Easter Sunday

This morning we woke up a little extra early in order to be ready for Church AND let the kids find their Easter Baskets.

After they were all ready, we (just like last year) had a scavenger hunt to find their baskets. Makenna, the little stinker, was like, “Umm, but I know where the baskets are. They are in the front room behind the couch!” Well too bad, little girl, we are doing the scavenger hunt anyway!!! : )

Before I let them have their last clue that led to their baskets, we stopped for a little while to talk about the true meaning of Easter.

Oh, and I have to share this story first. Last Monday for FHE, we talked about Easter and the Resurrection. Then we watched one of the illustrated stories on LDS.org.  The kids really seemed to by soaking up the story. The next day, I overheard the kids talking as they were playing outside. I was at the computer at the time, so I quickly typed down exactly what Makenna was saying: "Max, we have to be good so we don't make Heavenly Father and Jesus sad! Remember how Jesus was sad? Jesus prayed to Heavenly Father. Then the bad guys came and got Jesus and they put him on that big stick and put round nails in his hands and his feet! And then he got died! But Heavenly Father wasn't sad cause He knew Jesus would be alive again!"

This morning we talked about that story again. As a mom, it just makes my heart so happy to hear my kids telling me stories about Jesus. They already have strong testimonies of the gospel!!! (Though when Max was asked in nursery today what Easter was all about he said, “Bunnies!” Ha ha, we try right?)

After our discussion, the kids found their baskets just where Makenna said—in the front room behind the couch.

I definitely did NOT go overboard with Easter gifts this year! They each just got a couple of little gifts and that was it for us!

It wasn’t much, but they still seemed pretty excited about everything.

 

After baskets, we still had a couple minutes left to take a few pictures of the kids in their Easter clothes.

Makenna is wearing a dress from Grandma Becky. She actually got another dress from my mom as well, but she will wear it next Sunday (I’ll post pictures of it next week). She is also wearing her bunny rabbit necklace and earrings:

Max’s outfit is from my mom:

Pretty cute kids!

Once again, I didn’t take pictures of me or Austin. : ) Even though, I actually did have a new outfit! My mom got me a skirt, and I picked up my top while we were running errands yesterday. Austin just stuck with his nicer suit. : )

We were gone ALL DAY LONG yesterday! After our Easter Egg Hunt, brunch, and playing in the park, we ran a few errands, went with a realtor to see two houses, got lunch, ran another errand, went to a wedding reception, ran home for showers, and then Austin and I went on a date night while the kids were at a friend’s house. The kids didn’t get a nap yesterday AND they went to bed late last night AND they got up extra early today. Needless to say, they were EXHAUSTED at church today! So because of that, Austin missed most of Sacrament meeting while he took a screaming Max out, and then I missed all of Sunday School while Max finished his tantrums. But what we heard of Church was good! : )

After Church and lunch, we took brief naps and went to a friend’s house for a potluck Easter dinner. It was a sunny day out, so all of the kids ate outside:

The adults ate inside and afterwards the kids played for a little while while the adults sat around talking. It was definitely a nice time, and we are grateful for friends to spend the holidays with!!!

After we got home, we watched the Easter story one more time. This time around Makenna had a really great question, “Why did Heavenly Father let Jesus die?” Seriously, this girl is SUCH a thinker! How many four year olds really ponder the gospel that much?!? But we were able to talk with the kids a little more about the Atonement and it was really another great time with them. It ended our Easter on a great note!!!