Easter Weekend Recap + The Biggest Surprise of the Year! (So Far...)

Hi Fam!

First, no....no one is engaged! Hahaha! But sit tight because we do have some very exciting news! With that, sit back, grab a snack, here goes our recap from the weekend!

Honestly, it has been pretty non-stop around here these past months....and Easter week proved no different. We were coming right off our trip to Chicago (more on this coming very soon!) and a packed out - hit the ground running work week. Yet, only by the grace of God did we fit everything in!

We started food prep on Saturday afternoon. Making a lot of fun side salads, of course our Sassy Sweet Potato Salad, Vegan Mac & Cheese, and our Grandmothers traditional beets and horseradish.

We even managed to dodge a few raindrops and go for a sibling walk with Lobo.

The next morning we woke up early and set the table... For this particular Tablescape I may have gotten a bit of confirmation from our trip to Chicago. We visited the Chicago Cultural Center and saw the magnificent Tiffany Dome. It was the green and white gilded age inspiration of my dreams. And thus my brain went further down the rabbit hole. More on this table scape a bit later.

We got dressed and head off to church.

After, it was time to hide the eggs!

Filled with all organic, gluten free treats from YumEarth, Jared took his job of hiding eggs very seriously!

He hid them high and low....

Always contemplating creative ways to camouflage the eggs.

Yes, our family has a thing for going barefoot.

After all eggs were tucked away in slightly precarious places.....it was go time!

Things got intense!

There was laser focus!

And....a ton of giggles!

And some high-fives too!

After, we found the eggs it was time for the Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt....where the girls collected clues that would lead them to their treasured prizes.

After all the clues were read, the girls figured out the baskets were hidden somewhere in the house! Also, walking around barefoot really does run in the family.....haha

The girls used their sleuthing skills and deduced the baskets were hidden in the guest room! Before the sun went down we headed back outside for our annual Easter photo. Amid everyone trying to look warm on a day where we already had snow....yes you read that correctly, we were trying to make this quick. As we snapped away, Brian suggested we take another video like we did last year. As everyone was yelling for me to hurry up.... Brian yelled out.... " Will you hurry up Aunt Janna, Rhyla is going to be a big sister!" As I kept fidgeting with the camera (it was flipped facing the house) the girls started to laugh.... I started to laugh and say.... "that was a good one" Jenneka giggled and Jared blurted out...." No girls...for real! Rhy is going to be a big sister!" I had pressed record with the camera facing the wrong way and looked directly at Julia.... (we love our bros, but, they have been known to pull more than a few pranks as the years have gone on). In that one look, Jenneka and I knew it was true! All we could do was scream!!! After, hugs and lots of laughs we shivered our way back inside.

We excitedly lit the candles and put out all the food. Brisket, Roast Pork, Kielbasa, shrimp and ample sides filled the buffet tables.

Guilded age inspired Easter eggs graced the rustic boho table.

We hopped along to our seats...

Brian prayed....

And we filled our plates as we chatted the night away!

We cut into dessert with the crowd favorite being Lloyds famous Carrot Cake!

We thoroughly enjoyed the day from start to finish, with full hearts and bellies we chatted away until the early morning hours!

As some of us fell asleep on the couch, it was time to say farewell and look forward to our next get together! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter/Passover/Chill Weekend!

Sending you lots of Love!

X ~ Janna, Jared, Jenneka & Family

Sibs&Co