Easter 2013

The BEST yet! I am a stickler for traditions.  As a child, I remember the Easter Bunny always making a trail of jelly beans from our bedrooms to our Easter Baskets.  It was fun and exciting and I always looked forward to waking up in the morning and following that trail to see what was at the end and what the Easter Bunny left behind.  The Easter Bunny did this last year as well, but I think it was more for my pleasure instead of Harlen's because Harlen had no idea what was going on and could really care less.  However, this year was different!  Harlen loved it and so did his mommy.  I jumped out of bed as soon as I heard Harlen start to stir, which was later than usual (best Easter present his mommy and daddy could have gotten).  I ran in his room and he immediately looked down at the jelly beans and pointed with an excited look on his face (why did I not have my camera or video rolling?) and said "whats that" "Bunny" which totally made my day.  He got it right away and was so excited to get a closer look.  I sat him down on the floor and he asked if he could have one, "I have one?"  Sure, why not?  It was only 8 in the morning and what better way to start off Easter than with candy?  We ran in to our room and grabbed daddy and started to follow the beans to see where the trail ended.  To be honest, he really cared more about the jelly beans than the basket.  I think Harlen has a little of his Mommy's sweet tooth, but what 2 year old doesn't.  He slowly went through his basket and inspected each thing asking what each thing was.  After the basket, I convinced him to eat a little yogurt and grapes to get something with a little nutritious value in him before he broke into a full on sugar buzz.  The hubs made brunch for all of us and we enjoyed a great Easter morning/afternoon together.  I am honestly SO blessed and on top of the moon about my little family.  I have never been happier and honestly felt so much joy. 

The Easter Bunny's Trail from his room to the Family Room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harlen watching trains, serious business, on the computer while daddy makes brunch!

 

 

At around 4, our family came over for dinner and an Easter egg hunt.  The Papas and Chris hid the eggs while we were waiting on my sister and her family to arrive and then the hunt was on.  Harlen was so serious about it.  We prepped him for most of the day about what an egg hunt is and how to put them in your basket.  He did great!  As soon as we said "GO!" he got up and ran towards the first egg he saw.  What I forgot to tell him was that there was candy on the inside.  He immediately picked it up and shook it and got excited to see what was inside.  It took a little while to get him to understand that you put as many eggs in your basket as you can and then open them up once the hunt is over.  Our nephew, Colton, is almost 5.  He is a pro at egg hunting but decided that he was going to make it a little more difficult on himself and decided to only pick up certain eggs.  They had to be camo, except for the "golden egg."  Because of Coltons decision to pick up a particular egg, this left the whole yard for Harlen to hunt.  Harlen was dedicated and did not stop till every egg in the yard was in his basket(s). Yes, baskets.  He had to use two because he gathered that many eggs.  It was adorable to see him lug the full basket around the yard.  He wanted absolutely no help toting it around which made for some hysterical grunts and moans and comments - "ugh, this heavy", "too heavy". 

 

Once the egg hunt was over, we got dinner set out and ready to be served.  I MADE MY FIRST TURKEY!  Phew!  I was a little, well a lot, nervous that it would be dry and taste awful, but to my surprise it was GREAT and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  I asked everyone to bring a side because I could not imagine, nor have the space in my small kitchen, to cook a full meal for everyone and enjoy the holiday with my boys.  It worked out great!  We all got to have dinner, spend quality time with our loved ones, and have both sides of our families together.  Chris and I started hosting Easter at our house when Harlen was first born, this was our 3rd one.  We had always gone from one side of the family to the other to make sure that we spend equal amount of time with each one and it was too much when we first had Harlen.  Harlen was only about 6 weeks for his first Easter and I could not imagine spending my first holiday going from place to place so we decided to bring everyone to us and it has stuck.  I am so happy that our families get along so well and we can all enjoy each other and truly celebrate moments like this together.

 

Colton (top left) 5 years old in May, Hudson (below Colton) almost 5 months, and Harlen (far right) 2 years old.

 

 

Some of the spectators

 

 

We had an amazing day and I feel truly blessed to be able to be here, feel loved and spend the day with my favorite people.

 

He has Risen!

Mark 16:1-7

And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.'"