Eight-month-old Stacy Croteau, center, with help from mom Mandy, is handed her first Easter egg by the Easter Bunny on Sunday. More than 3,000 children celebrated Easter at the Governor's Mansion. Chad Lundquist/ Nevada Appeal
Mandy Croteau wanted her daughter's first Easter egg to be special.
She wanted something unique that Stacy, her 8-month-old, would be able to keep as a reminder of her first Easter.
Sunday afternoon, Stacy's first egg was handed to her by the Easter Bunny and then she got her picture taken with Gov. Jim and first lady Dawn Gibbons.
"It was her first Easter and this is her first Easter egg," Mandy said. "We just wanted it to be special."
Stacy was one of more than 3,000 children who celebrated Easter at the Governor's Mansion in Carson City on Sunday afternoon.
Each child received a commemorative wooden egg featuring a sketch of the mansion and the signatures of the governor and first lady, along with the year.
"We love Easter," Jim Gibbons said. "A celebration like this is unique and it gives the opportunity for these kids to come celebrate Easter day with us."
Croteau wasn't the only one who wanted a special egg for their child. Kendra Furlong brought her 11-day-old son to get an egg and meet the governor.
"It's his first Easter and why not make it his first Easter Egg?" Kendra said.
Meeting the governor was what got Ray and Sandra Leonard to bring their son, Andy, 3, out to the mansion.
"It's special to get to visit with the governor. It's not a lot of states that open the governor's mansion to the public," Ray Leonard said.
While most of the children were excited to get their picture taken, 2-year-old Adomas Stankute wasn't among them. It had been a long day and Adomas just wanted to go home, but his sister, Barbara, 5, was excited.
"I like Christmas and Easter the best," Barbara said. "On Easter you get candy. I like all kinds of candy."
While she didn't know what the governor's job was, Barbara said she was still excited to meet him.
Further back in the line, 6-year-old Elijah McIntosh and his 2-year-old brother, Ian, were just happy to watch the festivities.
Elijah said the best part of Easter was the candy, especially the chocolate kind. He wanted to get his face painted and get an egg, and he did know what the governor did.
"He's a politician," Elijah said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.