Easter 2013

What a busy weekend this turned out to be!  So many great ways to celebrate our Risen Lord (and our first ever garage sale!) - we were worn out by last night! 

Actually, it all started last weekend with the annual Egg Hunt and Brunch hosted by some of our friends.  Sam rocked the egg hunt and even found a few extras for his sister.  Although BabyBelle managed to find a few on her own, as well.  And she did an excellent job of not getting her pretty white dress dirty on a cool, drizzly morning.  We're actually having some spring weather this year!

Sam enjoyed his Easter party at school again this year, where he participated in Egg Hunt #2 of 2013.

On Friday evening we attended our church's Good Friday service.  Its hard to say that I "enjoy" the Good Friday service.  It is somber and reverent, and the text is graphic and horrifying.  But without it, Easter morning service would not feel as triumphant. 

 

After the garage sale and some moving prep on Saturday, we decorated some eggs and made a cake that Chris describes as "Every Child's Dream."  Several eggs were cracked before it was all said and done - careful is still a "sometime" occurrence in our house.  And the hands were covered in dye.  Then we ventured next door for an New Orleans-Style Easter party - A Crawfish Boil!  Sam was pretty interested in the crawfish, but it was too spicy for him.  He preferred the gumbo!  Annabelle spit out two bites.  Oh well - Chris and I improved our mud bug eating skills (this northerner needed a lesson!) and we all had a great time socializing with neighbors.  And Sam enjoyed Egg Hunt #3.  Annabelle was content with one egg to hold (or one plastic fork, dish, etc).

When I walked into Sam's room on Sunday morning he immediately asked, "Is the Easter Bunny Gone?!"  Really good thing I'd set my alarm and got up in time to put the hard boiled eggs out before he woke up!  He made quick work of hunting down the basket and dug through to find the car he had spotted at Kroger a few weeks earlier.  He even helped Annabelle find her basked, which she just liked to take stuff in and out of.  He located all the hard boiled eggs (Egg Hunt #4) and we put them back in the fridge.

We enjoyed a wonderful worship service where Sam again participated in the flowering of the cross.  I love the music on Easter Sunday!  I love that so many people come to worship that they have to set chairs out in the gathering hall. 

Back home.  Somehow while Sam was getting out of the car, the eggs that the bunny had hidden outside magically appeared!  So once again the two kids grabbed their baskets and began hunting (Egg Hunt #5).  There were no jelly bean shots this year, thank heavens, the boy was more focused on the collecting than the consuming.  Fortunately he hasn't yet notice that he's getting help with the consumption.  But seriously, 5 egg hunts.  Talk about candy overload!

After naps we opened baskets from Gommy, and then headed to dinner with some dear friends from our community group.  This was actually a last minute plan (we were supposed to go elsewhere, but they were hit with the stomach bug!), but it was a perfect way to celebrate.  I am thankful that the Lord has provided friends to celebrate with when our family is so far away!  And I'm thankful for the delicious food they make, too!

The Lord Is Risen - He is Risen Indeed!  And if you need any plastic eggs, you know where to find them!

(Don't laugh at the family pictures.  Its the best we could do with two small children and a self-timer.)