easter fun...

We (by we I mean I) averted a near tragedy this holiday weekend.  There was wailing and gnashing of teeth, followed by whining and the ever popular but 'WE Always Do IT'.  I'm not sure how or why, but Easter snuck up on me this year and left me unprepared.  Just to be clear, I don't mean the real reason for Easter.  The fact that Jesus died and rose again was covered at our house.  It was the rest of Easter traditions that {almost} got missed.

We had a busy and full Spring Break last week and all of the sudden the boys realized that Easter was Sunday.  They remembered that we ALWAYS dye eggs.  This near panic on their parts reminded me that I had not bought anything for their Easter baskets or  the eggs we ALWAYS hide.  So in true ninja mom fashion, I snuck out of the house by myself Saturday morning and got everything we needed for the festivities. 

 

We use the PAA$ kit that I remember using as a kid.  Because it's easy and does the job.  Last year I tried to get creative and the boys objected.  So we keep it simple in our house.  We dyed 18 eggs this year.  No one in the house eats hard boiled eggs but me.  We usually throw out at least half of the eggs a few of the eggs we dye each year.  I can only eat so many in a week.  But we dye 18 because the boys love it.  And what is a holiday without a tradition?

Traditions are one of my favorite things about being a mom.  I get to carry some over from my childhood and create some news ones that belong just to our family.  Or our team as Luke calls us.

The traditional egg hunt at our house had to wait until after church this year.  We decided to go to the 8:00 service (because our pastor encouraged regular attenders to come early) and then we served in child care for the 9:30 service.  It sounded like a way better idea weeks ago when we signed up than when we were waking the kids up at 6:30 am at the end of Spring Break.

We had Easter dinner at my parent's house.  Talk about tradition.  I love {love} having holiday dinners at my parent's house.  My parents still live in the house that I grew up in and it still feels like home after all these years of having my own home.  It is so fun to see my kids and nephews walk in and take over just like my sister's and I did when we were little.  

Every year I promise myself I'm going to take more pictures of my parents with my kids.  Of my parents period.  Of my sisters and their families.  Of cousins.  Of me and my kids.  And then I forget to pick up the camera or someone doesn't like their hair, outfit, lipstick or some other excuse.  No more excuses.  I'm going to take more family pictures.  Because what is a holiday without family?  And what holiday is complete without pictures? 

The 'big boys', not to be confused with the little boy (singular) Colin, spent an hour chasing a rabbit before and after Easter dinner.  I told my boys that they could keep the rabbit if they caught it and they wanted to catch it!  It was so funny to watch.  I did feel a little bad for the (as it turns out) rabbits but it all turned out for them in the end...

I made our traditional Bunny cake for dessert again this year.  John and Luke did not help (again).  But they did tell me, that it looked like a bunny this year.

I hope you had an awesome Easter with those you love.  And that somewhere in the middle of your traditions, you were able to pause and remember the real reason for the holiday is that He is Risen!