Easter 2009

The weather was gorgeous...everyone was in a wonderful mood...the chocolate was flowing freely...church was comfortable and relaxed and perfect for the day it was. Overall, it was just a very good Easter!

Thought I'd share some of the excitement with all of you...through pictures, of course!

We sat down to decorate eggs on Saturday night and it ended up being a Sydney & Mom Activity, since the other girls decided to watch a movie instead and Gary decided to get a toothache and feel pretty miserable in bed. But, no problem...because it was a wonderfully fun time with my sweet four-year-old.

She really got a kick out of plopping the eggs in the dye...


and then (after a good long bath and shampooing, because she had that egg dye all OVER her), she worked on applying stickers...


On Easter morning, we awoke to a ton of candy (including mine and Gary's....yes, we do baskets for each other, which is one of my many favorite traditions with Gary...because, who wants to fight with their kids over their candy? And, besides, we get the good stuff for each other!)...

And then, rolling into church, saw one of my favorite sights on Easter morning. The black shawl that had been on the crosses since Maundy Thursday had been replaced with the exhilirating, redemptive white (Seeing that white blowing in the warm wind just did my heart good on this morning!)...


I snapped a picture of Sydney in front of our "Easter tree"...

And then we took our traditional family Easter shots after church in the courtyard...


(We are a very casual church and we usually come in pants. So, to catch us all in dresses, is a pretty big thing and a good reason to take a picture!)

(and, despite the appearance of that double chin which I was hoping belonged to some other large, getting-older-by-the-minute chicka, I still like this picture of me and Gary.)

After church, we headed down to my parents' house for a wonderful Easter lunch (smoked ham, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, sweet potatoes, salad, yeast rolls, fruit, cake!!) and our traditional Easter egg hunt. With three kids under ten in the family, it means that my teenagers get to enjoy the fun too. I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love this picture of them waiting inside to be cut loose and on the hunt...

and then on the lookout for the eggs...




(McKenna spent just as much time taking pictures as looking for eggs.)



I just adore this last picture. It's just a great shot of Sydney and Delaney, and then there I am in the background smiling at them both and not even realizing my picture's being taken. (Good job, Gary!)

It was a wonderful weekend and celebration, and I pray that you all had an Easter that made you realize how truly blessed you are.