Easter 2018

Easter always begins with the Easter party at my mom and dad's on the day before Easter.  My mom plans such fun parties and the kids love being with their cousins.  She had some games planned.

They had to draw a bunny without looking.

Reactions!

Musical hat: when the music stopped, whoever was left with the fancy hat was out.

Turn one member on your team into a baby chick.  Stockton, Brynn, Tessa, Chloe, Abby

Relay Races.  Tessa, Chloe, Abby, Molly

We took the kids over to Bryce and Erin's while mom and dad hid their baskets and eggs in their yard.  Bryce is slowly building a ninja course in his backyard and the kids took turns pulling themselves up this ramp in the wagon.

Ready for the hunt!

Abby, Ivy, Molly, Tessa, Josie, Grant, Stockton, Seth, Spencer, Brynn, Grace, Gavin, Lucy, Ben, Chloe, Harper

My mom makes it easy and fair by either color-coordinating eggs or writing their names on their eggs (not too easy for the big kids though!).  They each had 5 eggs to find and a basket.

Their baskets from Grandma are way better than those that the Easter Bunny brings.  They got a spring outfit, a swim suit, a book, and a toy.

Ivy insisted on putting her swimsuit on right then and there!

The grown-ups also get a hunt and we had lunch and then we drove home so Justin could make it to Priesthood session up here.  We tried to listen to conference while we partied but it's a good thing it's so easy to go back and watch and read the talks later.

Stockton is always the kid who makes sure a carrot is set out for the Easter Bunny.  I've never seen him or Brynn so excited for Easter-their excitement rivaled Christmas Eve.  They even woke up super early.

Easter morning. Everyone found their baskets.  It took Molly forever to find hers...Justin kept telling her he was hungry and to go make him a piece of toast but she never got the hint.  Her basket was hiding in with the toaster!  They got candy and a small toy/gift.  Ivy got a Noah's Ark puzzle, Brynn got a sacrament meeting activity book, Stockton got a Book of Mormon game, and Molly got a CD of hymns.  The older three also got scripture markers since they are always wanting some.

Next is my favorite-the hunt for the chocolate eggs.  They did pretty good that morning, found a few the next day, and Ivy found the last one just a couple of days ago (hiding behind a picture frame on top of the computer desk).

Since it was a Conference Sunday, we had sticky buns for breakfast and then settled in to watch Conference.  And what an amazing conference it was!  I loved being able to participate in the solemn assembly on Saturday in our home with Justin and the kids (before we left to head down to Plain City), and I felt the whole Conference was so inspired.  There is no doubt in my mind that President Nelson is the prophet and called at a time when he is most needed.

I usually change the letterboard on Sunday and the kids often want to help or put their own sayings or quotes up there.  Stockton wanted to help this time and he wanted to put something up church-y in honor of Conference.  I had a quote saved and we used part of it...I found the letters and Stockton put them on the board.  It is a quote from President Hunter and ironically, one of the speakers of this Conference actually quoted it!

I had picked up a puzzle for the family for Easter thinking it could be a good, quiet activity for Conference.  Justin is not a game kind of guy but he does enjoy puzzles so he and Molly worked on it that morning.

Stockton played his game with anyone who would play with him and Brynn got through a large chunk of her activity book.

We always go to Gene and April's for Conference Sunday and also for Easter Sunday so it was nice to go once for both!  Here is the Easter Sunday picture with their new clothes from Grandma Kay.

We spent the afternoon in Sandy watching Conference, eating dinner, playing outside, and the kids had another hunt for eggs.  Since it was also April Fool's Day, some of the eggs had brussel sprouts and potatoes in them.  The kids didn't really love those ones!

Micah and Ivy

Brynn, Micah, and Ivy swinging with Grandpa

Ivy and Eli

Stockton got a potato!

Molly and Tiana

We got home late (Spring Break started the following day so we weren't worried about getting home early) but Justin spent more time working on that puzzle while I laid on the couch.

The tradition has been to dye eggs on the Friday afternoon before Easter but when I asked the kids, they said they wanted to play with friends on Friday and dye eggs on Monday (the first day of Spring Break).  I had it all set up so that we could do it with Justin for FHE.

I bought the kids Sunday clothes for Easter and they wore them the following Sunday.  They clean up nicely!

I found Ivy's dress online months ago and loved it.

I ordered Brynn's online as well but didn't pay close enough attention to see that it was coming all the way from China.  It took forever to get here but finally came the day before she wore it to church.  I also bought her new sandals since she was begging for high heels for her birthday and settled for Nikes.  These are not quite the high heels that she was hoping for but she was happy with them anyway.

Molly had a hard time finding a dress she liked.  She thought she wanted to get a skirt with a matching top but we never found anything like that that wasn't too young, too old, or not appropriate for church.  We finally ended up at Burlington where she fell in love with this dress.  We put a white shirt under it.  She begged for cute sandals and even though she has perfectly fine church shoes, I gave in.  She rarely asks for things so I was happy to oblige.

Stockton has worn that white shirt for 3 Easter's now.  He got a new tie and Justin got a matching one.  His suit was in getting altered or he would have worn that.