A Two-for-One Celebration

For my parents, holidays and birthdays are intertwined. My Mom's birthday is Christmas Eve, so our family Christmas celebration has always included birthday cake and homemade ice cream.

My Dad was born on April Fool's Day 1934. That year, Easter also fell on April 1. Yesterday, we celebrated Dad's 79th birthday a day early. April Fool's Day and Easter don't often coincide. Easter Sunday will next fall on April 1 in 2018. Easter Sunday has previously fallen on April 1 in 1714, 1725, 1736, 1804, 1866, 1877, 1888, 1923, 1934, 1945 and 1956. (Just a little trivia for you!)

Easter 1967 (Me on the couch with Kent, Darci & Lisa in front)

In 1967, the first Easter when our family of all girls grew to include a boy, Easter fell on March 26. I don't remember whether we celebrated Dad's birthday. With all those smart phones in the room yesterday, you'd think we would have been smart enough to re-enact the photo and get a 2013 version. Instead, my niece, Madi, (the youngest grandchild) shared the camera frame with the birthday boy. (It made for a prettier picture anyway!)

 

Back in 1988, we also celebrated Dad's birthday and Easter at the same time, even though the two days weren't a perfect match on the calendar.

Blake, Paige & Jill

In 1988, only three of the seven grandchildren were there to help celebrate. We're now adding the next generation - with five great-grands. This year, all of them celebrated Easter at the in-laws.

There weren't any Easter egg hunts at my folks' house this year.

Blake, Jill & Paige in the back. Abby, Brian and Brent in the front. Madison had yet to appear. That's our yard, not my folks. Theirs looks much better.

Brian, Abby & Brent examining their loot at a long-ago Easter.

Even though it's not the same, phones and Facebook helped us get a glimpse of Kinley's Easter - the first one where she could actually hunt for eggs.

Hannah, 14 months, and Kinley, 15 months - Cousins at Easter - Photo from Alan Ladd's Facebook page.

Jill says she caught on rather quickly. Jill showed her the first egg and how to put it in the sack. That's all it took. Kinley and her cousin Hannah searched for eggs filled with Ritz Bits and Teddy Grahams.

Kinley & Grandpa Alan - Photo by Jill

I look forward to seeing Kinley (and her parents, of course) next weekend. We just might have to continue another family tradition. Randy's Mom hid eggs long after the rest of the Easter decor was packed away for the year. They didn't have to have anything in them. They just enjoyed the hunt.

It's better than hunting for those imaginary squirrels outside the kitchen window on April Fool's Day. Weren't we clever to think that Mom would fall for that one, year after year?

Happy Birthday! I'm blessed to call you Dad!