For 40 years (at least that what my mom says) her family has done an annual Easter egg hunt at the same park - the Will Rogers Park in Oklahoma City. Her maiden name is Manuel, which has resulted in the name "The Annual Manuel".
As with all of my family traditions, I have the fondest memories of this outing. It started the night before with the filling of plastic eggs. My grandma made this a super secret activity that only the adults could participate in. She had a rule that if you shook the egg and you could hear the candy, it wasn't full enough.
The next morning we would all color eggs. This would have to be done in shifts because we couldn't all fit around the table.
That afternoon we all packed up and headed to the park. The kids would immediately head to the play equipment while the women hid the eggs. We couldn't wait to get the call that it was time to find the eggs. The anticipation made it seem like forever to get them hidden. Will was excited to marry into the family because you got to hunt until you had kids of your own!
We gathered our baskets and waited at the starting line. It was a mad dash to find the eggs - little kids to one area, and big kids to another. We knew when every egg had been found because grandma had counted them ahead of time.
Egg hunting was followed by hotdogs and an exciting game of softball. Now, because at least half the players were under the age of 12, the rules were modified a little. Amazingly, the game always ended in a tie.
Time, naturally, has passed. Family members have moved further away. It is rare that everyone can be there. But when they are, it makes it even more special.
The park has changed - cleaned up quite a bit! The wooden play equipment I played on as a child has been updated to a sleek new plastic unit. I guess that's safer or something.
The past few years the location has been modified a bit because of weather. Who would think, snow in April?
Grandma and Grandpa have now both passed away, but it is important to all of us to have the tradition continue.
I think the next post may be some photos from past years, to present of our Annual Manuel Easter Egg Hunt.
How fun! My mom's side of the family always did an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Two years ago, they held the last one until there were great-grandchildren. So this year, there was a hunt. A one year and a five month old hunting eggs...I think my cousins had more fun helping to hunt. ;)
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