easter lunch

Took a very long {and un-planned} break from my blog, but I am back! Easter is long gone now, but I loved all these recipes so much, I just had to share what my Sister and I prepared that day.

Asparagus via Pinterest

Best Basic Deviled Eggs via Pinch My Salt

Scalloped Potatoes via Food.com

Pretty Fruit Salad via Pioneer Woman

Sunburst Lemon Bars via So, how's it taste?

spring at the family farm

nest and eggs

image via Better Homes and Gardens

MY CHILDHOOD HOME...ELM SPRINGS

I wanted to share a few photos of my family home--Elm Springs--in Missouri, where we just spent a long Easter weekend. And I have to say, for the first time, I looked forward to coming back to my new home (in Colorado) as much as I enjoy going to my childhood home. 

Elm Springs is a "Federal" style plantation home, built in 1840, by General David Thomson. This home has been in our family for almost 50 years. So needless to say, Elm Springs holds a rich history for my family as well as the many others that lived there prior to us. 

My Mother has done extensive work to both the inside and outside. I won't bore you with the details, but let me just say...the way it looked in the 70's compared to the way it looks now...wow!

Just an old barn you say? Not to me! This barn used to house my adorable, yet ornery, pony...Rusty Dusty! My first love. I spent hours and hours on that pony and I loved every single minute of it. Horseback riding has been a passion of mine since age 3 or 4. I can still picture him looking out that little window...

Little known fact about the Dow home. This tree, that seems to go up and up for miles is the largest hedge tree in Missouri, and yes we have a plaque to prove it! {haha} You can't see the base of it, but I believe (should have verified this with my Parents) it is approximately 30 feet around!  It sits right in front of our home and has split nearly in half over the years and we REALLY hope it never falls!!!

My Father is a an "avid" collector of various automobiles (new and very old) and this is one of those little gems that has gone to rest in pasture. I love the patina of this old Chevy.

Apparently I am somewhat obsessed with taking photos of the sky lately? This is a photo of the back ell of the home. My Parents have threatened to sell a few times (this house is big and requires a lot of work!) and each time, my Sister and I shiver with fear at the thought! We LOVE it here, our kids LOVE it here and it is our sanctuary. It is where we go to experience peace (and quiet when the Grandparents watch the kiddos), and where we "play" outside, and where we feel safest. Home sweet home...

SO CUTE AND SO WRONG!?!

Peeps S'mores
photo & recipe via Eclectic Recipes

Peeps
Graham Crackers
Hershey's Chocolate Squares

Place Peeps and Hershey's Chocolate squares on graham crackers. Zap in the microwave until soft (or place under a broiler). Place graham cracker square on top.

What a clever idea...and a great way to get rid of all those Peeps!

OH THAT MARTHA!

Martha Stewart and her staff always come up with the cutest ideas and I am loving this one! Fill your egg cups with mini bouquets and place them on a cake stand tier. What a great centerpiece!
photo via Martha Stewart

MONSTER EGGS & SILLY SMILES

Is it really Easter without monster eggs? Not at our house! Dyeing eggs is a tradition I still love doing every year...my only problem is letting go of my control "issues". I need to learn to let the kids do their thing, by themselves. It's hard though!

I'm not sure when it happened exactly? But Drew has forgotten how to smile? Not on a day-to-day basis, just when it comes to photos. It's a weird phenomenon that happens to kids at some point in their lives (I don't think it's just Drew?).

The Easter Bunny left a trail of chocolate eggs to this, the big prize on Easter morning. The Easter Bunny had a little help from good ol' Grandma and Grandma-Poo (yes you read that right).

Well it wouldn't be a typical blog entry without mention of some sort of dessert! So, here it is...Easter Egg Cupcakes! I would share the recipe, but quite frankly they took forever to make and I'm sure you could get the same results with whatever cupcake and frosting recipes you already have and love.

And Sophie...sweet Sophie, it was her first Easter and of course the basket of goodies meant nothing to her, but another first (and last) come and gone for Mommy and Daddy.

Oh these children of mine, nothing but smiles and love and cuddles and happiness...