Easter 2011

With the kids being older, holidays are even more fun. This year we decided to have a family night on Friday to talk about the meaning of Easter. We really want to teach our kids the importance of certain holidays and why we celebrate them.

So, Liv and I decided to make Easter cookies for our family night.

Then Kate woke up from her nap and helped us decorate.

She was actually interested in helping and didn't cry as much as I thought when I told her she couldn't have any until after dinner.

I don't think we were very successful in teaching the kids the meaning of Easter. The conversation started out like this:

Daddy: "Why do we celebrate Easter?"

Liv: "So we can find Easter eggs for people that don't have any."

Then on Easter Sunday I asked Liv why we celebrate Easter and she said it was Jesus' birthday.

I think we'll keep trying.

Our family tradition is having Easter traditions on Saturday. We decided that we wanted Sunday to be about the real meaning of Easter, and not have any distractions from church.

So, Saturday after lunch the kids got their Easter baskets.

(Daddy had to work Saturday morning)

We have been investing holiday money into books instead of candy and I think it's working out well. The kids love books...and candy. But the books last a lot longer.

Alivia was over the moon with excitement. I've actually been trying to decide what her love language is lately and I think it may be gifts.

She got:

The book Silverlicious

Tangled, the movie

a diary

new minnie mouse panties

Cinderella socks

a few little books

a chocolate bunny

other little candies

Kate was over the moon with the candy in her basket. That girl has one serious sweet tooth.

Kate got:

The original Fancy Nancy book

Megamind, the movie

a Sesame Street coloring book

a few other little books

Ariel socks

a dress up set w/a necklace, bracelet, gloves, and a purse

a chocolate bunny and some other little candies

Carter was somewhat interested in his basket, especially the noises everything made when he was banging things together. It must be a boy thing :)

He got:

a baby book and a bigger book about cars and tractors

new leather shoes

he got a new movie that may or may not have been for Daddy :)

he will like it someday, I'm sure

and he also got candy, but since he is too little for candy, he had to share w/mommy & daddy

After the kids dissected their baskets they went looking for eggs

It took Kate a little while to catch on, so daddy helped her

I saved egg cartons for them to collect the eggs in. I have yet to dye actual eggs with the kids because it's such a mess and I have so many memories of blue hands for a week. And they haven't asked, so the candy filled ones work just fine.

I told Kate to smile, and she gave me a pose haha!

We spent the rest of the day watching movies.

I spent a while making things for the kids Easter outfits, but I'm saving those for a later day.

We had Salmon and mashed potatoes for dinner. I didn't think the kids would eat much fish, boy was I wrong. It was a good holiday spent together. I think we will do it again (: