Easter Traditions

(I can't believe that it is June 1 and I'm posting about EASTER!)

It is our tradition to dye eggs the day before Easter, after the Easter Egg hunt.  On this particular day, my mom was heading to New Orleans with some friends and so I drove them to the airport prior to decorating eggs.  I have to include their photo because they are so cute and funny together.  I have to say, I enjoy hanging out with them too!

 

Patti is in the middle ~ she is a teacher and was part of Mom's original grief group. Gail is on the far right and she works with Mom.  She was invited to join the grief group (they still meet on mondays for dinner) after the first year was over and they continued to meet on their own.

Their personalities are really fun and Dan said they remind him of a group of teenage girls they are just always laughing, telling stories and having fun.  You wouldn't believe some of the adventures they have traveling!  They are all widowed and I am so glad that my mom has friends like these that she enjoys.  She doesn't sit at home feeling lonely.  Though she misses Dad, she is out traveling and having fun and I am really proud of her.  

While the kids were waiting for me to get things ready they played outside with a hammer, nails, wood and yes, I do believe a saw (gasp).  I've come a long way from my early over-protective days of parenting.




And I included a comprehensive safety talk which was comprised of me opening the back door and calling out, "Be Careful!"

After all, things can be sewn back in place, right?



They had a BALL.

Matthew is a builder at heart.  He has been building since he had the motor skills to do it.  It is his passion and clearly where we need to find opportunities for him to explore.  On this day, he built this little stand for his mini figures.....



My little engineer....



Then it was time to decorate eggs!



I love to get in on the fun too.

We did 12 last year and it simply wasn't enough.  So we did 18 this year!  Andrew and Dan love to eat them, so they are gone in no time.



Matthew and his bunny egg that he created with a wax crayon.



We've lost many an egg to Andrew's little hands during this tradition.  But I'm proud to say this year he didn't break a single one!  In fact, I think it was me who broke one!



I love this picture of Kitti.  Crafting is SERIOUS business!  The kids were all so self sufficient this year! And the Bug LOVED this.



Her little hands were covered in dye (who needs to use a spoon when you have hands?!) and I was glad I had little white gloves ready for Easter Sunday.



Long after the boys finished, Kaitlin sat at the table quietly embellishing the eggs.  She loves to craft and was busy for quite a while.  After all, if a little is good, more is better! 



Examining her next empty canvas.



Tada!

Our next tradition are Resurrection rolls.  I love how this brings the resurrection story to life for the kids.  A marshmallow dipped in butter, sugar/cinnamon is wrapped inside of a crescent roll.  (Just as Jesus' body was prepared with spices and placed in a tomb). 





The wrapping part can be a little hard.



Some looked more like squashed balls, but it's all about the process.



The most important part is getting the sides sealed so marshmallow doesn't ooze all over.

After they are baked, and bitten into ~ the marshmallow is gone!!

He is risen!

Meanwhile, Dan made an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G stuffed cabbage.



It was sooooo good.  This was right before it went on the grill.  It has chicken italian sausage, bacon, cheese, sauted red onion and homemade BBQ sauce.



That night, as I was getting ready for Easter.  Matthew folded some cute little origami bunny napkins.  We tried to do it with the cloth ones, but couldn't get it to work.  He did manage it with these.

 

He is an origami master of sorts.  :)  It's fun to include the kids with the holiday preparations.  They went to bed VERY excited for Easter the next day!