hoppy Easter weekend

Not only do birthdays last a week or two, but most holidays do too (at least for us)! We've been blessed with a huge family that is supportive, loving, sweet and so fun to be with. So we usually celebrate holidays and birthdays a few times so we can share the love, excitement and general chaos with everyone.

Our first Easter celebration was on our trip south to see Husband's brother and family. Then we celebrated again all weekend long!

We arrive at my parents' house on Friday evening. We played for a while, had dinner and then had the official ribbon cutting ceremony of the new bunkhouse. My dad has been working hard to finish a few more rooms in their basement, including a bedroom claimed by me and my hubband and a bunkhouse for all the kids. This large room has three sets of bunkbeds, each with a trundle as well so it can sleep a total of 9 kids (or even more if they wanted to squish together). Our girls were ecstatic, dancing around and exploring and claiming one bed after another. No one slept much (going to be after midnight and waking up before 7!) but the kids had so much fun.

On Saturday morning we went to the city Easter egg hunt. The kids were divided by age group and released in waves to go pick up three eggs, run back to the candy table to exchange them and then would run out for another three eggs. It was a great way of sharing the candy wealth, especially when we realized that the kids were getting a FULL SIZE candy bar for EACH egg. Suffice it to say that our candy quota was well filled for the weekend.

Back at the house, we decorated eggs and took naps. After the kids were done, me and one of my sisters began idly playing with the eggs and then the creative child that lingers in each of us snuck out and we had a blast finding ways to further embellish the eggs. (we took already dyed eggs, used white wax to color on them and then dyed them again to create things such as blue eggs with pink flowers. or we used rubber bands to create fun striped effects.)

Then began the games. Grammy had a whole box of "minute it to win it" inspired games and we had SO much fun. We especially loved rolling the marbles along the table, aiming for a certain mark or used straws and our own suction to pick up and move m&m candies. The men put pantyhose on their heads and without using their hands, maneuvered their bodies to swing the pantyhose feet (weighed down by a tennis ball) around and roll soda pop cans up the driveway. There were so many great games and we had a blast teasing, laughing and cheering each other on.

We had a fantastic Easter egg hunt. I took pictures as the kids dashed around finding eggs. Even my little Ladybug charged ahead at full speed, now old enough to understand the game. Dinner was the usual fantastic chaos of tasty food, bouncing children and general merriment before we spent the evening playing with new Easter toys, devouring Easter candy and lounging around with family.

On Sunday there was the typical mad dash to get ready for church and then the wonderful, meaningful lessons and insights shared there. By the time we arrive home after church, the kids' Easter baskets were hidden around the yard and it was such a wonderful sight, seeing my beautiful girls in their beautiful white Easter dresses as they happily searched and found their baskets. It was the first time that the baskets were hidden, rather than just sit out in a picture perfect row and it was so fun to do it this way. Then the cousins sat together, showing and sharing their newfound loot before we herding them back to the table for lunch.

Lastly, we gathered together for a Family Home Evening and watched an animated movie of the Easter story. Ladybug fell asleep on Grammy, AngelBaby fell asleep on me, but Butterfly snuggled into Daddy as we watched. And then finally, we packed up and piled into our car so we could head south...

for more fun! We went to the house of Gram and the Aunties, which is the central location and official party place of Husband's extended family. The house was full of people--family and close friends, as well as some of the most delicious food I've ever had. The kids ran around with the other kids, playing with toys, chasing each other and then going on another egg hunt which had been thoughtfully planned to include all the kids. I love talking to cousins and family, getting to catch up with these amazing individuals that I admire so much. AngelBaby was unusually fussy but we fit right into the chaos and Daddy and I took turns walking with her as we visited. The girls were ecstatic to play with cousins again and especially loved their Easter gifts (they exchanged their eggs at "Gummy's Shop" for books, treats and art supplies).

Eventually, we dressed them in pjs and made the long drive home, enjoying the time to relax and vegetate after so much chaos and fun. And finally we were home again, ready for a good night sleep and preparing to dive back into another busy week.