Easter

How was Easter already a month ago?  And how in the world do we only have a few days left of school!?

I'm ready, but not ready.  Our dinner and bedtime is already getting so much later.  And we are jumping into that relaxed summer time mentality a little bit early.

Have you read this blog post, by Jen Hatmaker?  It's hilarious, you may just laugh out loud. I ran across it last year and am starting to see if circle around again. It is so nice to know this happens to most of us moms!  It is so spot on.

So let's back up to Easter. 

We got out our candle wreath and switched our wood figure of Mary, on a donkey (from Christmas) to Jesus carrying his cross.  And we loved listening to this Easter version of Hallelujah while we watched the candles flicker.

I love the anticipation of Christmas, the smells, songs, traditions, memories.  The thought of all the years of waiting for a Savior, and one night He came silently. 

But there is something that goes so much deeper at Easter.  The excitement and joy is hard to even explain.  It's way down deep inside.  Maybe it's because Easter isn't crowded by so many other things, and we can focus more on the actual events and meaning of that day.

Or maybe it's just that this amazing love story culminates to this spectacular climax, leaving us awaiting the next return.

I don't know what it is, but whatever it is, Easter is becoming a favorite of mine.

After church, we ate lunch out together, just us 5.  And had a quick photo shoot before we got home.

I tried to be in some.  But those didn't turn out :-(

I was shocked that they all asked me to take a picture of them alone.  We actually told THEM we needed to stop taking pictures and get home.  Maybe it was a stalling tactic for naptime.

We normally do Easter with Dave's family but his parents were gone this year, so we were on our own.  We ate out for lunch after church, took long naps and then had friends over for Easter dinner.  They didn't have any family to spend Easter with either, so it worked perfectly.

(although I have NO idea why these 2 pictures are not clear one bit) 

I told them to squeeze together and this is what we got.  Couldn't have happened more perfectly.

I don't think these kids realize how lucky they are to have a gate that goes from their yard to their best friends' yard.

And now, here we are.  Almost July 4th.  Geesh.