![collage collage](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7uBI77nV0fo/VSKl0agnQyI/AAAAAAAASUw/MoomUgJoWRs/collage_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Holidays... two down (our anniversary & his birthday)...
and ten more to go...all the rest of the year's celebrations to come, when my sweet husband will be so sadly missed.
I didn't feel much like celebrating Easter this year but decided for the sake of the grandkids,
I needed to do something to make it special, as they miss their Poppi Ernie, too.
![2015-04-04 001 005 2015-04-04 001 005](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0cA0_sRneBE/VSKl12PPzGI/AAAAAAAASVA/Ej0d-n01hU4/2015-04-04%252520001%252520005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The cupcakes were made with Duncan Hines *Pink Velvet* cake mix (tastes like vanilla)
and the frosting was marshmallow fluff buttercream.
Recipe for frosting HERE
![2015-04-04 001 006 2015-04-04 001 006](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gTs-mY-5jN0/VSKl3eqIlWI/AAAAAAAASVQ/MG7UHxLo4sA/2015-04-04%252520001%252520006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Malted milk ball eggs & some choco. bunnies, chicks & baby lambs added to the fun.
![2015-04-04 001 007 2015-04-04 001 007](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qzd7t3BOyN8/VSKl4gEPcOI/AAAAAAAASVg/Ifmk149CceE/2015-04-04%252520001%252520007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I even found butter in the shape of a lamb!!!
![2015-04-04 001 002 2015-04-04 001 002](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-k5Q7bxcCtWE/VSKl6POLSFI/AAAAAAAASVw/CvB5LFEFcrc/2015-04-04%252520001%252520002_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Pink Bunny Peeps in Twinkie race cars held the monogrammed pennants, which indicated where each person was to sit.
We even made one for my oldest grandson, who is away at college. It felt strange to set the table for only 5 people instead of the usual 7. *big sigh*
![2015-04-05 001 003 2015-04-05 001 003](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Wsgx0VaCV_c/VSKl7vUN9AI/AAAAAAAASWA/KF5mq-HyV74/2015-04-05%252520001%252520003_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-04-05 001 007 2015-04-05 001 007](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E6ExtJdV7Kw/VSKl9VcZeyI/AAAAAAAASWQ/gJwV_KF1bnc/2015-04-05%252520001%252520007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-04-05 001 005 2015-04-05 001 005](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1tHCXL66Zh0/VSKl-ovKSJI/AAAAAAAASWg/5j7tpM3YV1M/2015-04-05%252520001%252520005_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-04-05 001 008 2015-04-05 001 008](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-627s6KXuf1Q/VSKmAFo42JI/AAAAAAAASWw/PxfP-o_62Ng/2015-04-05%252520001%252520008_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I found it easiest to assemble the racers right ON the salad plates & to only do one side at a time.
I used royal icing (powdered sugar & water) to attach the marshmallows, which were cut in half with scissors dipped into boiling hot water.
I found the M&M *hubcaps* stuck nicely to the cut side of the marshmallows.
![2015-04-05 001 001 2015-04-05 001 001](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HY8NHs_o6Fc/VSKmB85gXMI/AAAAAAAASXA/VgrIbUZkQ7s/2015-04-05%252520001%252520001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-04-05 001 010 2015-04-05 001 010](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NqopfqxnweA/VSKmDUo_xkI/AAAAAAAASXQ/fIwpVdY4v0M/2015-04-05%252520001%252520010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Colorful placemats & colored stemmed bubbles glasses added lots of spring like color to the table.
![2015-04-05 001 011 2015-04-05 001 011](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CzlAoxv_0H8/VSKmE-bcx9I/AAAAAAAASXg/Bkk7AZCZnCY/2015-04-05%252520001%252520011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-04-05 001 012 2015-04-05 001 012](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_RGPRRJZJu0/VSKmGjlBnMI/AAAAAAAASXw/XLlH2EMYrMA/2015-04-05%252520001%252520012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
I embroidered some sport & tea towels as gifts, too.
Designs are from Applique Corner.
![2015-04-05 001 013 2015-04-05 001 013](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ril93k8-qeY/VSKmIIEZcXI/AAAAAAAASYA/nDqX_5p9z0Q/2015-04-05%252520001%252520013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
I liked Charlie's the best...
![IMG_0957 IMG_0957](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BnqaZiuIIrA/VSKmKB2f0AI/AAAAAAAASYQ/qeRi30Sro6M/IMG_0957_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
he's been playing indoor baseball all winter long, so it was most appropriate!
![twinkie racer place cards collage twinkie racer place cards collage](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L3J59a4e2fI/VSKmLkgIeII/AAAAAAAASYg/Phqle4arXC0/twinkie%252520racer%252520place%252520cards%252520collage_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Thanks for stopping by The Gazebo House & letting me share my family's Easter gathering.
I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday party.