Easter Weekend

 

We started off our weekend by visiting the Children's Museum of Memphis with our friend the Mashburns and the Tims. After we left the museum, we went to Colton's where our 17 children were incredibly well behaved.

Then we went to Mammy and Granddaddy's house on Saturday for lunch and an egg hunt. I forgot my camera so we didn't get any pictures there.

When we came home Saturday evening we dyed eggs. This year I got smart. I bought two dye kits and I bought the ones that come with bowls. My cereal bowls aren't deep enough and I was quite glad to not have to clean them all.

I also go out the leftover gloves from our last homebirth and had everyone glove up. No blue fingers in Easter pictures!

I don't know what it is about dying boiled eggs that brings so much joy. Our children look forward to it every year and no way are they going to forget!

Libby didn't get to participate this year but she enjoyed the fun!

After church services we invited Mr. Mark, Mrs. Janet, Nana and Unc over for lunch. Henry felt it was his duty to share everything he's every done with Mr. Mark and Mrs. Janet. I don't know how he managed to eat a bite he was so busy talking.

Another tradition we participate in is new dresses and matching shirts for Easter. Our children fully understand that Easter is a celebration of Christ's resurrection. We enjoy hunting eggs, dying eggs and dressing up but those are just temporal traditions that truly mean nothing. Easter is a time for all believers to rejoice that Jesus laid down his life for ours.

Here comes Peter Cottontail

Before most holidays our 4-H club visits several area nursing homes. We deliver cards (mostly handmade by the kids) and candy. For Easter, our club places the candy inside plastic eggs.

 

 

Because "many hand make light work", I volunteered our family to "stuff" the eggs. It took us less than 20 minutes to place candy in over 200 eggs.

As evidenced by the following photo, Mary Claire helped herself to a piece of candy. Unfortunately for her, she was caught and didn't get to enjoy the fruit of her sneakiness. I figure that much candy and only one misappropriated piece = success!

After we finished the eggs, we started making cards. We still have a few weeks before the visit but our club hands out a card for each piece of candy. That's a lot of cards to make. Each family brings a set amount but since we have more 4-H members in our family, we decided to contribute a few extra.

Even Mary Claire and Henry made some cards. I wrote the sayings they colored them and added stickers.

Easter

Granddaddy and Mammy came over (they were hoping for candy but we just had the cheap stuff JK!). This picture was taken by Madisyn.

Then the egg hunt began.

Griffin got some help but hey - he's short and he still didn't feel well.

Don't the boots look lovely with that dress. M thought it was a nice touch. I have to admit they are MUCH MUCH better than the rubber boots she orginally had on.
I think Ty gathered the most eggs. The boy can focus when he needs to. LOL

No chickens were harmed in the egg chewing portion of the day.

Wye Mountain

For about four years we have been traveling to Wye (it is important to realize the name on the map is Wye NOT Wye Mountain - this causes some difficulty in locating and can upset some people if you don't know the proper name of where you are going - I digress) and visiting the Daffodil fields. This year we tried something different and hired a photographer to meet us and take some family shots. Uncle Billy, Aunt Robin, Raegen, Mammy and Granddaddy all came as well. When the photographer lets us know the proofs are available I'll post those as well. We took about three cameras so all the pictures are here yet. I'll have to get the others off the other computer and post more later.

My favorite picture from the whole day. Poor Griffin really didn't feel well and missed his nap.

Ty wasted no time hopping up in that tree.

Griffin couldn't be outdone by big brother. Although, I believe this was taken as Uncle Billy climbed in the tree and Griffin wasn't sure that was such a great idea. (See Robin's blog for more of those ;) )

Just to prove that Ben does occasionally get upset. This lovely face was caused because Mommy wouldn't let him eat a pine cone.

I took Ben over to the side and took his socks and shoes off to capture of couple of pictures of just him. Ben does favor Ty but he looks a lot like Griffin as well. I'll have to figure out how to do a side by side of Ben and Griffin from two years ago.

Because Griffin didn't feel well it was hard to get good pictures of him. Who knew taking his socks and boots off would make such a difference?!?!

The only one of Madisyn I have on this computer. I'll post more later.

Dyeing Easter Eggs

Friday night we dyed Easter Eggs.

Of course Green was Ty's first color choice.

so that meant Griffin needed Yellow (do you see a theme? ) .

The pink didn't work right so Madisyn made do with blue.

Doesn't Griffin look proud? Wonder how he'll feel about pictures of him shirtless on the internet when he's 15?

Madisyn let Ben "help" her. It is his first Easter ya know.