Easter weekend

Warning: Many photos ahead!

 

it's all about jesus

We had a great Easter weekend. I did finally (just barely) get a chance to dye eggs with the kids. They pretty much did it on their own after I got everything set up for them. I responded to all the “Look at this one, Mama!” calls while I cooked.

I even left them to clean up while I rushed off to ladies’ Bible study where we stuffed eggs for our church egg hunt the next morning. As we filled plastic eggs with candy, we exchanged Easter bunny, Santa Claus and Tooth Fairy stories.

I learned that my kids are completely deprived because I have totally eliminated the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy from their lives. I did the Tooth Fair for about 3 of Clementine’s tiny, hard won teeth before I realized it was entirely too much work and there were going to be way too many teeth in my future. (If I’d had the foresight to realize then that it might be more prudent to be saving that money for the orthodontist, I might not have even wasted those first three dollars.)

And then I was like, “Look, there’s no more Tooth Fairy.”

When Emeline lost her first tooth she got the token rolled up dollar tied with a ribbon under her pillow, but now the first tooth is the golden tooth. After that they’re meaningless.

They do get Easter treats in their baskets, but there’s no carrot nibbling or bunny nest mysteries left behind like the others told me about. I guess I’m just a lazy mother.

It stormed that night, but the next day was sunny and nice. Tess caught on right away about finding eggs and putting them in her basket. The hardest part for her was walking on uneven ground while holding her basket and bending over to pick up an egg.

easter basket

I spent the rest of Saturday getting ready for Sunday. Cleaning, ironing clothes and cooking.

Sunday morning we went to church and there was beautiful singing and a wonderful message.

We had the whole family here for lunch. My sister even showed up.

easter swing

I forced my kids to take a family picture before they changed and went looking for eggs. See how happy they were to oblige me?

easter family

Finally, the adults hid the plastic eggs in my mother’s shrubbery. (My kids won’t hide their boiled eggs, those are too special. We will live with those for about a week until the fear of one breaking is too much for me and I force them to throw them in the woods)

easter egg hider

Just before they turned the kids loose to find eggs, they announced that there was a dollar bill in one of the eggs.

easter hunt

That got them moving fast!

easter hunting

It was a HOT day. I don’t think we’ve ever had an Easter this warm. If we have I can’t remember it.

After the egg hunt we went to our friend’s house to see what the Easter bunny left for them.

easter colored chicks

Colored chicks, ducks and a goat!

easter chick caught

You think there’s a PAAS dye kit for this?

They were adorable.

easter 14

Tess tried so hard to catch them.

easter yellow chick

They always managed to be just out of reach.

easter 8

The little goat was adorable too.

easter goat

But the minute they put it down, it R-U-N-N-O-F-T!

easter goat 2

They all ran off after it, into the field, to the thicket where it hid. Even Lindsey who is on crutches because a horse fell on her and broke her hip a few weeks ago. That’s her daughter holding the goat.

easter tractor

Then they all came back on the tractor like a bunch of hillbillies. And we laughed at them and I took their picture and put it on my blog so you can laugh at them too. And later, Mr. Doug will make me pay for this. (But really he’s the one who looks least like a hillbilly because he is actually driving the tractor).

easter chicky

My kids begged for their own set of little colored chickens and as much as I’d like to have chickens myself, I know my dogs would eat them right up. I have no idea how people have dogs and chickens.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and hanging out outside, making more plans for our flower beds.

We had a wonderful weekend. I hope you did too.

On Sunday

group7

We had a big crowd this Sunday. It was expected to be even bigger. We were missing my cousin and his family of 5 and another family of 2. But, at the last minute I asked our preacher and his family, then my sister showed up.

 

group

I think I counted 29 people.

 

group5

Three of them were preachers. My uncle, who is a preacher, and his wife have moved back to Arkansas from Louisiana. We are so happy they are back close by and can now join us for lunch.

 

group6

 

The men always race to the front of the line right after the blessing.

group4

 

People eat everywhere. I have a breakfast table that seats 5 or 6 squeezed in and a dining table that seats about 7 or 8. Then the couch and loveseat fill up as well as every available chair.

 

group2

 

I love it!

 

group3

 

I just wish I had more room for everyone.

 

But then it wouldn’t be as cozy. At least, that’s what I tell myself when we’re sitting on the floor with our plate on the coffee table.

Happy 4th of July


I didn’t quite make it through the whole family party when I attempted to live-blog it on Thursday. Here it is Saturday and I am still thinking about stories from that night I want to tell. In particular, tragic pet stories. But they will have to wait.

I also wanted to talk about how hard it is to get a decent picture of all the kids together.

Especially when your sister zips by on your daughter’s scooter. So distracting.

And when your son bites his nails. Why so anxious Milo? Actually he and Clementine seem to be more alike than I thought. Look back at the first pictures how they are striking the exact same pose.

And when babies crawl out of the frame.

But I have desserts to bake and laundry to fold (I swear I’m going to really fold it all today and put it away.) And a baby that needs lots of attention since she got her shots. Though she is sleeping better. But keep it quiet. If she hears I’m getting some sleep she may kick things up again.

Hope you have a happy 4th of July and have lots of stories to tell and pictures to share after all the fun.

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