Easter Festivities Part II

Easter Sunday we got the kids up early so they could check out their Easter baskets before we headed off to church.  When the hubs was little, the Easter Bunny used to hide his basket and he would have to find it, so we have taken on that same tradition for our kids.  We let Jacob find both baskets since Olivia isn’t quite comprehending hide and seek yet, and he was thrilled when he found his basket first. 

Here are a few of my favorite goodies that the Easter Bunny brought for each child.

Bubbles, Color Your Own Puzzle, Superman PJs, & Happy Easter Curious George Book

Ollie's Easter Eggs Book, Flower Sandals, Monogrammed Seersucker Dress, Lamb Stuffed Animal

Mass was at 10:30 AM, and it also happens to be the most popular mass, so we had to get there about forty minutes early to make sure we got seats.  Of course that meant that the kids had to sit there for an hour and forty minutes instead of just the usual hour, so that was worrisome.  They are usually jumping around like wild animals at about the 30 minute mark during a regular mass, so I figured this could be a recipe for disaster.  Olivia was a little squirmy at the beginning, but she fell fast asleep for the last 30 or 40 minutes and Jacob was an absolute angel.  It was an Easter miracle!  Thank goodness the full moon had passed or I'm positive it would have been a three ring circus.

 
After mass we quickly snapped some family pictures in our Sunday best, and we actually got some really great ones!  Picture overload commencing in three, two, one…

Lunch at Brian’s Mom and Stepdad’s house was next (gimme all the ham!!), followed by an egg hunt for all of the kiddos.  I think we went a little overboard this year considering Jacob, alone, found at least 50 eggs. 

As always on Easter, the weather was absolute perfection.  Brian and I were having a conversation the other day about how neither of us can remember an Easter where the weather wasn’t gorgeous.  It is always, always warm and sunny with clear, blue skies. 

We went to my aunt and uncle’s house next to see my entire extended family, and they surprised me with a birthday cake.  Did I mention it was my birthday?  Probably not... I kept forgetting since we were so busy with other things all day.  Besides, once you enter your thirties, it's all downhill from there anyway...  I kid, I kid!  But no really, time can slow down now, please and thank you.

Sharing a cake with my sweet cousin, Shelby - her birthday is March 31st!

Jacob and Olivia played and played (happily!) even though at this point it was 4 PM and they were both No Nap Ninjas, aside from Olivia’s catnap during church. 

After hanging out there for a couple of hours, we stopped by my parents’ house to grab Easter baskets from them, and then we (finally) headed home where Brian’s Dad brought the kids their Easter baskets from him. 

We finished the day blowing bubbles outside, and Brian and I had some wine and cheese for dinner since we were still so stuffed from lunch. 

I have to say, this was my favorite Easter yet.  It was one of those really, really good days where everything just seemed a little sweeter.  I got to celebrate my birthday with the resurrection of Jesus, I got to see (almost) everyone that I love, and I got to rock both of my babies to sleep.  At bedtime Jacob said, "Mommy, roooock me."  A rarity these days so, of course, I obliged. 

Life is good.  I hope you enjoyed your Easter as much as I enjoyed mine.