A very happy Easter

I have collapsed onto to the sofa, my stomach a bulge after a long weekend of food and festivities as we celebrate Easter 2013.  Never before has Easter so closely resembled Christmas but we’ve had food, gifts, food, chocolate, food and even (who would have thought this time of year) a trip to Church. 

The Church trip actually came first as Sowerby Parochial Church Hall opened its doors for Messy Church Good Friday, where the lovely Christians of the village host a messy extravaganza for children of all ages.  From baking (some marshmallow cooked inside a croissant to represent Jesus going into the tomb?  My religious knowledge never has been what anyone would describe as strong) to clothes peg Crucifixes to painting with a marble (Jackson Pollock does Jesus?) the hall was filled with sugar-filled children, their exasperated parents and activity station after activity station.  Alby and his friend Fraser kept solidly to the non-religious activities alternating between play dough and building bricks.  He dabbled in Jesus’ final walk carrying the cross by painting his feet red and walking across a piece of paper, but reverted to his more Beebe self by laughing and dancing through the prayers which followed.

Whilst I don’t do religion per se that the only hymn on offer was sung to the tune of “What do you do with a drunken pirate” was ironic enough to keep me enjoying the day and I do love a bit of community fun which is exactly what this was.  In summary, a geart way to kick off Easter.

Play dough fun

Poking clay messy play

Find the Alby prints

By Easter Sunday we were back in Surrey.  After popping in on Cousin Joey and the rest of the Brooks side of the family we headed back to the Ridgeway ready and rearing to go on Alby’s first ever Easter Egg hunt.  Armed with his homemade basket he headed off into the garden with his fellow junior family members – Georgia, Ru and Oliver.  Georgia, who has just turned six, very kindly ignored the more obvious eggs for the babies to find (Phil and Jenny ensuring plenty of booty to go around).  Alby was a little pro at carrying his basket even when filled to the brim with chocolate eggs, ladybugs (of course) and even a giant Easter bunny (we’ll save that one for daddy).  And what Easter would be complete without a rugby ball?  Poppa Phil ensured all boys were completely spoilt having bought them a mini rugby ball each.  Daddy will be delighted to hear that despite Ru sporting his Wales jersey on the day the little chap showed absolutely no interest in the ball whilst Alby tucked his under his arm and headed off to throw it for Percy!  A natural.

A cuddle for Joey

Oliver taking it all very seriously

Alby and Ru on the hunt

Egg!

Try time!

Alby keeping quiet in the background whilst Ru lets the ball bounce off him!

 Come Easter Monday the party continued as we headed to the beach for a catch up with a good old friend of mine and his lovely fiancé in West Wittering.  The day was one of highs and lows for Percy.  On the plus side he had a lovely run all over the beach, chasing after ever dog we passed regardless of size or volume of bark.  With his ears down he spent half an hour tucky-bum running across the sand and over the dunes.  

On the negative side, it turned out that I’d allowed far more time for traffic than was actually needed and so we arrived at the beach before my friends.  To kill time in a proactive way, I put the car through the car wash at a nearby garage as it was in desperate need of a clean.  I thought Alby would enjoy seeing the brushes pass over the car and he did.  What I hadn’t anticipated was Percy’s reaction.  He did not like the brushes going over the car.  Not one bit thank you very much. In fact, so deep was his displeasure that he climbed onto my lap.  The car wash ended with him refusing to move, one leg on the handbrake and the other through the steering wheel.  Neither one of our finest nor most elegant of moments!  After some considerable effort I managed to get him back on the floor and we made friends again by me rewarding his considerable bravery with a cocktail sausage or two from Alby’s lunch.  I would love to have a photo of this but it turns out that my range of motion is considerably limited when I have a bulldog on my lap. 

Grandparents, cousins, friends, a silly bulldog and a swollen tummy – a very happy Easter by one and all, hope you had a great one too. 

The end of a lovely Easter