Yesterday was such a fun day! As you can tell from my breakfast post, it was filled with sugar… but it was also filled with family, friends and tons and tons of FOOD.
Ryan and I spent the majority of Easter Sunday at his mom’s house, indulging in delicious food and catching up with family and friends.
Ryan’s mom always hosts the most amazing Easter brunch and we look forward to it all year. She pulls out all the stops to make one heck of a fantastic meal.
After munching away on appetizers for a hour or so, I already felt full. Put crab dip and bruschetta in front of me and all plans to pace myself throughout the day fade away immediately.
Even though I was fairly stuffed by the time we filled our plates for brunch, I still wolfed down a plate full of delicious holiday favorites.
Highlights for me included pineapple soufflé (the same dish I adored last year) and a cheesy potato casserole.
Once we were all sufficiently stuffed, we headed out to the backyard for an Easter egg hunt. Ryan and I were in charge of hiding all of the Easter eggs for the kids. I like to hide eggs in higher places because it seems like everyone looks at the ground when searching for eggs.
Can you spot a green egg?
The kids had a blast searching for eggs while we all watched. Then, as the kids were opening eggs, the adults amused themselves with several rounds of cornhole…
…And the kids’ toys.
After throwing on some shorts (gotta avoid the crotch shots!), I had such a great time on that mini dirt bike!
We also had a blast playing with a toy bow and arrows.
Ryan even volunteered to serve as our target. 
Eventually the blue skies turned gray and rain started to fall, so we took our party inside for dessert! Ryan’s mom surprised me with a half-Easter half-birthday cake to celebrate my birthday (which is on Wednesday) as well!
Isn’t it gorgeous!?
Naturally I overloaded my plate with cake, pie and cheesecake and subsequently felt a bit ill. I ate myself into a stupor several times yesterday!
Easter: Round Two
A little after 5 p.m., Ryan and I said our goodbyes and headed to my parents’ house for round two of Easter and birthday fun!
As we walked in the door, the delicious smell of lamb and mashed potatoes and gravy wafted toward us. Even though neither of us were particularly hungry, we sat down and packed in more food because it was so darn delicious!
After dinner, Ryan, my sister and I sorted through our Easter baskets before participating in the annual egg hunt! Yes, I’m married, and yes, my sister graduates from college next week, but you’re never too old for an egg hunt!
The hunt this year was a good one! My dad The Easter bunny did a great job of hiding the brightly colored eggs in spots that corresponded to their colors, so they were quite camouflaged.
In the end, I found right around 25 eggs and my sister found close to 29. Yes, I lost the annual hunt this year. Plus, my sister found the prized “golden egg” and took home the big bucks!
Fortunately I have some amazing prizes of my own to take home in the form of birthday presents!
My parents and sister did a great job and I received some amazing gifts… many of which you may expect to see on the fashion page!
No birthday celebration would be complete without cake and my mom and sister made me one heck of a birthday cake!
That little beauty would be homemade red velvet cake with chocolate marshmallow ice cream in the center and homemade buttercream frosting.
Yes, it tasted just as amazing as it sounds!
I went to sleep last night with a very full and happy belly. 
Now I’m off to change! I have to head to the dentist this morning to get a cavity filled. I wonder if they’ll be able to tell that my teeth are coated in sugar after yesterday?
And I’m off!
P.S. The Fashion page was updated this morning!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
wow it looks like you had a sweet holiday! I like the dress too.
What a fun Easter weekend you had!! Ryan’s mom’s spread looks delish!! Can you post a recipe or two? MMMMMM!
oh i really should… especially for the pineapple souffle!
I’ve had many Easter/birthday cakes over the years! They are always so cute!
Glad you had such a fun Easter! Can’t wait to hear about your Birthday next 🙂
Love all the food! I officially have a food hangover today…Ate all weekend then sat on the couch last night and polished off a package of Cadbury caramel eggs haha.
Happy early birthday, btw!
That Birth/easter cake looks amazing and professional. Did his mom really make that all her self even the fondant covering the entire cake?
no, no she bought the cake. isn’t it beautiful!?
Its in a class all its own when it comes to Regular Store Cakes from a Bakery, you expect that from a renouned Pastry Chef, but that cake is solid….at least you got a picture before you guys did work on it…..its a shame…that cake was top shelf 😉
Sounds like you had a wonderful time Julie! You look beautiful by the way!
That red velvet cake looks so delicious! I love the Ultimate Red Velvet Cake from The Cheesecake Factory. It has layers of red velvet cake & cheesecake! 🙂
Not related to this post at all…. 🙂
This weekend I was at Costco. They had a road show for the Vitamix. Needless to say, I bought it.
I’m having a touch of buyers remorse, so please assure me it is a good investment. 🙂
happy almost bday too!!
oh my gosh you will LOVE it. go make a smoothie with a TON of ice and watch it eat it up like it’s cool… your buyer’s remorse will go RIGHT out the window! 🙂
Thank you!
Did you know it can make hot soup? That sold my BF.
Yay! Have a great day!!
I seriously love that dress your wearing!
Everything looks delicious! Looks like a perfect Easter.
Never too old for an egg hunt!!! Happy early birthday, looks like you got some Tom’s!! My fav!!
Your Easter sounds idyllic!! I love your outfit, and PLEASE get your mom to share that marshmallow frosting?!
Easter is among the holidays that I greatly miss being around my family and indulging in all the homemade food goodness. But I guess paradise does comfort me. 😉
I’d killll for that homemade red velvet cake recipe. I have a weakness for anything red velvet!
Oh the buffet! You must have had a great great time!
And 2 birthday cakes, that’s nice ^^
Wow! It looks like you had a great easter and I must say… I LOVE your dress.
i’m not sure if you said it or not, but what brand is your dress?! I absolutely LOVE it….especially with your necklace!!!
Details on the fashion page!
Everything looks super tasty! I love that you fam has so many veggies included!
Wow, I want to come to Ryans Moms for Easter brunch! What a spread! That cake was beautiful. I also noticed something next to the cake with fruit. Was that a tart? It looked really good too! The necklace looks great with that dress!!!!
Yes! It had some kind of a thick vanilla custard in it that was delicious!
I LOVEEE your dress and turquoise!! SO cute! AHHH! (: