Weekend Update: Part Two-Easter

Easter through the eyes of a child is precious.  We didn't really do a lot for Easter last year, since Rusty was so small.  We basically had a nice lunch with Kev's parents, they gave him a book, and that was it.  This year was a little different.

I have always really loved Easter.  First of all, I love what it is all truly about.  Jesus is RISEN!  He is risen indeed!

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
 ⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
 ⁶"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
 ⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.  Mark 16:1-8

I love the joy that comes with knowing this.  I love the tears that come to my eyes every time I read or hear that story.  I love that the stone was rolled away!

I also love the other fun stuff that comes with Easter.  I have happy memories of Easter as a child.  My mom and my aunties always put on a huge Easter egg hunt for my cousins and I.  Each year we went to a pre-determined house and one of our aunts would keep all of us kids in the house with all of the curtains closed while the rest of the aunties were outside hiding the eggs.  Plastic eggs full of goodies, hard-boiled eggs, and a series of prize eggs containing money-our hunt was SERIOUS stuff!  I couldn't wait for it every year.

I also always loved the new Easter outfit.  Pretty dresses with ruffles, big hats, and maybe new shoes completed the ensemble.  Although I was not a huge girly girl, I did really like getting all dressed up for Easter Sunday.

My mom always made sure that we dyed Easter eggs.  Some years they were elaborate, including waxy crayons to make designs.  Other years they were simple food coloring and vinegar water dye jobs.  It was exciting to see those cups lined up with their beautiful colors, to dip the eggs in and watch them come out transformed.  I always learned that the transformation of the eggs was much like the transformation of our hearts when we receive Christ as our Savior.

All of these wonderful traditions made me look forward to Easter with my own children some day.  This year, the time had finally arrived.  I started looking into Rusty's Easter basket weeks ago!  It started with an adorable find of a monkey basket at Michael's that I couldn't pass up, and ended with the fluff, froot Loop filled eggs, and other goodies.

Our Easter did not disappoint.  Ready yourselves for the pictures my friend, because here we go!  This was one of the best parts of my weekend, and we still have another day to go!

Dyeing Easter eggs is a right of passage for a kid...at least where I am from!  I couldn't wait to do this with Rusty this year.  I wasn't sure if he would like it much, but I had to try!

I prepped everything ahead of time.  I lined up the cups filled with food coloring and vinegar water, cooled the eggs, prepped the towel, and set Rusty up.  He wasn't so sure about it.  Once I showed him what we were doing, it was on!  He would say "Go!" as I dropped each egg into its cup and then we counted to 20 together on my fingers.  One...two...three...four...you get the picture.  He could hardly wait the 20 seconds for the eggs to be done.  When I pulled out that first colored egg and saw the look of joy on his face it was all worth it!

He was so excited to see the eggs and I was impressed that he actually made it through the entire process, even down to lining them up in the carton again when we were done!  Auntie Lee lee was here to help out, and I appreciated her enthusiasm too!

The finished product was pretty fantastic.  Check them out...and Rusty's Easter basket too!

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We decided to surprise Kev's parents and attend their church service today.  We go to a different church, and although we love ours, the schedule wasn't quite working out.  I had to do nursery this morning, and after considering how much joy it would bring them to attend church with them-and give them a chance to show off their only grandson-we decided to head their way.  They loved it!  What a fun time, and a wonderful message!       

 

One fun thing about their church is that it is the church Kevin attended as a child.  It is always neat to see the people that watched him grow up come and enjoy seeing him now as a father.  The church is also located a minute or two walk from the hospital where both Rusty AND his dad were born!  I had to snap a photo with them today.  I was feeling nostalgic, remembering that day 19 months ago that this precious miracle came into our lives. 

After church it was home to try to get a nap in-he was so excited from the time with Nana and Papa that it took us over an hour to settle him into his nap!  I finally had to go in and snuggle him a bit to get him to settle...of course I didn't mind that!

We were pretty pumped for the afternoon to come.  I wanted to do an Easter egg hunt for the little man, and I hoped-oh how I hoped!-that he would enjoy it!  We know that he always has fun at Nana and Papa's, and looked forward to just enjoying this special holiday with them. Kev took charge of hiding the eggs, and he did a good job!  They were visible, but not just lying on the grass.  Can you spot the one in the tree?  

Once Rusty was outside, Nana and Papa took charge of helping him hunt while Kev and I recorded every, single moment on film-both video AND camera!  This was a special moment!  Our munchkin's FIRST Easter egg hunt!

He loved it!  He zipped around the yard, spotting one egg right from the start.  With just minimal instruction from the rest of us he found ALL of the eggs...even the one in the tree!  He was even more pleased once he got inside and figured out what was IN the eggs-his favorite animal crackers!  Since it was a special day, we spoiled him with two cookies before dinner, and another after.  Talk about joy!

Rusty LOVES his routine at Nana and Papa's house.  He spends a lot of time there, since they are one of our major forms of daycare, and he loves them so much.  Whenever we get there, he must start his routine right away.  If we are just dropping him off he barely pauses to say goodbye!  It's up the stairs to the computer up there, then it's jumping on his daddy's old bed, playing various games with Papa, watching kids' songs on Papa's computer...he was very excited to take us through the routine with him today.  I especially enjoyed the kisses between the stair banisters!

Easter also means...Easter baskets!  Nana and Papa added another wonderful book to Rusty's collection, and his FIRST bit of chocolate-a Lindt bunny!  We will see how he likes that tomorrow!  We enjoyed watching him help them open his present to them...a shapes puzzle to keep at their house!  They are so patient with him, and they love to teach him new things.  We knew that this puzzle would be a good thing for them to have around!

I was finally able to sit with my little munchkin and help him discover the treasures of his Easter basket.  He pulled out the Froot Loop filled eggs first and was thrilled!  He popped them right open, scattering Froot Loops EVERYWHERE!  He loves that cereal, but never gets it because I think its too much sugar in the morning!  He one time saw me eating them and asked for a bite, and loved them.  I knew it would be a good Easter treat.

It was a precious day,  full of fun, good memories, and a wonderful reminder of the love of our Father.  We are blessed indeed!

Okay, and this picture has nothing to do with Easter, but CHECK OUT his jumping skills!  All this kid does lately is play hockey or jump, and jump, and jump.  Today he was showing off by leaping off of the little ledge from the dining room to the living room.  I caught him mid air!  Look at how his little tongue is out...aw, I love him!

Happy Easter everyone!