Easter 2011

We had so much fun celebrating Easter as a family. Friends and family have been so generous with ideas and resources that I felt very prepared this year to have a fun a meaningful day. But I feel like I need to mention that the first thing my kids did on Easter morning was watch an hour of Barney... just keeping it real.

After Barney we got dressed for church and made the resurrection cookies. Then we left the cookies in the oven, and headed to church. Worship was wonderful and the message was a beautiful reminder of how Christ's death made a way for us to be brought near to the Father. Eph 2:13 "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ"... love that verse!

Came home, opened the oven, later found the Easter baskets, and finished the day with hunting for the Resurrection eggs and reading the book that goes along with them.

I love how the day was full of things to do that kept pointing back to the significance of the day. It makes me want to think of things to do on Christmas day so we're not ending with presents in the morning.

We were a little lax about getting basket pictures... but here's what we got!

Resurrection Cookies 2011

We made Resurrection cookies again this year. I'm really loving this tradition!

Asher was very curious!

Evan's turn

Asher's turn

Big sis wrapping it up

Watching it turn white

Ready for the oven!

Hey lookie there! They're hollow this year!

"Easter Party Hunt"

We had a little Easter Egg Hunt with some friends on Saturday. Evan talked non-stop about this "Easter Party Hunt" the week leading up to it. Every time we got in the car he thought we were heading to it. And he packed his back-pack daily (underwear, trucks, etc...) for this thing.

Well once it began, all three kids enjoyed it immensely! And Mom and Dad had fun hanging with their buddies too.

Just. Out. Of. Reach.

I decided Asher wasn't quite ready for his jumbo basket.

"Hey, this one's empty!"

Evan loves him some chocolate!

Elena was a blur and impossible to get on camera. She's nothing if not competitive.

All three kids after it was over. Yep, that's a keeper.

Evan - 3.5 Years Old

Evan, you melt my heart on a daily basis. You love to say, "Oh thanks, Mom!", "Dad, you da best!", or "Way to go Ewana!"

You are eating vegetables for the first time in your life!!! You don't like them, but you eat them.

You are not at all shy. Not a chatter-box, but you feel completely comfortable talking to anyone and everyone should the need arise. You are starting to get into trouble at church because you want to be silly and funny for your friends at the expense of listening to what the teacher has to say.

Cuddling and being close is SO important to you.

You have a funny thing about being "just Evan".

-"If we call you Evan Jesse, you quickly correct us with, "Just call me Evan! Not Jesse Evan! Jesse a cowgirl!"

-If we say you look handsome, you reply, "No, I just Evan."

-If we ruffle your hair, you ask for it to go back to "Evan hair"

Your understanding of God is slowly growing. The biggest spiritual truth that has resonated with you is that God made everyone special. You throw this out at the most random times. Like telling Daddy, "Dad, God made you special", as he's wiping your behind.

You love your striped blanket. It follows you around the house.

You know all your colors, BUT you always reverse white and black. It's so funny to me.

You can sometimes pull up your undies and sometimes your shorts, but for the most part, we have to do it for you. It cracks me up how uninterested you are in mastering this skill.

Your sister can make you madder than anything, but you also miss her and seem a little lost when she's gone .

You weigh more than your sister!

You may be quiet in the car, but you are paying close attention to the cars around us. Sometimes when we pass a car, you quietly say to yourself, "Now that's what I call fast!"

Your go-to-excuse for not coloring at church, picking up your room, or fetching your shoes is, "I'm busy!" And you say it as you are lying on the floor looking off into space ;)

We love you so much! And I'm missing you as you're spending this weekend with Daddy going to Astros games!

First Cone of the Season

There's nothing singular about the "Single Cone" from Freddy's Custard.