"Isn't it your god's birthday, I mean, with spring and the Easter Bunny and all?"

Yup, that is what I overheard at work on the Thursday before Easter.  And so started our Easter long weekend in Halifax. 
  
On the Friday night, Uncle Brent arrived from Toronto.  Brent is a good friend from Toronto.  He is a former boss and colleague.  The first night we met for work 14 years ago, after a flight to Philly and a drive to Wilmington, Delaware, he suggested that we have dinner at a Chi Chi's restaurant on the side of the road (a Tex-Mex place for those who don't know).  From the back seat I quipped, a la Les Nessman from WKRP in Cincinnati, "Who, Chi Chi Rodriguez?"  Brent broke out laughing.  The other guy in the car didn't get the joke.  Needless to say, the other guy didn't last.  And now Brent is Magnus's godfather.  Is there nothing TV cannot do?

It was a great long weekend that started with the three of us (Brent, Karen, and I) having dinner at a small restaurant on the boardwalk followed by drinks at an unexpected find. We had intended to go to a popular Irish bar called Durty Nelly's only to find it packed with loud young people (ewwww!), so we ended up at a quaint little bar called The Press Gang.  Initially we were only going to stay for one drink, as it seemed kind of slow and was filled with a bunch of grey hairs (ewwww!).  Luckily, before we could finish our drink, the speakers were shut off and a three piece band started up (baby grand, stand up base, and trumpet) that was quite upbeat.  That, combined with good local beer, good wine, and an unlimited stock of Jagger (thanks Uncle Brent!), the Press Gang turned into a great little find.

View of our table (the 4 top) from the Baby Grand

Easter Day itself brought warmth and sunshine (what's that?).  We took advantage and went for a walk through the Halifax Gardens followed by a few drinks on a patio.  A number of passersby found it humourous to find a bassinet on the patio beside me.  Magnus didn't seem to mind and slept away the afternoon.

UB and Karen enjoying the welcome sunshine

After sleeping away his afternoon on a patio (c'mon, we've all been there!), Magnus was more than ready for a visit from his Uncle Adam and Adam's girlfriend, Auntie Lauren.  We started Easter dinner right (before the traditional Easter dinner of bbq NY Strips and east coast scallops), with some sparkling wine from the Annapolis Valley that we had picked up on our recent trip to the Bay of Fundy.  Magnus did not want to be left out this time, as he had been on the sunny patio!

Not one to miss out on two parties in a row!

Lastly, what would Easter be without chocolate?  We thought it would be fine.  However, Magnus's Nan thwarted our plans of having a chocolate free Easter and sent a wonderful gift basket (along with a book on Peter Rabbit) to go along with the clothes and book sent by Magnus's Oma and Magnus's Aunt Tanya.  Although he didn't actually get any of the chocolate, that drool seems to indicate that he inherited his dad's sweet tooth!

Drooling over Mini Eggz!