Easter

Sylvia and Eric woke up early Easter morning so we sat on the deck and watched the sunrise.  We talked about the first Easter morning and then came in to warm up.  Before church at Parkview, the kids enjoyed receiving a few gifts in their Easter baskets.

We headed over the Nana and Papa's and took a ramble in the backyard before hunting for eggs and eating lunch.  The weather was beautiful.

We dyed a few eggs in the afternoon and played in the backyard.

Grandma and Grandpa had us over for an egg hunt where we invited our neighbors who have a kindergartner in Sylvia's class.  The kids made resurrection rolls with me where you dip a marshmallow in butter and then sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar before wrapping it up in a crescent roll.  While cooking, the marshmallow melts and the roll is empty which reminds us of the empty tomb.

Great Nana came over to watch the kids hunt eggs.

The weather was still nice when we got home so the kids headed outdoors to play with a few new water toys.

Easter

We had fun learning about and celebrating Easter for a whole week at our house this year using these cards I found online.  Sylvia worked hard on the Easter story block set and took them to preschool for her share day.  The kids worked on our spring mural for a few days.  They came up with many things that Jesus loves.  Sylvia wrote this message on the stem all by herself.

"Palm day at 

Jerusalem when Jesus died on the died on the cross.  Jesus rose from the dead.  Thank you for you did on the cross."

We "egged" a few of our friends and neighbors and made a card for a friend who was sick.  Instead of making a graham cracker tomb like suggested, the kids did "magic painting."  I wrote "Jesus Loves Sylvia" and "Jesus Loves Eric" in white crayon on watercolor paper.  They then painting to see what the secret message was.  We finished out our week by opening an empty gift to remind us that the tomb was empty (this got mixed reviews).

Easter day didn't go quite as planned since our family had been sick.  I stayed home with Drake, while Dan took Sylvia and Eric to church with Nana and Papa.  We made the most of our weekend by taking plastic Easter eggs in and out of a cardboard box, dying hard boiled eggs, and going on a scavenger hunt.  We'd been reading Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs all week so I sent the kids on a hunt through our house and yard just like they do in the book.  We also enjoyed quick visits from the grandparents.

Easter

We attended Easter service at The River with Nana and Papa. Eric and Drake hung out with Nana in the nursery. Sylvia and I went to the children's service after the music. Each year, The River does a big egg hunt which Sylvia was very excited about. Both kids got quite a few eggs and enjoyed finding out what was inside.

We headed home for lunch after church. Before giving the kids their Easter baskets we read What Is Easter? and The Easter Story. Sylvia and Eric checked out their Easter baskets and enjoyed a peep.

A second egg hunt followed by Easter dinner took place at Grandma and Grandpa's. They hid 150 eggs for only 4 grandchildren to find. There were plenty to go around!

We also celebrated birthdays while together.

When do the Easter eggs dye?

I recently hung a classroom type calendar at Sylvia's level so she could begin keeping track of when holidays and special events take place. She loves to ask what day it is and count to the next big event. As Easter approached, she was excited to eat peeps and dye eggs. She even asked me, "When do the Easter eggs dye?" I forgot to buy an egg dye kit this year, so I checked online and found out you can use food coloring. We went that route and probably will again in the future.

The kids got the eggs ready with crayons and stickers.

Waiting for the eggs to change colors was the hardest part. You may notice I am holding Eric back from sticking his hands in the cup.

These are my favorites!

Easter

We hunted for eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house with Bill, Becky, Ben and Katie on Saturday. Ben hid an egg for Eric to find in the Millennium Falcon.
Eric sort of got the hang of putting the eggs in his basket. He also liked to take them out.
Sylvia helped Eric get some goldfish crackers out of his eggs.

Very proud of all the eggs she found all on her own.
Ben, Katie, Sylvia and Eric posing with their eggs.
Grandpa telling the Easter story with resurrection eggs.

Saturday evening, we decorated hard boiled eggs at home with Sylvia. She colored on a few before dying them. She was so excited that it was hard for her to give daddy the space he needed to help.


Sunday morning we went to church with Nana and Papa. Sylvia got to hunt for eggs at church and at Nana and Papa's.


Sylvia helped daddy mow the lawn after nap.

Both kids also spent plenty of time on the swings.


It is so wonderful celebrating Easter with a three-year-old. She has been asking so many questions about Jesus recently. One of her favorite songs is Amazing Grace and she asks about grace and mercy. A few months back she was talking about mommy and daddy liking it when she makes good choices. I asked her who else likes it when she makes good choices and she said, "God, because Jesus has to die when I make bad choices. Jesus doesn't have to die when I make good choices." It's amazing and humbling to see her beginning understanding of the Gospel.

Easter

We went to my parents' house Sunday evening to celebrate Easter.

Checking out her box of "potty" treats.

Sylvia got to try her first peep.

Sylvia and her cousins, Katie & Ben, enjoyed hunting for eggs in the back yard.



Opening eggs was Sylvia's favorite activity.

We also celebrated my brother, Bill's, birthday as well as mine and Dan's dad's.

Sylvia gave Ben a ride in Grandpa's truck after he pushed her around for a long time.