Empty Nest Easter

When you live in an empty nest (or empty except for one lingerer) you tend to overlook some holidays. Or, at least I do. This only started happening when the lovelies grew up and moved out on their own. Not so much when they went off to college because they still came home and expected the whole shebang but after college was over, x4, I slowed down on what I term the lesser holidays. Not because they are lesser in meaning per se but more because they are lesser in terms of family coming together.

Peter Rabbit came for dinner. On a couple of tea sets.

For example, no one likes to miss Christmas around here and if I had my way Thanksgiving would be included in this. But Easter, July 4th and the like take a backseat as far as me going all out decorating and preparing a huge family meal.

Here's the little one. Maybe next year we'll have tea with Baby M. 

But then I thought, why should I not prepare food on these 'lesser' holidays? Wouldn't that bring my independent-minded daughters and their SOs back into the nest for a minute? You know, long enough to enjoy but not long enough to be considered roomies.

I made food! Not a ridiculous amount, but I made it.
And there was key lime pie for dessert. 

Plus, there is a granddaughter now and she should know the fun of our family gatherings. Actually, if we expose her to them now she won't be frightened as she gets older because we are a fun-loving, crazy bunch and I wouldn't change us one little bit.

All that being said, we gathered for Easter dinner this year. It was Baby M's first Easter and I think, when she looks back at family photos, she needs to see her 'first' holiday gatherings whether she was old enough to understand the concept or not.

And I enjoy having everyone over. It's good to laugh and share and just have a good time with those you love.

These two were MIA and I missed them so much!

But they'll be here this summer for Baby M's first birthday and the baby shower for this auntie who's expecting my first GRANDSON in August.

Yep. There's going to be a boy up in here. And none of us quite know what to do about that. But we'll certainly find out in August. We are all excited that Baby M will have a cousin so very close in age and it's pretty cool to have one of each.

Yes, he already has a name but he'll be known as Baby R here on Empty Nest. Y'all know my empty nest, right? The one that's beginning to be overflowing with grandbabies?

Ok moms/grandmas of boys, is there really any difference in what you do other than love them to pieces?

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