Easter 09'

We had a really pleasant Easter this year. We started sharing our building with the Single Adult ward this Sunday, so our ward met an hour earlier, but that didn't dampen the Easter spirit! It was a great incentive to get the kids through church (bribery of egg hunts later)!

(she was so proud of herself for finding such a huge "egg"!)

It actually started the night before. I'd come across someone who said when her children were little they left carrot cake out for the Easter Bunny, kinda like leaving cookies for Santa. I thought it was such a fun idea, but was also concerned about focusing too much on the commercial frivolities of the holiday.

(I just love this picture... it's rare I get them all in one shot)

I found a recipe online for carrot cake from scratch. Fred accepted the challenge, since I was elbow deep in finishing my plans for my first Primary singing time the next day (which went surprisingly well). We allowed Gregory to stay up and help.

(This was awesome- she'd find eggs hidden in the cars and casually throw them out, so she could drive the car)

Then inspiration struck- we asked him to tell us what the Easter Bunny would bring. He said, "eggs." Then I went on to explain why eggs are associated with Easter: Jesus emerged from the tomb, perfect, like new- resurrected.

(her basket wasn't very frilly, but I don't think she minded)

It was so simple, yet I think he could actually wrap his head around it. After that I didn't feel as bad about carrying on the Easter Bunny charade. (I can't find the picture Fred took of the partially eaten cake piece left on the table for the kids to see evidence the bunny had, indeed, paid us a visit).

(He would shake each egg and get excited when he found ones filled with jelly beans)

A really, super special treat about this Easter was the candy. I did buy some Butterfinger eggs and a bag of jelly beans, but the highlight came in the mail a few days before Easter: a box jam-packed with a wide variety of German chocolates from my Oma Gisela (my mom's mom who we visited in February). I relish every bite of those delectable chocolates (WAY too many bites!).


I managed to throw together what was my family's traditional Easter Dinner, complete with a spiral ham and my grandma Jensen's "Yummy Potatoes", or what others call"Funeral potatoes"... I prefer my grandma's title for them- they sure are yummy! For an special touch we lit some tiny candles. We'd never done that with the kids before- they loved it!

(my lil' guy is so good lookin'!)

Charla really dug into the candy in her basket, so by the time we were ready to go egg hunting, she was dead to the world.

I knew she wouldn't want to miss it, so Fred laid her on the swing outside- it didn't take long for her to wake up eager to hunt (makes her sound like a vampire).

Fred did a great job proxying for the real Easter Bunny. Gregory was a little speed demon, but surprised us when he started sharing eggs with his sisters from his own basket. There's hope yet!

(It looks like he's snitching eggs, but he's really giving her some of his)

Sorry this got so long- I'm so indecisive when it comes to picking which pictures to use- believe it or not, there were many more! We hope you all had a wonderful Easter :)