We love Easter weekend. Zane allowed us to attend Easter services on Good Friday. On Saturday, we enjoyed the community egg hunt at Grandma & Grandpa's. It's so very neat to see the community come together to do such a neat thing for all the kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and friends. We feel very blessed to be a part of it. Cousins Tucker and Audrey and Vanessa were extra excited to spend a lot of time together. Zane really enjoyed the hunt this year too. Each kid was allowed 18 eggs full of candy and 1 golden egg to exchange for a toy. (Is that not neat or what?!) We had to ask Zane to stop at 18, he was so into it. Now he stands at the counter to beg for more candy.
Vanessa was very into dying eggs this year. We threw out plans to rub on designs and letters and instead decided to marbleize them by adding oil to the water, vinegar and food coloring mixture. She very patiently dyed each one. They turned out marvelous -- as seen above!
Before church on Sunday, Zane found an Easter egg in the upstairs hallway. Soon after, Vanessa found a picture clue inside. On Saturday Vanessa kept going to the upstairs hallway looking for a map. At first I couldn't figure out what she was doing. Eventually I remembered that last year we had placed a note/map in the hallway for her to find. Her excitement and memory helped us decide that it might be a fun running tradition. This year the clue from the hallway sent the kids to the upstairs bathroom, then to the piano downstairs, and then to the drawerless cabinet in the great room, where their baskets were hidden. It was so very fun!
Last week Vanessa asked several times if we could go to Easter Island. Again I had no clue what she was talking about. I thought maybe she meant the hill where Christ was crucified. I was wrong. She clarified that the hill had bunnies at the top. Oh -- Ballantrae, just up the road, is what she meant. She wanted to ride her bike to the top of the hill to the bunnies. We never had a chance to do it before Easter, and honestly I think I was too exhausted to try, but maybe soon. Instead, Vanessa suggested we go across the street "to the old town with train car" to take pictures. What a great idea!
Check out Zane. The cute little guy is sporting a bow tie that belonged to his paternal great grandfather -- Bill Holton. Grandma adapted it! What a lucky little guy . . . While walking out the door to church, Zane decided to suck on a jelly bean that was in his shirt pocket. So much for pictures with Daddy all dressed to match! We'll try again soon.
This weekend made me say extra prayers for my kids to understand, appreciate, and accept the Sacrifice made for them. I pray they understand it early in life. Most would think Vanessa's skateboard this Easter was all the rave, but she was also extremely excited about a new necklace she received. The necklace has lamb and cross charms. When the related scripture was shared, she said "Wow. For me . . .?!"
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. ~ Isaiah 40:11
