Hopped up on Eggs

For the first time since I've lived in NYC, I didn't go home to Montreal for Easter with the French Fam.

Since I was just there 2 weeks ago for my Dad's Funeral and hadn't yet bought my holiday ticket (I was procrastinating; possibly the only time that actually worked in my favor) I decided to leave it up in the air. If I could go back I would and if I wasn't feeling it I wouldn't. Turns out, I wasn't.

I have to go back in July anyways for his tombstone ceremony (who knew carving granite took so long?!), and considering my exhaustion level and credit card bill I opted to spend Easter with my New York Family: The Soodaks.

For those of you unfamiliar with this family and their relation to me, they were the first family I Nannied for after I moved to NYC. I spent a year and a half helping 2 hilariously awesome parents raise their 4 hilariously awesome children:
Rubin (now almost 13), Ellis (10), Cassie & Shay (6).
At the time they ranged in age from 2 1/2 to 8yrs and we had A LOT of fun (and hectic) times together.
For example: Atlantic City in The Bahamas (2006)

The job was non-stop chaos. In between snuggles it often desired ear plugs. I couldn't have been more in my element. We weaved our way into each others hearts, and even though I stopped working for them almost 3yrs ago that hasn't put an end to Sunday dinners, mani/pedi's, a quick frappucinno or gambling together on vacation.

The weekend before Easter I was spending a 3 month overdue Sunday night being coddled, fed and entertained, when I found out they were going up to their house in CT for Easter & Spring Break. I was invited to join them (and their Jewish traditions) and realized that, while invited many times, I hadn't been out there since the 2 summers I spent there working. Far too long. It was the perfect place to relax and escape and I was ready to go!

I spent the weekend reading, writing, eating, playing, shooting, shopping, sleeping, and reflecting. It was exactly what I needed.

Since the girls were little I've had an ongoing rule/joke with them that I say EVERY time we see each other: "Soodak's are not allowed to grow."
They think this is the funniest, most ludicrous thing they have ever heard, and laugh every time I say it. Each time I visit they are eager to show me how big they have gotten and insist that rule be annulled. Sad but true, they grow indeed.

Shay & Cassie, Age 3, First Day of Preschool

Shay & Cassie, Age 6, Breaking the Rules of Growth
Easter 2009: Always my girls, no matter how old
After a wonderful Matzoh Ball Soup filled weekend, I made a pit stop midway home to meet up with my Best Friend Karley for a "more traditional" Easter dinner with her in-laws. Karley married a big, black, beautiful Jamaican. He's 6 of 7 Catholic raised kids and they all live in the Tri-State area (NY, CT, NJ).

Upon arrival I felt like I had walked into "Big Mama's House". This was perfect since Karley calls me "Mama" and I call her "Baby Mama". We needed a "Big Mama"! I was welcomed into the Foreman family as one of their own (and the booty to prove it!) and tried to boost the minority morale with TWO white girls in the house! Woot Woot!
There were at least 25 people, all adults except for my nephew Xander and his 18 month old cousin Alanna. We ate, and ate, and ate! You name it, it was on the table with a delicious Big Jamaican Mama twist that had your taste buds begging for more and your stomach not knowing where to put it! The spirit of love and happiness that radiated throughout the house closely mirrored that of my once usual Easter times with my family (though we were only 9 people) and I felt at home.

After downing all that grub we had to work it off somehow, and what better way than Touch Football? Turns out not only can I hit a target, I can also run a pass too!
Four on Four, with Karley and I trying to outrun each other, my day ended with a Touchdown--both spiritually and physically.