Easter

Celebrating Easter this year was a joyous occasion. We had a lot of fun, and made some great memories. But most of all I was so happy that our efforts to teach Eleanore about the real reason we celebrate Easter were sinking in. Tonight before she went to bed she happily announced that, "Today was the best day ever!" In the other room, I was changing the babies and it brought a smile to my face. Then I heard Bryan ask her way, and she explained that he taught her (when he spoke in church) that Jesus lives again. She understands! And she is right...today (Easter) is the best day ever. I love that little girl more than words can express.
We started our Easter celebration last weekend, while Bryan was away on a business trip. Friday night Eleanore, Ivy and Maya and I went with Catherine and her kids (in separate cars...there are too many of us now) the drive-in movies in Ruskin to see Rio. We didn't see too much of the movie but El, Ivy and I sure had fun partying in the front seats (Maya slept like the good little baby she is!). It was a really fun way to go to the movie since I didn't have to worry about Eleanore talking to much or Ivy or Maya making noise...we could just have a fun girls night out.




El at the drive in


The next evening we went to our Primary Easter egg hunt, and Catherine and her kids came and joined us. Then we all went out for pizza and ice cream at an old soda fountain on Venice Island. It was another fun evening.

Me and the girls at the Primary egg hunt...I stayed up ALL NIGHT (really, until 6 a.m.) the night before to make them these dresses!

This girl knows how to enjoy an ice cream cone!

Then on Tuesday night, after Bryan was home , for a delayed FHE we colored Easter eggs, which was a highly anticipated activity for Eleanore. The babies thought it was pretty neat, but didn't understand the concept of being gentle (it was a good thing they were boiled because several eggs got chucked on to the floor) or that the shells were not editable, as Maya tried to eat them with shell on. It was a fun, but messy family night.

This egg was about to be thrown.



Silly girl!




Even sillier.



About to take a bite.



Friday night we had some of our good friends over for a BBQ and egg hunt. By this time Ivy and Maya had the idea of collecting eggs down to a science and they filled their buckets with no problem. They had also caught on to the idea that candy is inside the eggs and they ate way too much candy!





Love these four!



Dad's girl!

The Easter bunny came while we slept Friday night, since he knows Dad has to go to church early on Sundays, and because we really wanted to keep Sunday focused on the true reason we celebrate Easter. The girls were excited to see their baskets which included stuffed animals, beach towels and sunglasses for all, new PJ's and flip flops for El and the movie Tangled.

They learned to LOVE chocolate this weekend.

Saturday we went to two more egg hunts -- one in our old neighborhood (which Maya slept through) and one at a BBQ at one of Rob and Catherine's friend's house (we had so many eggs by this time we recycled the ones from the morning hunt for our contribution to the afternoon hunt -- lol).

Ivy was serious about egg hunting by now. Her eggs would fall out as she put them in since she was moving so fast.

This morning we were up with the sun getting ready for church. The girls looked beautiful. Eleanore sand Did Jesus Really Live Again? and On a Golden Springtime in Sacrament Meeting with the Primary children. I was so proud of her, the youngest child in Primary, singing the words loudly and beautifully enough for me to hear her in the very back of the chapel. She had practiced a lot and she not only new the words, but understands what they mean and her singing was like a sweet testimony. Bryan conducted the meeting and also gave a wonderful talk on Easter, testifying that the reason we celebrate Easter, and the reason we believe is because He lives. It was a very nice service.

After church Rob and Catherine and their children joined us for Easter dinner. The kids has a great time playing and we had a nice visit.

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful Easter celebration. I am so blessed with a wonderful husband, beautiful daughters and a Savior who died that we may all live again.