Easter...full fledged!

I love Easter. I love the cute springy decorations, the sweet little ones in their Easter garb, the dyeing of eggs, the hunting of eggs, the eating around the table with everyone (minus Dr. Husband this year...thanks to calving! We saved him some food!) Mostly, absolute most, I love the story of Jesus. He became human, with a breakable body, to be tortured and killed for our sins. Because of His love for us.  I love Him so much.

 Getting ready to kick off the egg dyeing! Goofing off in our excitement!

 Not our most flattering picture but we had fun...so that's where Ly gets the 'lips!'

She loved scribbling on them then dunking it right in the green. I love chubby baby hands!

     This is P's 3rd year of dyeing eggs...every year he turns out that color! Every year! Look who's clean...the one year old!

Now we have a jolly set of eggs to eat! Yummola!

Saturday we participated in the area Easter Pageant. The kids and I were in a scene where the children run to Jesus and the disciples try to push them away. But Jesus tells them to come. Matthew 19:13-15.

 (P was embarrassed to be in a dress...until he saw EVERY OTHER man in a dress!)

Yeah she had like 18 layers on to fight the cold wind!

Daddy was a disciple and a member of the mob. It was really fun to all be dressed and in character. (Sorry didn't get a family picture!)

I was so blessed by the entire pageant, but especially the scene we were in. There were several children to be apart of this scene. We were to go up and 'play games' then when we saw Jesus we were supposed to run up the hill to him. But when it was our turn the kids just took off. Bookin it. They were so excited to see Jesus. One little one tripped over his robe and biffed it. (His mama was close by and he was ok and took off to see Jesus) And I realized that that should be our attitude...Take off running to meet Jesus everyday. Sometimes we'll fall but Jesus will be right there to pick us up. Every. Single. Time. I feel like I have a new view...a new ambition, if you will. To run to Jesus...to stop playing games and just book it up to my Savior trusting that when I trip on my robes, He'll be there to pick me up and love me, just like that Mama did for her boy.

Lyla loved the lambs and she was so good at imitating them! It was darling. She had fallen asleep but woke up for the scene and when she saw daddy as a disciple she kept saying, "Hi Dada. Hi Dada."

P was so bummed we didn't actually get to meet Jesus. And he was concerned the 'Philistines' aka Roman Soldiers were going to actually kill Pastor Gene (portraying Jesus)....that's how real this was. But all in all I think he enjoyed watching it and getting to talk to the pretend Jesus. Oh yeah and playing ninja with all the other little boys. At one point between practice and the show, the pretty little garden of metal statues/crosses was draped with like 8 little boys' robes.

If you do not know the story of Jesus, you are missing out. He came to Earth as a lowly baby, lived as a lowly carpenter, died on a cross accused of sin that he did not commit. BUT He rose again! Death and the grave and our sin on His shoulders could not hold him down! And He did all this for you! Reach out and accept His gift of Salvation.

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful! I'm so glad that Easter Sunday was sunny and bright. That's how I picture the scene of Jesus' resurrection....the opposite of dark.

We enjoyed a day of hunting eggs, eating and spending time with family....there's lots of moments I didn't capture on camera...darn batteries dying on Easter! But here's what I did capture.

 I whipped up his tie before church yesterday...(using a variation of the pattern found HERE) I didn't whipstitch the back...i used a heat bond adhesive to hold it closed....I also cut it out so the print is upside down. It's not perfect. But it's cute!)

 I

I call my kids 'baby' sometimes, as in, 'Here's your sippy, Baby' or 'Bye, Baby' so she stood at the driveway saying, "Bye Baby." In her jelly shoes and pearl necklace.

Did I mention I love Easter garb!?

 Little man just wanted to show me his big daddy rifle gun. I exclaimed. He was happy!

Oh yeah I totally just posted a picture of my Sunflower Cake (thanks Pinterest) on my blog along with my family pictures...when you're proud, you're proud! So pretty!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday! (Don't watch for any blogs for a little while. Mommy has some HUGE projects coming this week!....hoping for a new little 'niece'...any day now Sweet Pea!)