Easter 2015

Friday we spent the day together as a family.  Jared and I woke up early and drank coffee together while the rain pounded the window panes and plalyed Splendor (a newly purchased game).  I made creamed eggs (saving some eggs for dying), blueberry cream cheese danishes, and empty tombs for breakfast.  We played more games of Splendor (in my family growing up, it didn't feel like a holiday unless there were games played) after I put Lila down for her nap.  When she refused to sleep, I heated up some leftover pizza for a quick lunch, and we headed to Cooks Creek Park to swing, slide, and feed the ducks.  The forecast didn't look good, but we decided to chance it anyhow.

When we got home, Lila took a long nap and it worked out in our favor.  She was decently behaved that evening when we went to church for the Good Friday service.

Saturday morning we returned to church for an egg hunt!  It happened so fast, I didn't get a good picture.  Lila had a very hard time putting the eggs and candy in the basket and going for more.  She wanted to eat it immediately :).  At one point, she saw a Reese's cup, said "chocolate!" and put the twizzler and smarties back down on the floor to free her hands up for chocolate!  She knows what is good!
We were fortunate to discover another egg on Sunday morning that had been missed.  Lila was thrilled!!

Making new friends and enjoying a snack while guarding and admiring the precious baskets.
Apparently, the bigger the basket, the more candy you end up with :).  

Borrowed bunny ears

  

These are the empty tombs that we made.  We filled crescent roll dough with marshmallows (Jesus) rolled in butter and cinnamon sugar.  After baking, Jesus disappears.  He's Alive!!  Lila seemed to understand somewhat :).  I think this will become a tradition.  A tasty lesson.

Saturday afternoon egg dying.  She wanted to wear her bowtie "like Papa."  

We dyed a total of 5 eggs with food coloring, boiling water, vinegar and crayons.  It seemed that the water was too hot, and actually melted the crayon.  I probably won't buy another egg dye kit.  Love how brilliant the colors came out!  Here Lila is pointing to her favorite egg.

My mom's family got together Saturday evening for a potluck supper and games in the gym.  Lila had a wonderful time getting to know Mama's cousins kids.  I wish I would've taken a picture of her with 2nd cousin, Emily.  They played together and Lila kept saying "goodbye Emily" long after Emily was gone.  I love how she is learning to enjoy other children!  

Christ is Risen!  Christ is Risen Indeed!
We talked about this on the way to church.  She got pretty good at making the response and remembering the indeed.
This was one of the most perfectly timed sunrise services I have experienced!  It was gorgeous.  And the moon that we admired on the way to church was lovely too.  What an amazing creator and savior we serve!

She decided that the blue one was her favorite egg.  She hated to put it down to find the others :).

Waiting for Papa to hide the eggs, learning to pronounce forsythia.

That's a hidey egg!

A sweet Easter gift from her Sunday School teacher.

This egg was my and Jared's favorite :).  The white is from rubber bands.  All of the eggs look like this (or worse).  I did let her dissect one in the yard after we finished finding them numerous times.

Baby Love is a new store in the mall that we visited recently.  They have a preschool lesson time, and this split pea chick and the clothespin egg and chick were two of the activities that morning.  I made the egg carton flower lights with melted crayons during naptime last week.

Flowers from the sunrise service breakfast

I believe I mentioned in my last post that one of Lila's favorite songs right now is "Holy, Holy, Holy"
She exclaims often these days, "God Almighty!"  from the song.
Today I heard her singing, and when I focused on the words, I heard her sing "blessed Trinity", which are the last two words of the first verse.  It is amazing what she picks up without being taught!

We also learned that Lila will eat all of her food, if she has an incentive (chocolate or popsicles).