Easter!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: the real purpose of Easter is the best part! Every spring it is so good to re-read and “re-ponder” the story of the atonement and resurrection from the scriptures. That event is so wonderful that I think the best way to express my feelings is with MUSIC. We didn’t sing any Easter hymns at church for some reason, but I heard another ward singing “I Know that My Redeemer Lives,” which I’ve never thought of as an Easter song until now. One line from that hymn kind of sums it all up: “Oh, sweet, the joy this sentence gives—I know that my Redeemer lives!” 

And now, on to the other festivities! When I was growing up, we never did much with Easter egg hunts and candy and baskets and that stuff, so I wasn’t really planning on doing much either. But all the fun things people did FOR us were so great that I want to do a little more with Easter in the future, when mis hijos are older. We had a weekend full of springy, Easter-y activities. The weather was warm and lovely, and it finally truly felt like spring for the first time all year!

Saturday, there was a ward Easter egg hunt. Jay found 3 eggs! (with a little parental guidance) When he discovered that the jelly beans inside were edible, he chowed down. He probably didn’t eat more than 10 jelly beans, but I think they made him a little crazy. 3 days later, he’s finally back to his good happy self. Whew!

We are LOADED with sweet Easter treats, and I didn’t even make a single one! Aren’t these bunny cakes CUTE? I had to put a picture of them even though I didn’t make them (thanks again, Ashleigh!) Another fun family “egged” us—they covertly put Easter eggs filled with treats and Easter scriptures on our porch (thanks Alisha and co!) When Jay and Rose are older, I want to do fun little activities like these with them!

Our Easter treats kind of took over the fruit basket…oops! That big lovely Peanut Butter Meltaway Egg in front is a White family tradition that I have JOYFULLY been a part of even before I married Jeff. YUM. These 1 pound sweet melty peanut butter-filled chocolate eggs are from Jeff’s home town in Tyrone, PA. Every Easter, the Whites order these beauties, and they’re shipped across the country straight to our watering mouths (thanks to Steph!)

We had Easter dinner with our local family members, at the Whites’ house. I love ham. Dan and Leslie (Jay’s grandparentals) did a little egg hunt for Jay. He has been carrying his basket around the house ever since (we sneakily emptied the jelly beans out of the eggs). He got a ball with a bunny on it, and he loves toting around the ball in the basket, saying ba-ball, just like basketball.

Uncle Sam was in town! (He’s Jeff’s brother) Rose has now met all of her aunts and uncles except my brother Brad and his fiancee, Dani. [That will all change in less than 2 months at the wedding!]

Easter Rose.

And another—I love little girls in dresses and bows.

Jay’s current Sunday clothes aren’t Eastery, so I didn’t get a picture of him (the main reason, though is that he was NOT in the picture-taking mood on Sunday. I’ll blame the jelly beans.). So here’s one from this morning instead. I may be crazy, but I like the profusion of dandelions in our front yard (for now, until they get tall, fuzzy, and white, that is). I just like the cheery yellow polk-a-dots in the green grass.

I also like it when Jeff takes Jay to the park. Even though I’m tall enough, I’m not quite strong enough to get Jay this close to the hoop.

Another like: Rose’s giant flower acts like a visor and shields her eyes from the sun when we’re outside at the park. Perfecto.

That’s the sky today. Heaven! (too bad I couldn’t avoid the ugly power lines)

Have I mentioned how much I love living around the corner from el parque?

Hee hee, how about those funny leg warmers? Em made them for Rose. I love them—they are so convenient because you don’t have to take off any pants to change a diaper! (if you haven’t noticed by now, 99% of Roses’ cute accessories were made by my sister Em).

Since I’m on a roll, here’s one more picture of our happy little squishy-armed, round-cheeked, cherub girl

Ok, I’m done. But really, I could just eat her up!

Happy Easter!