Easter Weekend...

Our Easter bunny made an appearance yet again on Saturday morning. Someone recently asked me how we transitioned to doing baskets on Saturday, not Sunday. It's hard to say. We started doing it this way many years ago when we only had two little kids and they didn't know the difference. We wanted Saturday morning to be baskets and candy - we wanted Sunday morning to be centered on Jesus Christ. Now, five kids later, they expect baskets on Saturday: Their favorite box of cereal, some candy and a small toy.



We attended our annual neighborhood "Ridge Run/walk". We didn't do new shirts this year, instead we were asked to wear one of the shirts from the previous years - most ended up wearing the shirt I designed for last years walk. We walked, ate breakfast and the kids did an egg hunt.







Bennett's preschool class spent the week gearing up for Easter with egg decorating, an egg hunt and some fun crafts. Cannon is currently in a phase where he feels the need to be in every picture. (Of course, except for the ones we actually want him in.) Bennett is aware of this and as we were walking in the backyard to take the picture, Bennett says, "I'll take the picture, but Cannon can't be in it."

I did my best sweet talking to get Cannon out of the picture. Then Bennett put his arm around him and started smiling. I guess he changed his mind about Cannon being in the picture with him.

Easter Sunday...

Our first Easter as a family of 7 and I'm quickly realizing trying to corral five kids for any pictures (especially when trying to keep dress clothes clean) is a lot of work and may not happen as much as I would like! Some realities are hard to swallow.

We spent our early afternoon at church, except Briggs who stayed back with family who had church at another time. Easter Sunday is so refreshing because it offers so much hope to every single one of us. I love the quote from Jeffrey R. Holland, "One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." We are never alone. This is a concept that is taught over and over again in our congregation, yet at Easter time, while focused on his last week of life, it takes on more meaning. He walked the path so that we don't have to do it alone. I love the focus of this season on his life and sacrifice.

We gathered as extended family for an Easter dinner and egg hunt. My sister-in-law is wonderful to host such a large and somewhat chaotic group every year. It is no small feat to feed 45 people even when everyone brings food.

Briggs was in snuggle heaven - there is never a shortage of people wanting to hold him.

Each year it seems as though the number of egg hiding cousins grows larger and the egg finding cousins grows smaller. We're definitely on the tail end of a large family.






Here they are - all lined up with their loot. Perhaps a little angry that they have to stop eating their candy to take a picture! But most of them were good sports about it.


After the egg hunt - as kids sorted through all of their Easter eggs - the lawn games came out. I'm not sure why this picture is so funny to me - perhaps because it might be the only place you'll see corn hole played by men in white shirts and ties!

Until next year...

Easter baskets...

This weekend we pulled out our Easter baskets for all the festivities. When we showed up to the family dinner and egg hunt this afternoon, many were impressed that Briggs already had a basket with his name on it. Then they realized that it matched perfectly with the other kids baskets. A basket that hasn't been sold in many years!

I purchased these baskets when Hallie was a toddler. In a wishful state, I purchased three pink and three blue baskets (although I never intended on having 6 kids - I was just playing the odds). And the baskets had worked out perfectly. Until...

When we found out we were having a boy last fall, Hallie was quick to point out that he was going to have to settle for a pink Easter basket because that was all we had left.

Luckily, my sister-in-law also purchased these same baskets when I purchased mine. She had one blue one left that she never used and she had kept it all these years. When we were visiting her in Denver last fall I got my hands on it and I was a little excited. Our caboose has his matching bucket with his name.



And when there this little - why not put them in their bucket!

Sunday will come...

Several years back I prepared a talk to give on Easter to our church congregation. In my preparation, I came across an impactful talk given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Sunday Will Come. He talks of our Savior's resurrection after such a dark Friday in His life and what that means for each and every one of us. Here's one of my favorite quotes from his talk.



Happy Easter weekend.

Easter Leftovers...

Just a few more pictures before we move on from Easter.

Bennett came hopping home from school one day as the cutest little bunny. He dyed eggs in class which is always fascinating to a child. Especially as they try and explain to you how the egg was white and then it wasn't.


Cannon's basket of empty eggs kept him busy for days. I often found him in the corner of the dining room taking out every egg one at a time and then putting every egg back in one at a time.



And I love that these boys have an older sister that still dresses them up and they are willing participants most of the time.


It's time for Easter decor to go back in the box. Does anyone else feel like there is a holiday lull after Easter? We're never around for 4th of July so the next decor that we put up is Halloween. The house feels somewhat naked without some seasonal decor.

Easter 2015...

The Easter bunny showed up on Saturday morning (before Easter Sunday) as he always does. He kindly avoided bringing candy however the kids were left with a water toy for the pool and a box of sugar cereal. Oddly enough, I'll take a box of sugar cereal over chocolate bunnies and jelly beans any day.

Easter Sunday, we shared breakfast with Steve's brother while we watched General Conference on TV. Later in the afternoon we went to the annual Pothier Easter dinner at Steve's brother's house. It's not easy to create a nice atmosphere for 35 people, but my sister-in-law does it in style every year and I love it. Place settings and decorations - it matches the special nature of the day.

After we were sufficiently stuffed - we hid eggs. I was just recalling to Steve that I never remember using plastic eggs when I was growing up. Instead we colored or shrink wrapped hard boiled eggs and prayed we found them all so they didn't rot and stink.

The amount of cousins finding eggs is dwindling and we seem to have more teenagers hiding than hunting.




Cannon found one egg and sat down with his surprise, completely happy and content.

And after eggs were found, Cannon was smart enough to loot his siblings baskets.






The evening weather was near perfect. If the mosquitos didn't exist it might have been perfect. But the bite on my shin and foot are a gentle reminder of their annoying nature.




All the cousins present, young and old.


This picture just cracks me up - my nephew enjoying our GoPro camera - can't wait to see the videos he created!


Before long - every egg had been opened. Candy was traded and consumed and baskets were abandoned.


We were left with a beautiful sunset - yet another gentle reminder of Easter. He is the light.