Happy Easter!!!

Happy late Easter everybody! I had high hopes for Easter this year, as I had spent quite a while over the last few months thinking about the holiday and how I would like to celebrate it as a family. A few years back, I was blessed to participate in the Mesa Arizona Temple Easter Pageant. Taking my experiences from that and from growing up surrounded by the gospel of Jesus Christ, I feel strongly to find ways to raise our family with a large focus on the gift we celebrate at Easter Time. Much like many of us feel at Christmas, wanting to really keep the true meaning of the celebration in our hearts, I have been very excited about celebrating Easter as a family. It snuck up on me a little this year and other than little conversations here and there, I didn't do much more than the traditional Easter things with the kids, but I think I am learning that teaching little ones has less to do with elaborately planned events and/or sit-down lessons than it does with the spirit of love and family that they feel from those around them. So, we had a fantastic Easter Weekend, surrounded by lots of family and fun! Forgive the LONG line of pictures; I just couldn't choose!

So, I cheated a little because this is actually the week before Easter Sunday. With so many little ones, you just never know who might be sick and unable to go to church; it's so hit and miss! So, the Sunday before I decided that, since we were all actually going to make it to church, the kids would wear their Easter clothes then! So, here they are, so precious!

Here is little Ben, a happy camper upon arrival at Grandma Teri's house for brunch and an egg hunt on Saturday!

And James is delighted to find Aunt Melissa's puppy, Ellie, visiting. I swear, there really is something about little boys and puppies. They ran around the backyard chasing each other. Ellie kept tripping over her ears and James thought it was so funny. Awww, if only I didn't value my sanity so much I would get him his very own!!!

Look at all that amazing food! Thanks, Grandma Teri!

Always happy to be eating...

Here's Bethany, getting really excited for the festivities!

In the front yard, Bethany and James play ring-a-round-the-rosies with their Cousin Brittney!

James gets first swing at the pinata since he's the youngest! He actually seemed pretty concerned about everyone urging him to hit the nice unicorn with the big metal bat...

Bethany, unscathed by the idea, as you can see...

Then, they found a safe place to hang out while the big kids took their turns...

...while Ben hung out with Grandma.

Bethany shows off her gatherings from the pinata, which finally met its end when Cousin Carrigan managed to separate the head from the body with one solid whack!

Then, on to the egg hunt! This picture is precious...their cousins are so sweet! Brittney is helping Bethany find her eggs. I think our kids ended up with more eggs than anybody because the older cousins were helping them so much! Thanks, guys!

And here is Colton pointing out a hidden egg for James.

Then Bethany really got into it and we could hardly slow her down! She ran all over the backyard, gathering eggs so excitedly that she kept tripping and dumping her basket out!

James' basket started to fill pretty quickly too, as he caught on.

This was so funny. One minute James was hunting eggs and the next, he had disappeared under this playground set where he proceeded to open all his eggs to find out what kind of treasures he had acquired. I guess that is the sort of thing that one wants to do in private.

During all the excitement, Ben chilled with his first strawberry. (No, that is not a mutated form of a strawberry, it's one of those mesh things that you put fruit inside to keep them from biting off too big a bite)

The boys hung out in the shade...

Ben, giving kisses to his new bunny rabbit...

And Bethany enjoyed her first swing on the big kid glider with Brittney!

Poor Carrigan wasn't feeling well and spent most of the morning looking longingly out the window at the festivities. We missed you, Carrigan!

Then, after a nap time at home (can't skip those, even for the holidays!), we went to Grandma Trudie's house for another egg hunt (lucky kids!) and dinner. Here is Ben sitting with Aunt Monica while the other kids get to run around and find eggs. Tough break, buddy...maybe next year!

"Found one!"

"Me too!"

"Look what we got!"

Just have to show off the adorable table setting. Great job, Grandma Trudie! Later, Monica and Grandma helped them dye Easter Eggs. Anything involving bright colors and food is good in their eyes!
Big smiles for big fun!
Destined to happen...a spill. Oops! Luckily, Grandma has been doing this for a few years - - hence the preparatory newspaper.
Awww...the egg JC made for me. I love you too, baby!
Concluding the day with some delightful duets...
...and the traditional "sit on the bench" before leaving Grandma and Grandpa's house! For some reason this started when Bethany was a baby. They always sit on the bench with Grandma before we go home. But Ben has now taken Grandma's spot apparently! All three of them were happily in their pajamas and nice and worn out for a good night's sleep. What a great day!

And, for those of you who are wondering, only Daddy made it to church the next day! Thank goodness for having predicted that! We hope everyone's holiday was grand!