Suncoast Living: Hippity, hoppity, Easter was on its way...

This weekend was a lovely reminder of why we're on this earth and the sacrifice made for us to have that relationship with the Father. Easter snuck up on me, though, and I ended up feeling rather unprepared mentally for Sunday. Part of that was not going to church on Friday night-- I grew up going to Good Friday services and we didn't go this year. So Saturday hit and all of a sudden Easter was tomorrow!

Saturday I spent making lamb cakes using that fine mold from Great-Grandmother. It had gotten a bit rusty so I scoured it out on Friday night and seasoned it twice before making the first lamb cake. Not having a recipe nor instructions, I compiled a bunch from the internet and tried my best. The first cake came out incredibly tasty, but it had no face. I filled the back half of the mold, thinking it would rise to fill the front. Not so. So lamby number one went into the garbage and I made another cake, this time filling the front half. Success! And the secret to my success is Pam spray with flour. Best invention in the world. The lamb had perfect ears and facial features with no parts sticking to the mold. Hooray!

Saturday night we went out to grab a bite at the Fort Myers Ale House which we've never tried. When we walked in who did we see but Jeff and Shelley and the kids! We joined them for dinner and had a great time catching up. When we got home I iced the lamb cake and collapsed on the couch. Oh-- I neglected to say that I started cleaning out the kitchen while waiting for the cake to bake and cool. I am accomplishing just about nothing at work these days (more on that later), so in order to feel like I'm actually moving forward in life and not just standing still, I've decided to clean things out. Don't want to spend money on new projects or tools, so cleaning out is the next best solution. I got three cabinets done on Saturday.

Sunday we slept in and went to late church. The church we've been attending rents out the local convention center and has their Easter service in the ballroom, so we went to that. Ugh. I won't go on and on being negative, but let's just say it was topped off by off-key singing (and lots of it) and a giant inflat-o-tomb which white Jesus walked out of at the end. And dry ice. And a sermon based on the phrase, "Now that you've heard the message, don't be irresponsible and not make a decision. Irresponsibility is wrong." I think we'll be church shopping again.

After church we went down to Ralph and Chris's for family time, and it was a blast. I think I understand why people have kids-- it's for the holidays! They get soooo excited and it's just so much fun. Here are Bethany and Chase all dressed up.

After we ate, Chris distracted the kids with the Happy Feet movie for a few minutes while Brad and I did our Easter Bunny duties and hid the eggs outside. Bethany thought she saw something out the front windows, hopping past "just like this-- vroom" and so the hunt began. Kena got super excited and even baby Kaya got in on the egg action.

Then we went inside and vegged for a bit before cutting into the lamb cake. But not before Jeff and Rico had a little fun with it. Here's a good shot of lamby. I poured a glaze over the face and then piped a buttercream icing with a star tip all over. It turned out terribly fluffy-looking and I was pleased. I also painted the ears with pink icing and the eyes and nose with brown food coloring.