Due to Anna and Jameson's Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (Baptism and First Communion at the Easter Vigil mass), we are at our own home for Easter this year.
It began with an early Easter egg hunt of what Chad thought were 80 total colored, plastic eggs -- 12 filled with quarters, the rest with Jelly Bellies . . . until all four kids were on a quest for the last one. Chad had perched precariously a white egg in the fork of a small branch -- out on end where the white Dogwood blossoms glowed. In the quest, the kids continued to find more and more eggs beyond the 80, and it became a great deal of fun as the disbelief mounted.
THEN, Bay looked up into one of the huge, old trees and pointed to what she thought was an orange Easter egg. Chad hauled out a ladder to inspect what I thought must have been a puffball fungus or some odd bulge of sap (something gross); yet, sure enough, Bay was dead on target. An orange egg, still full of candies, and with marks on one end from what were obviously tiny, sharp teeth. My only disappointment was contemplating how much more fun it would have been to have witnessed that squirrel bringing home that treasure and placing it for what she thought was safe-keeping. Boy, she's going to be ticked.
Oh, the mild weather, the green, green grass, leaves and blooms popping out of branches. LOVE the lightness of this season!
And, of course, then we have to do the vinegar and Paas' colored tabs in coffee cups to create the rainbow of protein for Easter morning breakfast. Two dozen dipped spoons later, and done. Seeing the shells take on the colors of lime green, deep coral, and even basics like blue or yellow -- never really gets old.
Saturday is the big Baptism, First Communion, and spiritual celebration of Easter, and we began with a brunch of Easter egg braided bread (a First Communion tradition for our kids), fruit salad, peppered bacon and cheddar quiche, and (at Anna's request) hot cocoa. (Pre-primping; notice the sleepy faces.) We gave to the kids their celebration gifts from Chad and I: a Willow Tree angel each, a generations' old family rosary each, and saint-themed gifts (a new yoga DVD for Anna in the spirit of Saint Alphonsa, "Little Anna," of Kerala, India, and a new Dr. Seuss book for Jameson to practice reading with the education connection to the namesake of my alma mater -- St. Thomas Aquinas).
We dined on picnic fair in the church hall with our families for supper, and then, proceeded to the 7:30pm 2-hour Easter vigil service. The soulful and spirited alto "Ay-ay-men!" couresty Miss Sara was moving, the flowers and candles gorgeous, and the evening an overall joyful success.
We concluded the eve with cheesecake and coffee back at our house for a relaxed visit with the kids' Godparents -- dear, dear family friends, Colleen and Dana Dale.
And the next day, the kids found treats left for them by what we think (based partially on shopping mall observations) to be a human-sized, bipedal, mute, white rabbit who gets into children's houses undetected, at night, while the kids sleep. Hmm . . .
It began with an early Easter egg hunt of what Chad thought were 80 total colored, plastic eggs -- 12 filled with quarters, the rest with Jelly Bellies . . . until all four kids were on a quest for the last one. Chad had perched precariously a white egg in the fork of a small branch -- out on end where the white Dogwood blossoms glowed. In the quest, the kids continued to find more and more eggs beyond the 80, and it became a great deal of fun as the disbelief mounted.
THEN, Bay looked up into one of the huge, old trees and pointed to what she thought was an orange Easter egg. Chad hauled out a ladder to inspect what I thought must have been a puffball fungus or some odd bulge of sap (something gross); yet, sure enough, Bay was dead on target. An orange egg, still full of candies, and with marks on one end from what were obviously tiny, sharp teeth. My only disappointment was contemplating how much more fun it would have been to have witnessed that squirrel bringing home that treasure and placing it for what she thought was safe-keeping. Boy, she's going to be ticked.
Oh, the mild weather, the green, green grass, leaves and blooms popping out of branches. LOVE the lightness of this season!
And, of course, then we have to do the vinegar and Paas' colored tabs in coffee cups to create the rainbow of protein for Easter morning breakfast. Two dozen dipped spoons later, and done. Seeing the shells take on the colors of lime green, deep coral, and even basics like blue or yellow -- never really gets old.
We dined on picnic fair in the church hall with our families for supper, and then, proceeded to the 7:30pm 2-hour Easter vigil service. The soulful and spirited alto "Ay-ay-men!" couresty Miss Sara was moving, the flowers and candles gorgeous, and the evening an overall joyful success.
We concluded the eve with cheesecake and coffee back at our house for a relaxed visit with the kids' Godparents -- dear, dear family friends, Colleen and Dana Dale.
And the next day, the kids found treats left for them by what we think (based partially on shopping mall observations) to be a human-sized, bipedal, mute, white rabbit who gets into children's houses undetected, at night, while the kids sleep. Hmm . . .
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