Holy Week

Holy Week started for us on Palm Sunday when Ron and I joined the United Methodist Church as members (we have been attending there for several months). Maundy Thursday services were absolutely awesome - music and skit were perfect.

Amanda, Chad and Peyton arrived Thursday evening in time for dinner. The Easter Bunny had left her Clinton gifts for her to find when she arrived - she was excited to go throught he items in her basket and to name her new bunny (who is 3 times her size), Hop Hop - her Mommy was sooooooo excited with the new stuffed animal (ha ha). We played with her bubble gun outside and had a practice run of finding hidden Easter eggs - she is getting quite good! She likes the ones with "monies" in them the best.

Saturday morning we had breakfast with Great Grandma Mintun at her house. We all took Peyton up to the square for the city Easter Egg Hunt - I think Peyton would have received the award for the most adults accompanying her (5). All the practice runs we had with hunting eggs over the past 3 weeks or so paid off - she had a blast. Amanda, Peyton and Grammy went to ElSambre for lunch and then to Dairy Queen for dessert. The guys played golf in the afternoon - Peyton and Amanda took a short nap while Grammy loaded up the eggs again for the next hunt. After she woke up, we colored the boiled eggs which was messy but fun. When Great Grandma arrived with the St. Louis Mintun men - Mark, Joe and Tom (Mary had to work and couldn't make the trip but sent Peyton a Easter bucket full of goodies), we hid eggs again for Peyton to find. Fun, fun. All of us had our Easter meal before the Todds returned to Olathe so that the Easter Bunny could find Peyton at her own house on Easter morning and they could attend mass. The last picture of Peyton lying on the couch was of her displaying some of her bandaids, needed for boo boos on her leg, chin, arm and toe. She's a hoot.

Ron and I went to Easter services at church before having lunch at Mom's with the St. Louis Mintun men - ham and all the trimmings.

This was the first holidy without Daddy - it was sad, but it was nice to be together as a family. We went to the cemetary to visit his grave and to pay our respects - we miss him dearly.

Having Peyton here was a joy for all.

Yard Sale Fun

Amanda, Peyton and Apollo arrived in Clinton Friday evening for the weekend - yea! We had about an hour of fun, including bathtime fun, with Peyton before her bedtime - she brings the house alive! Saturday was spent at Great Grandma Mintun's helping her with a yard sale during the city-wide garage sale day - goal was to sell the more than 60 rods and reels that Great Grandpa Mintun had ready to sell before he passed away. We sold all but 5 - mission accomplished. We also sold several other things that Grandma no longer needed - and Peyton, too young for a lemonade stand, had a bottled water stand where she made $7.00 - she was thrilled with her "money" in her cigar box. Beautiful day weather wise - sad at times for Grandma when people asked her where Grandpa was, but she made it through it - happy to have Amanda and Peyton there helping and providing emotional support. We enjoyed McDonald's for lunch before Papa went on to have a golf weekend with his buddies at Porta Cima. We had planned to close up before he left, however, we were having so many customers that we stayed open until 2:30 p.m. - took what was left to the Samaritan Center - all cleaned up around 3:30 p.m. We practiced hiding and finding Easter eggs so that Peyton will be ready for the city Easter egg hunt when she comes back to Clinton for Easter weekend. She has it down this year and enjoys opening the eggs. She is also doing much better with her bubble gun this year - fun, fun. Great Grandma joined us for a BBQ meatball and baked potato dinner at our house along with strawberry shortcake - yummy. We were all tired and hungry. We wanted Grandma to stay with us for a girls night bunking party with Papa out of town, but she wanted to go home, so Grammy and Peyton went over to her house early Sunday morning to pick her up for waffles, bacon and fruit for breakfast. Yummy again. Amanda and Peyton went home before lunch so that Peyton could attend a neighbor's birthday party at 2 p.m. - miss them already! Peyton is such a joy and soooooo smart. Having them here this weekend was awesome - can never get enough time with them. Apollo did not return to Olathe - he is staying with us for a couple of weeks and will join Murray during the day at Granny's house. He is looking forward to his Clinton vacation. Looking forward to Easter weekend for more fun with Peyton.