Some BUNNY dumped eggs everywhere!

Even though we had let the kids stay up later than usual the night before Easter to watch a movie together, we still waited until they were finally asleep before tip-toeing downstairs to hide eggs EVERYWHERE! There were more eggs than we had realized, but thankfully we had filled them before so we just needed to hide them.

We put some in obvious places and others in harder spots since the boys are getting older. Caleb was the first one to notice in the morning that there were EGGS!!! He was SO excited! But, I asked that they get dressed first for church (knowing that once they were too excited, we'd be in pajamas all day). So, they agreed. I got a quick picture of them on the stairs as they were coming down to grab their baskets. I also didn't think about the fact that we didn't have a basket for Ryan to hunt eggs with. We'll need to try and grab one next year. He ended up using a plastic pumpkin from Halloween.

We asked the older kids to make sure Ryan got a few (he wasn't too interested anyway once he had a few to play with) and then asked them to stop only when their 'bucket' became overflowing. Literally we had enough to fill three baskets!

Then we said "GO!" and tried to take some pictures as they excitedly found eggs everywhere on our first floor.

We didn't go crazy getting a lot of candy this year. We filled some with money, others with "scooby snacks" (or these cute little dog bone treat things that are for kids), some with Cars gummies (which Joshua really can't have for his teeth), some with Pez, some with Starburst, some with S'mores-type goldfish, and the rest with Angry birds crackers. Shawn also bought some pre-filled Toy Story eggs that had hard candies in them already.

We also hid their Easter baskets and let them look for them, playing the "hot and cold" game. Joshua accidentally discovered one when he was hunting for eggs, so we made that one Ryan's (switching them around).

Again, we didn't go crazy with Candy. Shawn got one peanut-butter egg each and one chocolate marshmallow bunny, one marshmallow bunny lollipop thing that was cute but the kids didn't like to eat, and one thing of mini M&M's but the rest was filled with a carrot-goldfish and little toys like plastic and plush Easter bunnies, balls, cups, games (like tic-tac-toe and a spinning thing and a basketball mini-hoop) and then each one got a flutophone.

I wish I was kidding on the flutophone, but I'm not. What was Shawn thinking when he bought those?!?! They haven't been too much torture, but I'm sure it won't be long until we hide or get rid of them. Ryan actually REALLY enjoys his and doesn't play it obnoxiously. The other boys could rupture ear drums with them.

I learned that rather than having Shawn pick out "Easter basket items" when he was running an errand, I should go with him or be more specific. Haaaa!!! But, I love that he's willing to pick up things as he's going out, so I really shouldn't complain. I think the noise makers were my pay-back. ;-)

The kids had a blast this year finding eggs, and this is one of the first years we've done the egg hunt before church. They are freshest in the morning, so it really worked out well all around. We didn't let them dive into their snacks, though, because it was soon time for breakfast and then off to church we went.

You'll notice in some of the pictures below, Shawn was playing with some of the settings on our camera.

After church, I called Grandma to see if she'd like to see the boys in their Easter outfits before we got changed. We stopped over just long enough to grab a picture or two (which you saw in a previous post).

Then we came home and got changed into play clothes and ate a ham steak, mashed potato and corn dinner just our little family of five. It wasn't fancy - it took only a few minutes to whip up - but it was yummy and simple.

The kids enjoyed going through their eggs then, opening them and sharing their treasures.

I'm pretty sure we all napped that afternoon, but I don't remember for sure. Later that evening, we went to Aunt Jen's for cake & ice cream for John's 4th birthday.

Then this coming Sunday we will celebrate again on the Good extended side of the family.

Ryan LOVES this bunny that Aunt Missy gave the kids years ago (before he was even born!). It still works and plays music!

 There are more pictures...

The night of Easter, I asked the boys once again why we celebrate Easter. Is it all about eggs and bunnies and Spring or what was the REAL purpose?

We talked about how God is holy and perfect, and yet we aren't perfect. Even though we try to live lives that please God, we still screw up and sin and do things that are wrong.

So, because God loves us and still wants to be with us even though we aren't perfect like Him, He created the perfect plan to rejoin us together into His holiness. He gave us His Son to show us the way to live. His Son performed many miracles while on earth, healing people and showing us how to love one another and serve our Father while in these earthly bodies.

But there were people who didn't believe Jesus was the Son of God. They decided to kill Jesus and hang Him on a cross. He agreed to their plan because it was really God's will. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus' blood paid for our sins, once and for all. We no longer have to offer the sacrifices of lambs because Jesus was the perfect, holy, blameless lamb. His death was for our life.

After Jesus' death on the cross, His body was placed in a tomb. But, on the third day when His friends went to see Him, the angel told them that He had risen! Jesus appeared to the disciples and His friends to show them that He was alive! And not only is He living, He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us (Romans 8:34). We only need to ask Him to live in our hearts. If we believe in Jesus and confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Because of what Jesus did, we have hope that after we die and leave these earthly bodies behind, our spirit doesn't die but lives forever in eternity with God.

My hope is that all three of my boys will come to know the Lord and walk in a relationship with Him. And I also hope that anyone who reads this blog also comes to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. He is a faithful friend! And He is the One and only way to God!

We are blessed to celebrate Easter each year and remember all that God has done for us. He is RISEN! INDEED!

Here are pictures of Joshua needing help to reach some of the eggs we hid. :)

There was even one in our dining room light!

And here are pictures of the boys with their baskets filled to the brim!

I finally figured out how to fix the setting back to normal lighting again:

Ryan would not pose for the picture, so we finally let him go...

The one below is probably my favorite of the two boys together with their baskets.

Here's Joshua finding his Easter basket:

And here are some pictures of them with their "loot":

Happy Easter!!!