Easter

Originally we were going to spend Easter in Ohio with friends, but bailed out earlier in the week when we ( o.k., it was just me, as I was doing 99% of the ward activity planning and follow through...and to be fair this stat was quoted from Jared, so I'm really not dissing him here) were feeling too overwhelmed.  I was sad to pull out of what I know would have been a great trip, but knew I'd never survive pulling together a get away on top of everything else.

Easter morning the kids came down to find their baskets (usually a Saturday morning event, but not this year) and I was so hoping that the socks, duck tape, new white shirts and ties and a Dove chocolate bunny would do the trick.....and to my great pleasure everyone was thrilled!  Who would have thought socks would be such a hit, but they were and they were very grateful to boot.

Gavin does not look overly thrilled here, but he was the first to get those socks on!

Our Sunday service was exceptional with meaningful talks about the sacrifice and eternal gifts of our Savior as well as our performance with the ward choir and Liam playing violin on the descant.  One sister talked about something that continues to stick with me as I had never considered the relevance of this one act.  She related the story of when the Apostles went back to fishing after Jesus was crucified.  After the Saviors resurrection he appears to them on shore and after having suffered physically, spiritually and emotionally to an unimaginable extent, there he was making sure that there was a warm fire and prepared food for those men.  Even after all the suffering he still managed to serve in such a thoughtful way.  That  has helped remind me of the importance of service even in the midst of suffering.  

After church, Jared got out the tripod for a family photo where I had to endure the the craziness of Gavin and Jonah who needed some neck squeezing from me to get it together because I for one was freezing my tail off!  I'm pretty sure Caleb is chewing on multiple pieces of gum packed in the side of his mouth which I didn't notice until looking at these photos.  Little stink!

After a quick change into warmer clothes we prepped some contributions to the meal: fruit salad and veggies and headed to the Evan's.  After a great meal the parents were chatting in the living room, and at random times,  Liam would show up in various stages of dress up and quote something from Napoleon Dynamite as either Kip or Napoleon.  It was hilarious.  He's actually wearing Rich's glasses from middle school and being that this is a house with 4 girls the costume selection included a great deal of pink and Rapunzel-like wigs!

The moms all realized that in the busyness of everyones week, not one of us had managed to color eggs yet with the kids, so instead of a repeat egg hunt we would blow and color eggs.  The boys had never blown eggs, but they totally got into it despite gagging on the raw egg drippings.

Liam won the blow-out contest against Rich who actually had to widen his eggs hole before he could get the yolk and white out.  

We were the last to leave the Evan's and grateful for fun friends and a great Easter celebration.