Easter Weekend

We had a delightful Easter weekend. It started off with going to the Eggstravaganza at church. The girls enjoyed dressing up in fancy dresses and carrying their Easter baskets. We got there early enough to do all the activities (cookie decorating, balloon animals, face painting) before the egg hunts started. The egg hunts were broken up by age group - we were lucky enough to have one kid per hunt! The eggs were hidden downstairs in the youth room because it was rainy and wet outside. Molly was first and did great after some initial hesitation. Eliza jumped right in and gathered up lots of eggs when it was her turn. Hayden flew around the room collecting eggs with the big kids and stayed looking until the very last egg was found. We recycled all the eggs (i.e. gave them back) after dumping out their contents. Who knew jelly beans were SO exciting?!

Molly reaching for me before getting into the egg hunt.

Molly's loot

balloon animals - H has a flower (out of the picture), E has a bunny and M has a pony

E had easy pickings with eggs scattered on the couches

Eliza's loot - and a special favorite

Hayden in action

H with her spoils

Molly's so sad face when she was denied any more jelly beans

In the afternoon we dyed Easter eggs at our house with Grandma and Popop as specially requested guests. No pictures of that but the eggs did turn out pretty. (FYI, if you buy dye on sale the year before, it still works the following year!) Hayden talked on and on about how excited she was to eat the hardboiled eggs. We even had to let her open one up at dinner time b/c she was so desperate to eat one!

On Sunday morning, we woke up and the girls were delighted to find their Easter baskets filled with goodies. We got breakfast prepared and into the oven (hashbrown sausage casserole) while the girls had a little yogurt. While the girls got dressed (in Easter finery, even though we weren't going to church), I hid 60 plastic eggs and 14 real eggs out in the front yard. In a matter of minutes all but 1 egg had been found, 1 giant tantrum had been had, and many jelly beans had been eaten.

Easter baskets - a chocolate bunny, a little bit of candy and a toy for each

E brought her bunny down to share in the fun

M wore the bunny hat (thanks Lori!) to go with her pig-jamas

exploding with excitement as the egg hunt is about to begin!

M finds an egg beneath the peony sprouts

E hurries to an egg

found another one! (love how her basket, boots and dress coordinate!)

action shot - H hurries to find more eggs

look! I found two hardboiled eggs!

where oh where are the eggs?

E saying something goofy

M posing for me - don't know why she tilted!

reach up high! they weren't very good about looking UP for eggs.

Blizz sniffed around in the beginning but quickly decided it wasn't worth the energy

an unmown and weedy lawn means so many more hiding places!

family game time with our new hungry, hungry hippos

no bonnets, but they still look pretty cute on Easter!

We then enjoyed a delicious brunch (casserole, homemade NY-style crumb cake, and fruit salad). Afterwards it was such a lovely day that Grandma and Popop stuck around to go for a walk back to the playground in the new development with us. The girls had a blast playing "run from the sea monster - (i.e. Jason)" and running around the playground.  Even Blizzard got into the fun.

apparently she has to shut her eyes when I take her picture on the swings

enjoying the swings and sunshine

Hayden - captain of the ship

Blizz wanted to escape the sea monster too

Molly in sea monster jail

holding hands as we walked back home

sister love

After quiet time, we headed over to Grandma and Popop's for Easter dinner. Dinner was delicious and everyone was in a good mood. We even managed a family photo shoot on the deck after dinner with everyone smiling!

E gets goofy

snuggles with Popop

dresses and boots - totally on trend :)

Happy Easter from our family to yours!