at a new location, and is sporting a beautiful new look. However, the feel, the people, and the worship is still wonderfully the same -- warm, and loving. :) I think the Bible Center should branch out to Front Royal VA. :)