EASTER MONDAY

My Easter display on the buffet

The Easter cake that Abbey baked and decorated

It tasted as good as it looks!

Blogging was not a priority with seven grandchildren here for a visit over the Easter weekend.  They have so much fun together, most of it outside enjoying the warm spring weather.  They spent quite a bit of time playing ball, made their own diamond with Dawson cutting squares of carpet to make bases.  In the evenings they played "Kick the can" and "Hide and go seek" using flashlights for the seeking part.  Bed were left empty as they prefer to sleep in the same area.  So the four girls had the family room in the basement and the three boys the living-room area with the hide-a-bed and Grandma's recliner!

Jamie and Ashley cutting out cookies to decorate

We were up early on Sunday morning and made it to the 8 o'clock service on time.  It was great to have 20 children attending. The younger ones took part in Pastor Danny's children's sermon and a Sunday school session with Cindy Daae.  Breakfast followed in the auditorium followed by an Easter egg hunt.

The Johnson 7 after the Easter egg hunt

Kirk and Shauna joined us at the farm in the afternoon.  They had a busy weekend as Louise's family met to sort things at Ralph and Louise's house in Lampman.  The house will be put up for sale this summer as Ralph has been at the Lampman care home since Louise's passing in February.

It was great to Facetime with Todd, Kristy and Nora on Easter Sunday.  Nora was busy trying to repeat the names of her cousins as they showed up on the screen.  Todd's went to the Easter service at a country church on the nearby island of Averøy. Todd sent a video of the processional hymn,  Påske Morgen.  It was my mother's favourite Easter hymn - "Easter Morrow Stills our Sorrow".  Following the service they enjoyed spending the day with good friends, Odd Bjorn and Else.

Easter Sunday at Averøy

Too tired to swing anymore

Carter and Abbey at a rockpile

Clare took Carter and Abbey out for a drive to a nearby rock pile on the home quarter.  The rock in the picture is a possibility for use as a marker for Howard's grave.  I saw several "real" stones used as tombstones in Norway.  It seems so suitable to take a stone found on the Johnson land to mark his resting spot at Salem.  We would have a plaque engraved and placed on it.

It is quiet at the Johnson farm this evening.  Clare, Jodi and Abbey left after lunch.  I spent the day washing up bedding, towels etc and tidying up a bit.  It was a gorgeous spring day so I enjoyed doing some yard work - burned the garbage and branches and flower stalks that were still hanging on after winter.  Now it's soon bedtime so I'll sign off for now.  I'll close with the traditional Easter greeting :  "The Lord is risen."  and the response "The Lord is risen indeed."