PFR 2012 - Day 3

The final day of the Perkins Family Reunion 2012 was Easter Sunday. When the children awoke, they discovered their Easter baskets in the bunk room. And how lucky is this--each of the grandkids all received a chocolate bunny (along with various other things). Malcolm and Quinn also got cash, the Perkins girls got new dresses and flip flops, and the Tolman boys received velcro-ball toys and flashlights, and they all got lots of candy.

Once again, we could smell breakfast cooking, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Tawna, Tabbi, and Trina cooked up some egg/hashbrown/cheese casserole, cinnamon roll waffle bites, pancakes with strawberries & whipped cream, and sausage patties. It was super scrumptious!

After breakfast was done, we all started getting ready for church. There was a churchhouse not far from the Three Peaks Lodge; we could see its steeple from our front door. And since it was Easter Sunday, we decided to attend the local congregation's Sacrament Meeting. Some got ready faster than others, and played the wii while they waited for everyone else...

When we were finally all ready, I snapped a couple photos of all the grandkids dressed in their Easter clothes before heading out the door to church.

One of the speakers at church talked about the atonement, and how the Savior suffered greatly prior to his death and subsequent resurrection. His atonement was a true gift for all mankind. The speaker compared it to being pregnant, all the suffering that you go through to receive a joyous gift at the end. And since Jen was SOOO pregnant at the time, I thought it was a very good analogy ;)

After church, we came back and changed our clothes, and my mom finished preparing our traditional Easter meal: ham, potatoes au gratin, rolls, corn, and salads. We sang "Bill Grogan's Goat" until everyone arrived in the kitchen, and my mom announced to us that since the kids were always first in line, just this once, the adults would eat first!

It was monumental seeing my mom be the first one in line because she's always the last!

The Easter meal is my very favorite meal ever! I would choose to eat it every day, I love it so much! And when my mom makes it, it's even better! It was a very good meal.

After lunch, we began cleaning up, boxing up, packing up, and heading out! It was such a beautiful and warm day, so the kids took a break from playing inside and played outside instead.

And while the kids played on the swingest, Ammon decided to hide all the decorated and dyed hard-boiled eggs outside for them to find. It was the perfect activity to do on Easter, but also, it kept the kids entertained and busy and out of the adults way while they were cleaning out the house. Each of the kids had to find and pick up only the ones they had decorated, and it took some time, but they found them all! When all the eggs had been accounted for, the boys did an inventory and the eggs that were already cracked or semi-ruined, they loved crushing them outside!

When the food was all boxed up, the clothes were all packed up, the cars were stuffed, the rooms were all put back together, the garbage taken out, and all the kitchen and dining surfaces wiped down, it was time to leave.

We all gathered together to say a prayer before we headed in our own directions again. We hugged each other and said our goodbyes, and we were sad to leave the Reunion Home.

We had a terrific time. It was unbelievable that we spent 2 nights and 3 days all together without anyone arguing or crying or getting mad. I tell you what, that house is magical. And every penny spent on it was well worth it! Thanks mom for your contributions! It was one of my favorite reunions ever!