Eager for Easter

Easter has always been my favorite holiday. I was born on a rainy Easter Sunday, and as I was growing up I heard that story while eating my Easter candy, wearing my matching dress with my sister (that my mom usually sewed - which probably coordinated with my brothers's outfits by the way) and I celebrated my birthday around Easter time each year. All of these traditions contributed to my reasons for deeming this day a "favorite" for me, but as I have gotten older, the spiritual significance of Easter has made it even more of a favorite. Carrying on those traditions for my kiddos makes it even more special each year. This year was no exception. We had our fair share of egg hunts and parties. Starting with...

The Roanoke Easter Egg Hunt with Stephen, Afton, Brooks, and Zoey

These two hopped right up and grabbed Uncle Stephen's hands when they were through. You mean, you're not my daddy? (E & C)

First cotton candy...heavenly (A, E)

Next, Easter Egg Hunt with our favorite neighbors - Hailey, Emma, and Matt. (Check out Carver's long curly hair)...

Making candy necklaces, doing Easter crafts, and hunting for eggs...

Finally Sunday Morning Came! Since we've been planning for our big trip to Florida, each kid got a huge beach bucket full of sand toys and candy to use at the beach. This little girl convinced her daddy to have an Easter Egg Hunt before church. She sure has him wrapped around her little finger.

All of our Action-Egg-Hunt shots came out blurry, but you get the idea...

I was lucky enough to find all the right sizes for their coordinating easter outfits on clearance after Easter last year. They've been hanging in the back of their closets waiting for this kodak moment...

We had Easter dinner at my parents house with the Carvers and the Abrahams. We rarely get family pictures with everyone looking in the same direction, so this was a small easter miracle...

Each year, my mom has the family do this little Easter egg scripture activity that can be found here. It's the one where each egg has a different object and scripture, and everyone takes turns opening a numbered egg and reading a scripture. The best part is when the egg is empty, and the person reads the scripture that ends with, "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said." As cheesy as it sounds, this is another tradition that we'll be holding on to, because it helps teach the reason for the season...