Easter Day... Ronan's Second 1st Birthday!

I think I'll always see Easter Day as Ronan's real birthday even though it'll change every year. There is something about the solemnity and reverence of the day that I love. It is about rebirth. The start of spring. The rains (unrelenting this year) that yield to sunny skies. I never knew until this year that its date is based on the lunar calendar, it's celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox. Of course it's a very Christian holiday, and neither C nor I are particularly religious, but I adore that mixture of miracle and mystical. Ronan will have his next Easter birthday in 2016... when he's 11!

My grandparents, Art and Virginia, got married around Easter in 1937, in Oakland, and we grew up celebrating their anniversary with Easter brunches and other fun family feasts. They're both gone now and we all miss them incredibly -- but Grandpa did get to meet Ronan a few times before he died. Could there be any more poignant picture than seeing a 90-year-old man with arthritis all over his body tenderly, quietly, lovingly cradling his two-week-old great-grandson? They stared into each other's eyes and I swear there was wisdom, familiarity. Wherever they are, I know Gramps and Grandma are wishing the Ronan their very best.

On Sunday, the Jeongs celebrated Easter at Pam and Ken's gorgeous home in the Oakland hills. Here are some pics from our day! (The only things missing are the roast tenderloin, the ham, the fish tacos, and the tons of other homemade dishes and desserts that everyone brought!) The Jeongs will never go hungry. :-) And it's a good thing we're not vegetarian since Ronan appears to relish his meat with a special zeal.


Ronan's great-aunt Pam, great-uncle Ken, Mom, Dad, and Uncle Matt


You're probably saying "Now what bucolic land is this? It can't be Oakland, California." But it is! We grew up just a mile down the street from Pam's house and had a big wild yard filled with deer, raccoons, rabbits, our pet chickens, and a lone roving rooster.


Cousin Cessa is teaching Ronan to share....


I'll give you my used napkin if you give me yours


Mmmm... Paper is a staple for the Ronan. Does that count as a first food? (Papa looks thrilled)


Grandma Kathy, great-aunt Pat, and Vanessa (with Renee in the background)


Ronan investigates the singing, gyrating Peter Cottontail, while Cessa swears she isn't sharing her wine with him


Male bonding

Last little tidbit before this tired Mama signs off for the night. We think Ronan is learning to yodel. He races around the house (on hands and knees of course) yodeling at the top of his lungs. He sounds like a mix between a hearty Swiss mountainman and the Swedish Chef. Sounds like this: "Yo-dee-lo-dee-lo-dee-lo! La-dee-ya-dee-yo-dee-lo!"