Tulips and Happy Easter With the Family Tree in the Ozarks

Butterflies love our tulip tree

I need to plant tulips in our new yard next fall — note to self — realizing this spring our yard is tulip-less with the exception of a tulip tree. We've moved.
I plant tulips because I'm descended from the land of tulips and I love their waxy petals and vibrant colors, which I see as nature's reward for enduring the dreary rains of March.

I've always been wistful about seeing the tulip fields in Holland. Tulips in Arkansas are quite the opposite because it would take an earth mover to plant a field of bulbs. Official planting instructions for tulips suggest you dig a hole for the bulb, six to ten inches deep. However, in Arkansas, we say, "Plant six inches deep or until you hit the first rock."

Anticipating Easter and all the joys it brings with the celebration of God's resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, and all the promises of new beginnings and eternity the resurrection brings, I paged through our Easter album from 2012, and thought you might like to glimpse our celebration.

Chocolate covered strawberries and Easter cake pops by Amy & Gwen

We're big on desserts. Wendy reserves a table for desserts, served with dessert coffees, chilled drinks, and coffee frappé; and places the traditional lamb cake in the center. Along with chocolate-covered strawberries, cake pops, and lamb cake, there were pies and cookies and more chocolate.
Wendy and Greg hosted Easter. They go all out, planting spring flowers, decorating, and cooking. Greg is a grill master, and the men prepare the meats. This year the menu included prime rib (thanks, Jeff and Lisa) and grilled chicken (thanks, Greg and Wendy).

Everyone arrives in church clothes but moments later, they jump into jeans and shorts, ready for fun.

There's cousin time for visiting ....

After much preparation, dinner is served!

Everyone dives in, children first.

Easter dinner is in full swing. The children eat picnic style in the tree house or on the deck or trampoline ... escorted by Copper.

 

The Easter Egg Hunt follows quickly!

  

 Drew plots his strategy, should he go right or left, wondering, Are there any eggs left to find? Afterwards, it's to the trampoline again to open the eggs and share their stash.

 

Lastly, we veg out, visit, play games, and count our blessings!

Family Reunion Fun - It's All About the Guest List!

Reunion beach  balls, thanks to Wendy and Stephanie

The Dewey-Minnie Braaksma Reunion 2013 (August) in Branson was a blast. It was a month ago, and I'm still smiling and missing everyone.

The picnic cookout at the Marriott, Willow Ridge, was an impending disaster as predicted by the resort staff. It had been raining off and on all week and it poured that morning. At the last raindrop, I dried off the tables in the pavilion and gathered umbrellas. Greg pitched his Razorback awning outside the patio doors to keep the grills dry. Then - voilà- the sun came out .... and the party was on.

Marvin

The family tree converged in Branson (Mo.) from Wisconsin, Illinois, South Dakota, Florida, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. Click for a link to all of the photos from the reunion. 
Uncles Marvin and Pete were dubbed Royalty I and Royalty II, being the princes they are, upholding the Braaksma tradition, and two of the important reasons we are proud to call ourselves "Braaksma."

Pete

Doris, AKA "Vanna," brought her carnival-style roulette wheels for the paddle game. Anvil Paints donated the paddles. Early in the game, Tim won a sentimental thingamabob, designed and made by Uncle Donnie for Minnie some 50 years ago (I'm guessing) in shop class.
Lucky McKenzie took home Karen's prized quilt ... and countless other items!

Doris, AKA "Vanna," Stephanie, Alexis, and Lucy

Dalton and Drew choosing their lucky paddles

Tim with Minnie's thingamabob

Doris, working her magic

Lucky McKenzie

Greg, Jeff, and Andy
Thanks to our grill masters, we had a delicious beef/chicken/vegetable kebab dinner.

The tradition continues. The funnest thing about our reunions is being together. As great party planners will tell you, it's all about the guest list.

Pete, Steve, and Marvin

Cindy

Tim and Uncle Pete

Kaylyn and Linda on the Branson Belle

Lisa and Julie, with baby Noah on the way ... in December

David, reunion co-host

Doris, Karen, and Linda

Up & Comers: (back row) Ethan, Tristen, Lindsey, Eric, Brett, Ben, Sam, Roy, and Julie
(middle) Stephanie, Drew, Lucy, and Dalton; (front) Alexis and Annalynn

Steve, charming Annalynn

Paging through the albums: Chasity, Karen, Doris, and Pat

Amy, cousin Ronnie Sr., and Alexis with niece Annalynn

Staying mobile, Kaylyn, Stephanie, and Amy

Michelle, Mark, Ken, and Tim

Pillow fight! Cousins Drew and Stephanie

Cousins Doris and Kaylyn

Julie and Brett

Annalynn, Ronnie Jr., Alexis, and Heather

 Marvin, Chasity, Frances, Connie, Ken, Cindy

Steve won Darrell's Timothy Whale's Rainbow

Shutterbug Melissa

 

Shutterbug's hubby, Mark

Frances and Helen

(Front) Ken
(Back) Teens, licensed to drive, Roy, Eric, Sam and Ben

(Center) Brandt and Erica with sons Ethan and Tristen;( left) Stephanie and (right) Kaylyn

Marvin and Kaylyn, father-daughter dynamic duo

Around the table, Lindsey, Stephanie, Helen, and Ethan

 

Thanks to Jeff, Andy, Greg, Eric, and Ben, the SWAT picnic team, setting-up and taking-down the grills, awning, and tables in a flash!

The End