Easter 2013

This year, the week right before Easter was marvelous. The weather was sunny and we played outside all week. I love being outside! I found online a couple Easter egg hunts we could attend that the community put on. Grant, Carly, and I went to a hunt at around 5pm on the Thursday before Easter and Grant did a hunt, and then each age group after did one and the adults even got to do one. I told Grant to stay right next to Carly while I did mine, which lasted a total of 10 seconds. Anyway, it was fun. The Saturday morning we were going to go to one at 9am but we were late and didn't make it. Luckily we were invited to another hunt at 10am. So since I got to do the hunt with Grant on Thursday I stayed home with Carly while she napped as Perry and Grant went to the hunt. Grant definitely got his fill of candy no doubt. Next year we might not do any hunts except for our own. And we will fill the eggs with his favorite berries like raspberries, blackberries, and blue berries. I think that will be equally exciting  for him to receive and a little candy in his easter basket. We definitely tried to emphasize the purpose of Easter and why we celebrate it and how eggs correlate with that theme. So of course we celebrate easter to commemorate Jesus Christ's resurrection. And Grant learned that Easter is also about rebirth of plants and animals during the spring season, which represents also Christ being reborn in a sense into his immortal body.

Anyway so we did Easter baskets, where Grant got 2 pieces of candy and a book about Jesus' life. We did a little Easter egg hunt again with the unopened eggs from the previous hunts because its so fun to watch him hop around and get all the eggs. Then we colored eggs with food coloring mixed with vinegar. So much easier not to worry about buying an egg dying kit each year. Then we had church, which had an excellent Easter program, including the ward choir singing 2 numbers, which I am a part of. I like ward choir because its helping to strengthen and rehabilitate my voice from when it was lost when Grant was born. Perry suggested I do it and I love it. Then we came home and had Eater dinner and the next day we had Easter FHE. We did resurrection bread and Grant really learned the events and preparation of the Savior's death and resurrection after repeating the process over and over again when you make the bread.

So below are recent pictures of Carly and pictures of Easter and the week before Easter.  Also pictured is the dress I sewed for Carly. It took me about 3 full days in all but like 3 weeks of time to complete you know because I can't just devote all my time and energy sewing. I have kids. So it was hard and fun and we used our Easter budget money for Carly on the dress. So that was her present this year. She will probably be able to wear it at least for another year.

Carly has also been progressing in leaps and bounds lately. She has 2 new bottom teeth that came in at the same time. She learned that she can say "da-da" and "ba-ba" and so on. She can sit without falling over, and rolls all over the place. She is just so fun. Oh and she has figured out how to feed herself using the pincer grasp. So she can be occupied for a while with little snacks while I'm cooking dinner. Its great and definitely easier to be  mom now that Grant isn't pestering her while I make dinner because she is with me in her high chair.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting