So, the holidays just seem to get more and more eventful as the year goes on. Easter started with a 7am Easter egg hunt. This was after Elle had dumped out her basket and eaten any candy that wasn't in a wrapper while Bud and I were still asleep. The morning egg hunt is always in our best attire - PJ's, shoes and coats.
Then, after church, my whole family came over for the annual Hilbus traditions - egg decorating, egg beauty pageant, egg wars, and dinner. For those of you who are not familiar with the Hilbus traditions, let me explain. After everyone dyes their three eggs, they are put on display (empty egg cartons) and everyone gets a score sheet to vote for their top three picks (you cannot vote for your own egg). My father then takes the ballots and tallies up the results (which has to be done in private as to avoid any ballot tampering I suppose). Then the results are announced. This year we had 8 honorable mentions, and 8 eggs that placed. My showings were less than stellar this year (in my defense, I was busy with the cake), and I only placed in the honorable mention category and one egg in 4th place. Congrats to my brother-in-law, John, who won for the first time in the 17 years he's been a part of our family.
Egg Wars fizzled out this year, but just a quick explanation - you pick your "best" egg and smash it against someone else's. Which ever egg survives a couple of rounds wins. Elle was a natural. Before the game even began, she picked up one of my eggs and smashed it. Hmmm, a little pent-up hostility, my dear? After dinner we celebrated the twins and their cousin, Samantha's birthday. They were born exactly three weeks apart and we like to celebrate all together. I made this bunny cake, which turned out pretty cute.
A lot better than the last birthday cake I tried to make for Elle's first birthday. It was a great, but exhausting day. After our Easter Extravaganza, I'm about "holiday-ed" out, but I've just got to get through the twin's birthday in a couple weeks and then I can take a breather from all this darn celebrating.
Then, after church, my whole family came over for the annual Hilbus traditions - egg decorating, egg beauty pageant, egg wars, and dinner. For those of you who are not familiar with the Hilbus traditions, let me explain. After everyone dyes their three eggs, they are put on display (empty egg cartons) and everyone gets a score sheet to vote for their top three picks (you cannot vote for your own egg). My father then takes the ballots and tallies up the results (which has to be done in private as to avoid any ballot tampering I suppose). Then the results are announced. This year we had 8 honorable mentions, and 8 eggs that placed. My showings were less than stellar this year (in my defense, I was busy with the cake), and I only placed in the honorable mention category and one egg in 4th place. Congrats to my brother-in-law, John, who won for the first time in the 17 years he's been a part of our family. 
Egg Wars fizzled out this year, but just a quick explanation - you pick your "best" egg and smash it against someone else's. Which ever egg survives a couple of rounds wins. Elle was a natural. Before the game even began, she picked up one of my eggs and smashed it. Hmmm, a little pent-up hostility, my dear? After dinner we celebrated the twins and their cousin, Samantha's birthday. They were born exactly three weeks apart and we like to celebrate all together. I made this bunny cake, which turned out pretty cute. 
A lot better than the last birthday cake I tried to make for Elle's first birthday. It was a great, but exhausting day. After our Easter Extravaganza, I'm about "holiday-ed" out, but I've just got to get through the twin's birthday in a couple weeks and then I can take a breather from all this darn celebrating. 
