This week was an intense week of preparation for a smooth and activity-filled Easter celebration. I'll admit I struggle with giving proper thought to Passion Week since having children. It always seems like shoppingfordinneringredientsandbasketstuffersanddevotionalsearchingandfillingeggs week. Saturday night found me sitting down to watch the final four and complete the final "Easter preparation task": filling dozens of plastic eggs with a single jellybean each. The kids' baskets were pleasantly filled.
So were Mommy's and Daddy's, although with more adult treats. The Rommegrot, a traditional Norwegian rice porridge we always have for holiday breakfasts, was warming in the crockpot overnight. The ingredients for Moroccan Lamb Stew were laid out in the fridge and the lamb bone broth was finishing its boil on the stove. The Easter Lily was blooming on the kitchen island. The Easter activity books and Sunday devotional were ready to go. The kids' Easter church clothes and afternoon egg hunting clothes were located and laid out. I don't always overachieve, but when I do.......
The girls woke at seven and got their step stools to help Mommy make the eggs and cook the sausages. Then we enjoyed our festive Easter breakfast.
Mommy and Daddy were already dressed for church, but we let the kids enjoy the meal in their pj's. No sense in letting donut custard spoil their Easter clothes.
I couldn't stop taking pictures, and I couldn't decide which ones to post. It's SO nice to have the kids smiling, posing for nice pictures, and cheerfully shouting "He is Risen!!!"
This picture pretty much sums up the Easter basket hunt. Devon was not happy because the girls got toys in their Easter baskets and he wanted all the toys for himself. It was a hard adjustment for him to not be the center of attention after his birthday.
"Yep," said Mommy. "That's why Jesus had to come to save you, buddy!"
Easter was a bit of a hard day for Mommy. The breakfast was eaten, the festive clothes were worn, the baskets were distributed, church was attended, naps were resisted, the Moroccan Lamb Stew and biscuits were enjoyed, the chocolate bunnies disappeared, the eggs were hunted not once but twice. All that effort made the day go smoothly, and yet there was a lot of complaining and not a lot of compliments. It kind of hurt.
Yep, Mommy, your pride is wounded. You'd like someone to say that your family looks nice in their Easter clothes and breakfast was delicious and the baskets were very thoughtful and the stew was perfection and it must have taken an hour to find and fill all those eggs. You love your family so much that you've exhausted yourself to make this day special and you'd like someone to notice and say thanks.
And that's why Jesus had to come to save you, too.
Church was a highlight. It was our first Easter at Cornerstone. Last year we hadn't yet found our church. This year the girls actually took the stage to sing "I am Jesus's Little Lamb" with the other kids. I'm kind of amazed, as they're usually pretty shy about up front activities. Of course, I had to go up on stage with them and lip sync to the song I didn't know. Having the girls wear leggings under their Easter dresses saved the show. When Carrie gets nervous, she sucks her right thumb and sticks her left pointer finger in her belly button. This calms her down. This maneuver would also have displayed her My Little Pony Panties for everyone to see, had she not had some bloomers on underneath. Whew!!!
The Easter egg hunts did go well, though. It was a lovely, warm evening and we reveled in the short sleeve weather.
Devon wore his pajamas. Yes, he still changes when given the chance.
That's my favorite action shot of this year's hunt. Afterwards, the kids sat down to enjoy opening and eating the candy. It was a perfect finish to a lovely day.
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