Dye-ing to decorate eggs

On Good Friday, after the cake was baked, eggs boiled and cooled, vacuum cleaner pushed down to my neighbor's house so she could borrow, the kids and I prepared to dye eggs. This is always a fun time, a little messy, a little trying at times - the kids enjoy it SO so much, though.

My table was covered in newspaper (makes for easier clean-up, especially this year!), our cups and bowls all set out, vinegar and tablets added, then the water. (And I usually struggle with having enough dishes the right size. This year I grabbed some plastic containers I had held on to and they worked great! They weren't too deep or too wide. It was sour cream & a feta cheese dish, about the 16 oz size.)

Then, we got down to business!

Ella Grace & Major made some beautiful eggs.


I forgot to mention Ella Grace decided to have her own "backwards shirt day". She intentionally put on and wore she shirt backwards ALL day! Love my girl!




These are Ella Grace's. She had some very creative ideas. The teal egg on the left has a cross made out of sequins. The purple one at the bottom has a heart (half sequins/half glitter).
These belong to Major. The blue one at the bottom has a smiley face!

And after they were decorated, Major was quick to grab a paper plate, peal and eat two of his eggs! Just like that. What a simple snack!

Ella Grace followed suit. This was her favorite egg (and I think mine, too). The top is yellow and she had me put a "J" on it for Jesus. The bottom-half is red with an "R" for resurrection and a cross on it.
Have I mentioned my kids have the best hearts?!

Hallelujah, Christ arose!

Our favorite song to sing at Easter is

"Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes; He arose a victor from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign;

He AROSE, He AROSE, Hallelujah Christ AROSE!"

Kids love it, too!

So, that is what we woke up singing Easter morning and throughout the day.

Babes were so excited that their Easter baskets were filled with some fun things. To show we put no emphasis on the "Easter bunny", my sweeties have never had their picture made with the Easter bunny, and Major didn't even remember the night before that he would sit his basket out and when I reminded him he asked "what for?" Love 'em!

A few little goodies they got - more bug collectin' stuff for my outdoorsy little guy! (And he has already put a frog in the big thing!)

A couple pieces of change for each, a pair of fun socks, a notebook & headband for my princess, and of course some yummy, sugary snacks!

My handsome husband with our two ADORABLE kiddos!


Doesn't get any better than this!
And after church we hunted eggs around the yard. They had the best time.








Daddy stole my Kindle and read in the driveway. Trying to sun his legs! :)
Afterwards, we joined up with our neighbors and ate a late lunch together. All the munchkins went swimming (too cold for the adults!). We saw blue lips and chattering teeth, but they kept going back for more!

Hidden Eggs

At the end of March, yes March, I took Major to a local park where the MOPS group I belong to held their annual Easter Egg Hunt. It started at 10:00 on a Friday morning, and so after little Ella Grace was taken to school, Major and I headed out.

I helped set up a few things, while Major spent the interim playing. Of course the slides were wet - but, you know that towel that many moms keep under car seats? Well, mine came to the rescue once again. Our slides were water-free! Major even surprised me with a new trick:


Yes, now I have two blister-handed kids, who swing their legs in crazy ways so as to keep the momentum up and move along those bars. Can't believe it.

After making a fruit loop necklace, decorating an egg-shaped cut out with foam stickers and crayons and then icing & decorating a cookie, it was time. Time for the best part. The hunt.
Lining up - backs against the fence...



Checking out his prizes!


After all was done, it was time to climb up the rock wall for a little snack.


Fun stuff!

Easter (continued)

I am kind of behind on the posting, but want to make sure I have it all in!

The Saturday before Easter we participated in an egg hunt at the church we have visited several times. There were tickets for games, face painting, inflatables, sno cones, funnel cakes (my personal favorite!), hot dogs, etc. It was a really fun day!

Ella Grace and Major each had an egg painted on their arm, and then participated in age-divided egg hunts.

Isn't she a doll?

I forgot to take a picture a few days before of Major's eye - just a little incident playing around the house!



For two weeks leading up to Easter, we replaced our Bible story time with reading a short story and opening a resurrection egg. I think this was our third year to do the eggs and they love them! The bunny also visited the kids and brought them a few special treats.

In their Easter buckets, they each received a wipe-off book (numbers or letters) and a Tag book, along with a few pieces of candy!


Who knew PEZ could elicit so much excitement!?
Yes! Fancy Nancy!!
My sweet, sweet kids!

My boys and girl!

We really enjoyed the service at church - lots of music and a message. Ella Grace even had a puppet named Jo-Jo Bean come to her class! She is still talking about that thing!

We came home and worked around the house a little, then enjoyed a late lunch - ham, deviled eggs, beans, homemade macaroni & cheese, and coconut cake for dessert!

Eggs, hunts and swim

April 14 swim lessons - the kids were splashing, swimming and really enjoying the class.
Major is kicking hard to reach Ms. Debbie!


Face is underwater!

On Friday, April 15 the kids & I joined the MOPS group for an egg hunt and picnic lunch at a local park/campground. There were lots of kids and it was lots of fun!

What's an egg hunt if you can't ride on a dinosaur?


Or climb a rock wall?
Lining up for the 5 year old egg hunt...


Major lining up for the 3 year old hunt...

Major collected more eggs than he was allotted. I had to break the news to him that he had to return some of them. Rather than trying to re-distribute them across the area, he and Ella Grace took the liberty of just dumping them out in one spot. Oh, well!


Afterward, they had to cool off and enjoy some candy!


On April 18, the kids & I boiled our eggs, got the dye tablets out and put on large shirts over our clothes. It was time we dyed our Easter eggs!

Major was quick about it - in/out and done!

Ella Grace took her time. She was only on her 2nd or 3rd egg when Major finished his 6th!

I love these two!