Easter 2014

Each year, our church has the annual Easter Egg hunt on Palm Sunday during Sunday School. I typically help with this event, since I'm on the fellowship committee. Last year was Atticus' first year to hunt eggs, but only Vic went since I had just had Grace and wasn't up to getting out and about quite yet. But, this year, both Grace and Atticus hunted eggs since Grace was walking! Sunday morning we dressed them up adorably and headed to church. I'd helped a friend, Kristi, decorate the day before and thought she did a great job making it so festive! You could color, make "bunny food" (complete with glitter!), eat breakfast and take your picture with the Easter Bunny. I have decided, however, after seeing everyone's "Easter Bunny pictures" all over facebook, that there is no good Easter Bunny costume. They all look kind of scary. And honestly, is a life size bunny realistic? Even more scary. And, I guess when I was growing up, Molly, Charley & I never believed that an actual Easter Bunny existed or that he brought our Easter baskets. We knew that GG brought our baskets and that our family or each other hid the eggs. So, while I love Easter baskets and eggs and love all of the festivities that go along with that type of tradition, I just don't believe in an Easter bunny and don't get too excited about taking a picture with one. So, it is just as well that both Atticus and Grace cried when they saw the bunny and when someone tried to get them to take a picture with the bunny. And, what's worse is that Atticus went into almost fit throwing mode because he didn't want to walk by the bunny station to get to the classrooms in the back where the food, activities, and egg hunt were happening. I understood. But, seriously there was no other way to get there without walking outside and behind the building. And, I wasn't doing that. So, we survived the Easter Bunny experience. And, then we took them out to hunt eggs in the 2-3 year old area. We expected a few more kids than we had in that group, so there were tons of eggs. It was fun to hunt with our friends and their kids, the Tatums and the Mariotts. But, the best part is watching our kids hunt eggs. Atticus still has that thought that as soon as he gets an egg, he thinks it's time to open it. So, he picks up a couple and is ready to open. Although we made him wait to open any, he took his time putting eggs in is basket and would watch other things going on as well. Grace, however, was on a mission. She knew exactly what to do. She would walk to an egg, pick it up, and put in her basket. And then to the next egg and the next egg. This made me laugh because she was only 13 months old! Atticus didn't do this until he was almost 2 years old (and partly because at one year old he was not walking yet). I think she just picks up on things so quickly having a big brother around to help her. So, the Easter Egg hunt was a success and very fun!

This is how our morning began.

Then, the following week was Easter Sunday. Long ago, we started the tradition of staying in College Station for Easter so Vic and I would not have to travel since we traveled for every other holiday. But, these days, with kids we stay here for other holidays too, haha! Typically our Easter Sunday consists of 8am service at church, then home with friends and family that are celebrating with us for brunch or lunch. This year, GG was in town and Katerina came to church and to hang out for the day with us. We had a delicious lunch of pork loin, asparagus, deviled eggs, and Katerina brought monkey bread for dessert! Oh and let me make sure you know that Atticus didn't eat any of thefood above for his lunch. He only ate marshmallow peeps and a chocolate Easter bunny that Katerina brought. I decided for one day it was ok. Then, the kids napped and then Vic took Atticus on an Easter egg scavenger hunt all around the yard. He printed out pictures of places in the yard or the house and Atticus had to keep going to each spot to get the next clue (or picture). In the end, he made his way to his Easter basket, or should I say multiple baskets. Between me, Katerina, Mom, Molly & GG, the kids got lots of fun Easter goodies. I think next year I'll just save my money and let them all do the baskets! They opened baskets and then hunted eggs outside. They were truly exhausted as were we. But, it was really fun!

 

A couple cute moments during opening baskets occurred. 1) GG gave Atticus this bunny and he just hugged it and hugged it and it was so sweet. Even funnier, he told us he was naming the bunny "Chwis". This is funny to Vic and myself because our friend, Chris, is actually trying to get rid of some unwanted bunnies that are living in his backyard possibly by shooting them. Once he heard this, we were sure there was no way he would shoot those bunnies! 2) GG also gave each Atticus and Grace some yogurt melts. This is really just a baby snack, (Freeze dried yogurt drops) but Atticus LOVES them and always wants them. Typically we tell him no. So, GG got them each their own package. It was so cute when he pulled it out of his basket and said "Yook Gwace - yogut melts for you!" and then when we told him they were really for him, he looked so happy and surprised and just hugged them so tight and said "oh thank you!" .He was so happy that those yogurt melts were his and we could not stop laughing. The sweetest thing to me was the way he immediately got excited to tell Grace he had yogurt melts for her, before of course, he knew they were his!

One last thing we did, a couple days later, was a tradition called cascarone eggs. Apparently, they are real eggs filled with confetti and you crack them over people's heads. Sounds fun, right? It's not. Vic did a couple on Atticus and then surprised me with one. I would have enjoyed it. Except....it hurt! I was shocked that he had just slammed something onto my head. I was actually angry and hurt. And still in shock. I nixed that game right away and the rest were smashed on the ground or on the tree. I immediately worried that it hurt Atticus as much as it hurt me. And that would be terrible! I don't know if Vic was rougher on me, (although he was not trying to be and it is not meant to be a rough activity) or if this is just the way the game goes. But, seriously, it was terrible. Never again will we crack eggs on one another's heads. You may think I'm dramatic, but it hurt for at least 24 hours on the top of my head.