M&M Yenatsky: Recent Visitors

When I was growing up, every single Easter was spent going to church that morning and then lunch & an egg hunt at my Granny & Granddaddy's house. Just like every other holiday, our huge family would squeeze into their modest 2-bedroom home at 905 East Bartow in Quitman. We would have people eating in almost every room of the house - kitchen, dining room, living room, bedrooms, front porch, back porch, and outside. Of course, when the adults and older cousins were hiding the Easter eggs, the kids had to go inside - no peeking either! Cousins would scramble trying to find as many eggs as they could. Some were hard-boiled, some had candy...and then there was the prize egg. Three hints were given out and whoever found the prize egg got cash! Granddaddy would always hand out dollar bills to the kids...even if they weren't the lucky one who found the prize egg. :-) Fond memories.

After Granny & Granddaddy passed away, our family has kept the same traditions just in different locations. Thanksgiving was at our lake cabin this year, Christmas is now spent at Aunt Judy's, and Easter at Penny's. Same family gatherings, good food, fellowship, fun, and family time. It does a heart good.

More recently, since Misha and I moved to Birmingham, my family has started a new Easter tradition. Mama, Daddy, and Susan come visit us in Birmingham for Easter weekend. Of course, we miss spending the time with our extended family, but we try to save as much time as we can for good and lengthy trips back to GA & FL. At least until we move back! ;-)

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Eating out Friday night at one of our favorite local Greek restaurants:

Yummy!

Saturday the guys went to the shooting range, so the girls had a little outing too!

We went to the Farmer's Market in Downtown, Birmingham

Hit up Yogurt Mountain

and did a little shopping! Love the super high-heels we made Mama pose with! Haha!

We were even able to coordinate and meet up with Melissa (Mama's cousin/basically sister) who lives in Huntsville, AL. They came down to Birmingham to surprise Mama! We "bumped" into Melissa & Roy in World Market. Mama was totally surprised! :-)

Melissa & Roy came over to the house and we all had a nice dinner on the deck. On the menu: Missy's Pizza (alfresco of course - it's better that way!)

Sunday we did a little tradition combination - Ukrainian Easter eggs!

It was such a great Easter weekend!

Our next round of visitors came in the following Thursday. It was a crazy week for us because Mama & Daddy left on Monday (after car trouble and eventually replacing their alternator)

then the tornadoes were Wednesday and our visitors came into town Thursday. Thank goodness we had a house for them to come to! :-) Daniila, Mariana, and Elias drove up from Florida to attend a wedding in Huntsville, AL and to spend the weekend with us!