Celebrating Easter 2011 on Planet Baby

Ah, Lovelies! My heart is so heavy as I write this tonight. Easter 2011 has been a time of bittersweet and contrasting moments on Planet Baby. My darling Dad’s health seems to be declining by the day and we really don’t know what lies ahead. The clear-headed, rational lawyer in me knows that ‘Time is of the essence’. My heart is struggling with that reality. And then, in the midst of this maelstrom of emotions, Easter appears, to provide a focus for more ever-precious family time. I am struggling to put words to my thoughts which are teeming, crowding out my brain. Here are some photos taken over the past few days which encapsulate the topsy-turvy nature of life on Planet Baby at the moment.

Good Friday

Dad went home for the day to share the lunch of traditional fish and chips with Mum, us and the pixies. Here’s my gorgeous Dad with me, still plucking up a smile for the camera.

Here are the pixies with their fish fingers and chips (I long for the day when they actually eat *real* fish).

Easter Day

There was great excitement on Planet Baby as it was clear a Certain Bunny had been visiting overnight. There were signs aplenty of what he’d been up to. Inside the house…

On the verandah…

Even down the street, replete with chewed carrots.

Ah, ha! More signs of life discovered by Joshie. Proof aplenty of his guest appearance.

There was time for a little cuddle with their homemade regalia.

And then the neighbours arrived. The Great Easter Egg Hunt was on! There was lots of running, baskets-in-arm.

Sam, meanwhile, took it at his own pace, collecting eggs assiduously.

All to be stashed away in his little blue basket. Quickly – hence the blurry action shot!

Meanwhile, Mr PB was whipping up a storm in the kitchen for breakfast with our neighbours. Scrambled eggs, hash browns, hollandaise sauce – all there. Some little creations, which Mr PB and the pixies had assembled earlier, graced the table.

As well as this cute little chap.

All served on the best crockery and replete with garden flowers. Now, I would never have thought to pick, let alone, style this lavender before blogging – look what you’ve done to me! Mind you, it was snapped in a hurry – hence the blur – time was a-ticking and church was a-beckoning.

Mr PB served up breakfast to our guests at 9.40 am. And we were meant to be at church at 10 am! In my haste, I forgot to take any photos of the scrumptious food. Hasty adieus were bid, the chariot loaded up and we high-tailed it to St David’s Cathedral, ending up only 5 minutes late. My sister and I sat with Mum. Regrettably, Dad wasn’t well enough to attend – for about the first time in his life. Mr PB and my brother-in-law took the pixies and their cousin off to ‘Messy church’ so we could experience the service together. Just us three girls.

As I gazed up at the glorious, hand-carved Rood Screen, tears started tumbling down my face.

Whilst the Easter message was one of hope, I couldn’t feel it. I just gazed upwards at the stained glass windows, my eyes glazing over.

Finally, we stumbled out, blinking, into the sunlight. We then all visited Dad in hospital. That lifted his spirits. Immensely.

Then we ducked back home, to confront the mammoth mess Mr PB had left in his wake. I hurriedly whipped up a pavlova with raspberries, especially for Dad, as he had requested. Yep, using my usual recipe.

We then enjoyed an hour or so at my parents’ house with my sister, my brother-in-law, my nephew and my parents. Yes, my darling Dad had a ‘leave pass’ out of the hospital for a couple of hours to spend with us. Then, as witching hour descended, we headed home, leaving Mum to return Dad to hospital.

It had been a long Easter Day. So action-packed and joyous yet heart-breakingly sad. The pixies fell asleep quickly. But I couldn’t. Instead, I created something which I’ll share with you tomorrow. It lifted my spirits. For a while.

PS Sunday Splendour will return next week. Events overtook me this time.