Easter Weekend

First off, I want to say how thankful I am that I am even able to write this post. Without the cleansing, redemptive blood of the Lamb, I wouldn't be here. Today (and all days) I celebrate His life, death and resurrection with thanksgiving. Amen.

Friday was Good Friday and while I wish I could say I was super spiritual and formally recognized it... I didn't. Our youth girl came over to start her Spring Break baby sitting, so I spent most of the day acclimating her to our house and routine and whatnot.

I did make a spiffy -- or at least I think so -- banner for Easter.

We made a homemade spinach, mushroom, tomato, pepperoni and pineapple pizza for dinner that night. Why, yes, my husband did pick out the ingredients. It wasn't half bad, though.

Saturday I got up bright and early to get ready to go to work. There is a local cloth diapering company (the CEO was the doula for Tony's birth) that I buy from/network with. They participated in The Great Cloth Diaper Change. "What is The Great Cloth Diaper Change?" you ask. Well, it is a world-wide event hosted at various locations where the goal was to set the record for the greatest number of simultaneously changed diapers. I photographed the event.

Tony brother was attached to me in the mei tie for most of it, but he even got to participate.

The business manager for the company changed him - and he left her a little present. hehe

That's my boy! I think it will be great to tell him when he gets older that he participated in a world-wide record breaking event.

Tony's nanny works for the local company and was there with his parrain, my future son-in-law and the baby June. It was nice to catch up with them.

Tony and his nanny.

Tony and his parrain.

Where were Auds and the hubs? At a birthday party for Auds' best friend. After the shindig wrapped up, I drove on out there and hung out on their farm. The girls swam, held the baby ducklings, swung on the swings, bounced in the bouncy house and just ran around like crazy. A good time was had by all. There's no pictures because my husband forgot that I reminded him to take the small camera to take pictures and I was exhausted from working 9:30-2:00 in the 85 degree sunshine on my feet and just sat on my behind in the carport. We got home, made dinner and empty tomb cookies and headed to bed for a busy day today. The empty tomb cookie pictures are on another camera... which is not in my office with me. Oops. Maybe I'll make a separate post about those. Maybe.`

This morning I woke up to discover that somehow Honey ruined my Easter outfit. I planned coordinating outfits for us this year: Tony was in a white linen romper, Auds in a white smock with blue stitching and pink flowers, Honey was going to wear his black suit with white shirt and blue and yellow striped tie, and I was going to wear a yellow skirt with a white blouse. Lo and behold, my yellow skirt was washed with something that bled and it had stuff all over it.

So, I had to find something that would somewhat match the rest of my family that fit (hey, I just had a baby not even three months ago!) and was nice for church. Eventually I decided upon a cream and khaki pinstripe suit with a navy nursing top underneath. I thought the navy might be too dark for Easter, but it matched the blue that Auds and Honey had and we were running late.

We had to be at the church earlier than normal because Honey was a judge in our Easter bake-off. Since I was so busy yesterday, I didn't bake anything so he wasn't biased for my stuff.

Church service was awesome. I love good church. Honey forgot his guitar picks at home so he had to play with a debit card. I looked over at him and had to force myself not to giggle into the mic while I was singing.

After church I went outside and put eggs all over our yard for Auds to collect.

Yup, we're THAT family. The one with the ginormous plastic toys in our front yard. That can be seen from the main highway. But, my kids are happy. :)

I hid some on the table.

And at the bottom of the slide.

And inside the playhouse.

There she goes.

Yes, that's our driveway to the left. We are that country that we don't have an asphalt one. Our road isn't even paved all the way down.

Still going at it.

Just a wee bit breezy today.

How cute is she?

"It's an orange egg."

Still going.

Tony brother did not like the sun in his eyes.

She even let Tony brother have two - that for a two-year-old in a "my" phase is great.

Handing Honey Tony's eggs.

My little man checking out his egg.

While they were still outside, I ran inside to get out their Easter baskets.

I felt bad that Auds' was so much bigger than Tony's, but there's not much for a little baby for Easter.

Auds got a Snow White doll, Easter chalk, pink bunny ears, a pig, a frog, a princess dinner set (plate, bowl, cup, sippy) and Bambi. The last two were from her grannies.

Tony got a pig, a frog (because you have to get them the same thing or Auds would freak out and steal his), blue bunny ears and two outfits (which were from his grannies).

"It's Snow White!"

Daddy read her card to her.

Daddy even got a card.

Tony brother in his blue ears. I know he's not strapped in here. I just laid him in to take the picture. I promptly strapped him before starting the swing.

Those cheeks!

After Auds opened her basket she decided to open Tony's for him.

First came the pig. (Well, first came the destroyed living room, then the pig.)

Then came the frog.

Next was the card.

Daddy helped her read it.

Then she piled his clothes on top of him. Such a sweet sister! lol

We were then summoned down the road to our adopted family's farm. This is the family of our youth girl who is watching Auds next week. We got a phone call demanding we go and when we showed up we got a "it's a good thing y'all came. I know you didn't want me to go down there and put a belt on you to make you come!" Ah, such love. ;)

There was a bouncy house that Auds just had to get in.

It was fun.

We then headed back towards the barns to see the animals.

This horse is going to have a colt any.day.now.

Checked out the sheep. They were too loud according to Auds.

And Sweetheart the goat.

And the puppies.

I didn't feel like walking through the mud to get to the pigs or going chase the cows, so we ended our tour here. We then went to the side yard to play volleyball.

Forgive this shot for being out of focus. I saw it happening and HAD to get a shot of it so I moved quickly. It.was.hilarious!!! Honey was trying to hit the ball back over and hit the ball smack into the face of the guy in front of him. I haven't laughed that hard in a while. I'm laughing just typing this. It was great. Puts being "hurt by the ministry" into a whole new context, huh? He wasn't the only one. People were hitting people all the time - we're no pros. He even hit me with the ball.

And a caveat - don't play volleyball in a long skirt. Anytime you go to hit the ball you will step on your skirt, trip, and land on the ground. The end.

Auds had a great time running around.

And Tony talked and flirted with everyone.

It was a very blessed Easter with our own little family and our extended/adopted/church family. And none of it would be possible without our Lord and Savior! :)