a McCool family Easter...

For almost every Easter Sunday in my lifetime, we have gathered with my Dad's side of the family at my grandparents' house to celebrate Easter. Since Poppy's death (and now Mawsie's too), we haven't been carrying on the tradition. Even though Addie Grace and Sawyer have celebrated Easter and had egg hunts and everything that goes along with it, somehow, each year, I felt that they were missing out. With talks of Mawsie and Poppy's property being sold, this year we gathered together and celebrated the way we have for most every other year for the last 36+ years. It was such a special day. Mawsie and Poppy's house and most of the property looks exactly the same way that it has my whole life. There was something so special about watching my kids and my cousin's kids trample through the yard and the field looking for Easter eggs in the same exact spots that I used to. I loved standing at the "creek" (a very ambitious description of the drainage ditch that runs along the front yard and under the driveway) with my cousin Wendy and telling our girls stories about us growing up at Mawsie's and Poppy's on Easters...just like this. I loved telling them the few sure fire spots to find the golden egg (which didn't pan out). I loved the laughter, the reminiscing and just being together. We ended the day at the family cemetery that is behind the house and we sang songs and we prayed. We stood together, being thankful for our heritage. Thankful for an earthly heritage that has always pointed to our spiritual heritage. I feel so blessed that Mawsie and Poppy were Godly examples who raised faithful children, and I'm beyond thankful to get to gather with my family to celebrate for the most important reason of all...an empty tomb!

I know I'm posting ALOT of pictures, but believe me, I've cut out ALOT!!

Before I post the ones of Mawsie and Poppy's house, here are the ones leading up to Easter.
Here are Addie Grace and Sawyer coloring Easter eggs...

And here they are at Mom and Dad's after church. I tried and tried to get a good picture of both of them, but it just wasn't in the cards. (I made their Easter outfits this year! I was afraid that they were going to fall apart as we were walking into church or something, but they didn't!! As I said, these pictures were taken after church, and they are still intact!!! Hooray!)

now at Mawsie and Poppy's...
the older, wiser ancestors...(my camera got put on a weird setting and it shot in black and white for some reason)...
waiting to go and hunt...and they're off...

Addie Grace hunting...

and Sawyer hunting...

pleased with his loot...

cousin Beth and Albert needing some attention...

some of the McCool offspring...

great-grandkids youngest to oldest (can you believe this isn't all of them?!?)

swinging...

enjoying a cupcake...
Cassie showing Sawyer a caterpillar that she caught
wondering if the swing will hold them up...

running off some of the Easter sugar high...

checking out the caterpillars that they caught...

Addie Grace loving on sweet baby Kyle (my cousin Christy's foster child)...

at the family cemetery...

I hope you are feeling as blessed as I do this Easter!!!