Happy Easter!

We had a very blessed Easter this year, despite being one (very important) person down from our family. The night before, I set out the Easter baskets and then slept on the couch so that I wouldn't miss any photo opportunities! I have this obsession with trying to capture everything on film, as it's the only way Jake will get to experience all our happenings from across the ocean.

All lined up and ready to go:

The bunnies were too big to fit in the baskets, and the toys in the center are the 'extras'. Originally, I was planning on sticking to the tradition that Jake started with the kids of leaving a trail of jellybeans from outside their bedroom door to their baskets. But with Sarah, I didn't want to deal with keeping her away from the jellybeans, and I didn't want the kids ingesting dog hair with their candy. Oh the joys of having a dog! 

Will was the first to awake:

He really wanted to open the Critter Clinic. This was a replacement gift because our original 'Animal Hospital' (as it used to be named) finally bit the dust, and since the kids all play with this so much, I went ahead and bought a new one. 

Jacob was second to awake, and he noticed the new dart gun right away. This was actually a gift for Will, as he was the only child who didn't have a dart gun yet. They all received a new stash of darts in their baskets.

 Finally getting to their baskets:

Bella was the third one out, but spent a good 5 minutes trying to awaken fully:

She's still a bit sleepy at this point, but she was happy to get a new jump rope. She has been asking for this for a long time, as the children use them for all sorts of fun, although usually not to actually 'jump.' They use them to swing from the tree on, to use as a leash, to play tug-of-war, as a utility rope... anywhere their imaginations may lead. I love it.

Addie was pretty interested in the Thinking Putty they received. It has been a huge hit among the whole family... a bit pricey, but worth it.

The boys each received a balloon pump with a set of balloons that you inflate and release. The balloons make quite a lot of noise as they fly, flip and deflate. The children have a blast with them... but I'm beginning to rethink the wisdom on this particular noise maker!

I tried to capture a photo of the balloons flying around the house, but they were too quick and my camera was too slow to focus. 

We followed our morning excitement with church. I bought coordinating outfits for the children and tried to capture a good photo before leaving for service. I love how affectionate Jacob is sometimes:

 My sweet blessings!

I had a friend snap this photo at church. It was originally a really dark shot that I wasn't sure I could lighten in editing... 

 ... so I stopped by another friend's house on the way home and had a second set of photos snapped:

And of course, we had to have an egg hunt! After an afternoon nap for the boys and I, while the girls watched a movie, I went out back and hid some eggs. The kids found most of them, but I did have to go back and give some hints at the end. Oh yeah, I'm that good. Or maybe I'm just 23 years older than the oldest egg hunter I have... I can't wait until I can really hide the eggs. I have very fond memories of hunting for eggs that my dad hid... epic egg hunts that would last forever, and involved a written list so my dad wouldn't forget where they were when we couldn't find them.

 Sarah found an egg, and actually gave it up without destroying it. 

 See? I'm pretty awesome at hiding eggs. And humble, too. 

It was a good Easter. A wonderful day to celebrate that our Lord not only died for our sins, but He rose again. Without the resurrection we have no Lord. But alas, He is risen! He is risen!