Easter 2015

Easter week started out with B's Easter egg hunt at school.  This girl was so excited for school that day.  She jumped out of bed with her basket in hand.  She had been practicing hunting eggs with Nana for weeks so she was ready.

so glad I got to be there with her!  I know that one day she wouldn't be quite as excited at the sight of mom walking in her room but for now the feeling of seeing her smile when I walk through the door and she comes to give me a big hug...well that is pretty priceless!

getting all ready, set go time!

The whole class was ready to get those eggs.  B had a class full of boys this year, the girls were seriously outnumbered. 

This girl racked up all that practicing paid off big time.

The next day the girls wanted to go to the movies so they each took a friend and then afterwards I wanted them to see what all those little chicks we talk about were really hiding out so we went to some of the family chicken houses and boy were these girls in shock, and also a wee bit overwhelmed, and maybe a tad bit disgusted by the smell...either way it was awesome watching them try to chase them down. 

I know white shoes before Easter is a no, no but what about swimsuits?? :)

Saturday morning we headed to the church for an Easter egg hunt and lots of fun activities they had in store.

the egg toss is always a hit...until you are the one that sees this coming..that never ends well.

The church even took them through the story of the final days of Jesus. 

The preacher explained the final communion that he had with his disciples.

The kids even took communion themselves as part of the story.

next he explained how the disciples betrayed Jesus in his final days.

Then they went to a dark room (the flash on the picture would make it appear differently) they heard the story of Jesus on the Cross.

After that they all wrote their troubles/ worries on a piece of paper and nailed it to a cross outside...

then they took a water and washed those sins away.  Each one of those troubles that they had put on the cross just disappeared.  As a parent it was a pretty special moment to see the children's faces as they begin to understand the meaning of how we take our troubles to Jesus on the cross and by his death we were set free and our sins were truly washed away.  I am so proud of the church for continuing to remind our children that Easter is a time for fun but also has so much more of a special meaning that they will take with them for the rest of their lives.

After the story finished it was time to hunt eggs and this girl was prepared it was the round three and she didn't miss a beat!  She was all over that yard picking up eggs from everywhere..and gasp, even THE golden egg!

Big sister had it a little bit tougher but she really racked up on the candy as well.

Just look what that golden egg landed this girl...her new favorite pet dog!

After the hunt Nana and Pop came down for a visit and this just had to be blogged about because it will probably never happen again...we got Nana on the trampoline.  But the best part was I think she actually liked it!!

AB was a bit preoccupied with friends that afternoon so B was my helper for our annual bunny cake.  I think she did a great job...and he had some extra spunk this year due to her special touches.

A little dying of the Easter eggs was on tap after that...although I think things went a little south because we ended up with more dye on us then we did the eggs..and B may have drop one or two which didn't help the smell.

The next morning the girls awoke to a special delivery from one floppy eared visitor.

But first he left them a little task before they could find the basket they had to go on a little Easter egg hunt that would lead them to their basket.  This is their favorite part every year...he even left them a note with a basket in their rooms to get them started.

the hunt was on and that bunny had some pretty tricky hiding spots this year.

but the girls were thrilled to arrive to their baskets full of candy and other goodies that were just perfect for them both.

AB's favorite the sunglasses...

and B's favorite the peeps!!  (she is more and more like me every day..it's scary)

and fruit stripes one of mom's favorites.

all dressed up and ready for church

working on that perfect Easter photo...it always takes a few tries but I guess looking back those are really the best ones.

Daddy's girls

love the toothless stage...so stinkin cute

Bobo and Sharon took the girls to her families Easter egg hunt that afternoon and they came back with lots more candy.

I just had to post this comparison of the two girls.  AB wore this same dress a few years earlier at Easter and in a wedding and so I thought it was cool to see just how similar in a few ways but also how different in many ways the girls looked at the same age in the same outfit.

 

Happy Easter, may your day have been spent with those you love and may you always remember the one who loved you so much he was willing to die for your sins!  God bless....