HAPPY EASTER!!!!

Easter is amazing... there's so much significance, so much drama, so much death and life... that looking for eggs and chocolate bunnies is a lot of fun!

Memories... I remember getting up SUPER early, dressing in a beautiful summer dress and putting on a new, matching hat and going to the very important "Sunrise Service" in the school field in Scappoose. I especially remember trying to wake up and the shock of the cold air in such a frilly outfit.

...I remember going to Grandpa and Grandma's to hunt for Easter eggs outside and all the cousins and playing in my pretty outfit and eating food that everyone said was sooooo delicious. I always thought it was all a little cold from everyone trying to coordinate the big dinner and then gather everyone at the same time. (sorry Mom, it's true!) I remember having to wait before I could eat my eggs until "the count" had been completed and all eggs verified "found". I remember loving to eat those hard boiled eggs with blue and pink stains on the whites. There were never enough eggs for me to eat. I always had enough chocolate, though. I horded my stash for the whole year, only eating my favorites when the next Easter was coming up for me to get a new stash. No one could touch my chocolate stash... (interesting! no wonder Jeremy always thinks I've got something hiding somewhere... and he's usually right!!)

We haven't decided decisively what sort of memories we want for our kids.

This year we had a chocolate hunt inside the house after church. That was because we heard it would be standing room only and went to the early service to get a seat.

This year Nana and Papa Jim came to church with us and joined us at home for a huge Easter breakfast of french toast made from homemade bread and strawberries, scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon.

This year Papa Jim helped the boys make a boat and tested it in a big bucket of water. Nana helped everyone have a lot of fun and stay clean.

This year we went to my grandparents' house for a delicious "dinner". I brought some of the food, and I thought it was all amazingly good. :-) The kids hunted for eggs outside with Elliott and Anna and didn't have to wait for "the count". They squished at least 1/2 their eggs, though. I know some of our family hold that dinner sacred and Uncle Bert has never missed an Easter. I guess I love the relationship with my grandparents and the oportunity to see my mom and dad while my kids have fun, too. I would have chatted all day, I think. That's my favorite part.

This year we stopped by Brian and Tanya's and met little baby Owen. What a little cutie!!! Judah woke from his nap to find his house full of kids! We had a lot of fun talking about this and that and nothing and babies and what to feed kids and how messy they can be and houses and finding lots to build on and all kinds of important things.

This year was a great year. If I had my wishes for future Easter traditions... there would be chocolate, as always, maybe a Passover meal or something to really pause and remember WHY, we would see Jim and Trish and Dad and Mom and the boys would feel the importance of family. I don't like burdening my grandparents, but I always want to see them and I love sharing that with my children. I love the Hunt idea, and I think I would try to do more, not less. There are always treasures to be found and Easter Egg hunting gets everyone in the mood for watching for them. Breakfast was fun. Church is important, of course. I guess I want it all. Only, next time I want to take a lot more BETTER pictures!!!!!