{Here Comes Peter Cottontail}

***WARNING: THIS POST IS LOOOOONG AND FULL OF MANY, MANY PHOTOS.***

What happened to last month? I had resolved to blog more often this year, yet last month I blogged a whopping TWO times. And I had plenty to share with you. Here's the deal. March was my first month on the Scrap Matters site CT (creative team), and since it's a six month contract I'm trying to do as much as I can with my time. Normally I'll scrap one or two layouts a week. Last month I created a new layout almost every day. Some days I even did two or three. I'm having the best time doing this, but other duties have had to go on the backburner. Like blogging. And laundry.

So today, in my lame attempt to make up for my inactivity in blogland, I'm giving you a mega post. You are about to witness the ins and outs of our Easter festivities, complete with a whole slew of photos. Are you ready? Here we go!

Let's begin with the Children's Celebration we had at church last Saturday (March 27th). The morning began with crafts for the kids, which you know were a big hit. Then the children were divided into various age groups and taken from room to room where the Easter story was told.

This was the first room, where Jesus rode the donkey down the street lined with cloaks and palm leaves. We went from room to room learning about all the activities that led up to Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the grave. It was very well-done, and I even learned a thing or two!

Next we all went outside for the big egg hunt.

It was a cold day, but as soon as the girls started hunting those eggs they forgot all about the temperature.

Thanks to all those who put so much effort into making the Easter story come alive for the kids!

The next evening we celebrated Easter with Cory's mother's side of the family. I think the highlight of the night was the pooping toys Me-Me and G-G (Cory's mother and grandmother) got for all the kids. We now have a pooping bunny, chick and cow to add to the others from years past.

Thanks to Me-Me and Pap for a great evening of yummy food and conversation!

And I can't resist sharing this photo of my adorable nephew, Jude. The hair, the freckles, the dimples . . . he is just too darn cute. And he knows it.

This photo actually has nothing to do with Easter, but it's my blog and I want to put it here. So there. :)

There's few things that will melt my heart like the sight of a little boy clinging to his daddy and looking up to him for encouragement. Dixon has just started to pull himself up and stand. When I glanced over at him at this moment and saw him doing this, I got a bit choked up. I want another baby.

Alright, let's move on. Sasha's kindergarten class colored eggs the morning I volunteered in the classroom last week. She made one pink egg and one blue egg. They are currently sitting on our counter, likely rotting and getting ready to stink up the joint. But I can't throw them away, right?

That same day Clara's class had their egg hunt. So after an hour at Sasha's school Dixon and I headed to Clara's preschool for some more egg fun.

Is she not the cutest thing with those bunny ears?

Here is the entire class after the big hunt.

My sister's family came to PA for the weekend, so on Saturday we went to my mother's house to dye eggs and decorate cupcakes together.

See that open carton of eggs on the table? While my other and I were busy taking photos, Dixon grabbed onto the carton and pulled it onto the floor. I believe there were seven casualities. Oops.

How do you get mad at a face like that?

The kids didn't even color all the remaining eggs, so it wasn't a huge deal.

You have to love the gloves, though. I brought them to try to keep the kids from having blue and green hands on Easter morning. They looked like alien creatures with the long plastic fingers!

Easter morning was a bit of a blur. Church started at 8:30 so we were up really early. The girls had time to hunt for their Easter baskets and quickly check out the contents, but there was no time for our egg hunt in the backyard. They were thrilled with the chocoloate bunnies and hula hoops!

After chruch we went outside for some pictures. The day was glorious - very fitting for the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection - and the kids were cooperative.

Most of the time.

Some family shots:

Me and the munchkins:

We headed to my mother's place for Easter lunch. When we got there, the yard was full of eggs! Another hunt was ON!

And some more pretty posing afterwards:

My girls and I are going to train my niece, Kari, how to pose for photos since her mother has failed to do so. Start taking some pics of your kids, Jen! (Said with nothing buy love and tenderness.)

I'd say she did pretty well for this shot. You should see the four leading up to this one, though.

Next year she'll be doing this.

Dixon enjoying a ride on Daddy's shoulders.

After stuffing ourselves full of ham, potatoes, brocolli casserole, fruit, and desserts, we rolled ourselves out to the car and headed home. Dixon was totally zonked since he got up early, skipped his morning nap, and played hard all morning. He and Clara were both sawing logs by the time we got home. Once she was awake, though, she and Sasha headed outside for one last egg hunt.

Happy Easter, everyone!

I promise to come back with more updates from now on. :)