Easter Rewind

Easter this year was extremely low key for us.  Because we were returning from our trip to Hawaii the day before, Sam and Anna did not do a community egg hunt this year.  I'm not sure how many were held in our area and not cancelled anyway, since we still had significant snow covering the ground.  Trudging through snow in snow pants and boots for Easter eggs really doesn't sound all that fun to me anyway.

We typically stick close to home for Easter instead of traveling to relatives and this year was no different.  Getting everyone out the door for Easter service at our church was challenging enough.  I was significantly jetlagged after traveling for more than 24 hours the day before and adjusting to the 5 hour time change.  (It certainly felt like 5 am to my body when we were trying to get out the door on time!)  Our little ones were adjusting back to being home and under our care again, so their behavior wasn't stellar throughout the entire day.  Anna refused to wear her Easter dress. I did manage to get her into an acceptable replacement and bribe accordingly for a few posed photos!

Our second annual bunny pancakes were one of the few festive attempts we made.

And Sam and Anna thoroughly enjoyed their Easter baskets, of course. (That were put together at midnight the night before.)

Since our fridge was bare from being gone for a week, we had ended up having pasta for dinner.  We DID dye Easter eggs- but that actually happened on Tuesday... two days after Easter.  This is real life, people.  Sam and Anna seemed to have fun regardless and years from now, you'd never tell from the photos that our egg dying was belated anyway.  At least that's what I'm telling myself. Ha!

 

All that minimalistic Easter celebrating doesn't bother me much, because what stuck most with our kids this year wasn't the Easter Bunny, or their baskets, or the colorful eggs- it's the "Christ is Risen Indeed!  Alleluia!" they learned to say and sign during the children's sermon that day.  Days later, I haven't heard a mention of bunnies or baskets.  But my adorable children are still saying and signing that phrase.  File that one under memorable moments.

Easter in Photos

Saturday we took Sam and Anna to our city's (free) egg hunt to check it out for the first time.  Our littles were in the 0-3 age group, which allowed one adult per kid inside the roped off area.  I was happy that no one was vicious in the "search" for eggs, but it only lasted for a few minutes.  Although the rules were no bags or baskets allowed, I saw some being used.  We brought our hats and they made the perfect egg collection holder!  Sam and Anna did a great job!  While Sam reached for the eggs closest to him, Anna was pretty selective about the eggs she wanted to pick up and keep- often bypassing some to get to one farther away.  Since it was over so fast, we ended up hanging out at the park and re-tossing the eggs in the grass for them to continue picking up.  Sam and Anna thought that was as fun as the actual egg hunt.

We made Kool-eggs Saturday night using Kool-aid powder.  I am so glad I saw the idea for that (and using wire whisks as dipping holders) on pinterest.  The fruity smell was great!

Anna and Sam enjoyed their overflowing Easter baskets from the Easter bunny. 

The aftermath

Quick bunny pancakes before church

All dressed up for church 

We ended up having to sit in the front pew (and the twins from our church that are 6 months older than Sam and Anna ended up sitting in the front pew on the other side), which made me break out into a cold sweat... but Sam and Anna did marvelously. Anna helped direct the choir by copying the director waving her arms in the air- so cute, and since we were so close, they sat up front by themselves for the children's sermon for the first time. Sam came back to sit by us after a short bit, but Anna (Miss Independent) stayed the whole time... and even ordered a rowdy boy to "sit down!"


We stuck close to home this year, instead of road tripping to the grandparents for a big feast.  When it comes to holidays, I really prefer to attend a service at our home church and have Sam and Anna wake up to filled stockings and baskets at their own home.  I think we'll continue to try to do that as long as they are young children... and still believe fully in the magic of the season.