Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday we had to have a "plan". Brent and I were volunteering in Mason & Kate's room on Sunday, so we all actually got up and went to the 8:30 service, then Della and Pappy took all 3 home so we could volunteer. We were worried we would have a large crowd, but ended up with 8 kids in the class! (Would have been 10 in M & K stayed!) We normally have up to 18 kids in this class so we were so surprised! Then went home for Easter lunch and egg hunting in the back yard. Laid back day! I am doing all of these posts in one day b/c Mason & Kate have been in Louisiana this week and come back home tomorrow! It has been strange around our house with only one child. I have not known how to act! Back to normal tomorrow, so I am trying to get anything and everything accomplished today while there is still time!

Sunday pictures


Backyard egg hunt! After this Kate went around and hid the eggs again and Mason went on the hunt!

10 Year Anniversary

Last Thursday April 21st was our 10 year anniversary! Hard to believe we have been married 10 years and have 3 children! Wow!

We had a "fancy" dinner at home in our dining room and used our fancy china. I plan on using it more in the next 10 years and longer!
Surprise! I had flowers at the front door on Thurs. We normally don't do flowers but this certain occasion it was a WONDERFUL SURPRISE for me!

Helicopter 30,000 Egg Drop

Last Saturday we went to an egg hunt at a local church. The kids loved it b/c they had a helicopter fly in and drop eggs for every age group. We will definitely have to go back next year, they are still talking about it! Saturday night we made the Easter Story cookies I mentioned in the previous post. They thought it was great too! It might work a little easier with a helper to read the Bible verses though. Trying to follow cooking instructions and flip to certain verses while holding their attention was a challenge. I think it is going to be a new tradition in our house either way, good reminder that Easter is not about the Easter Bunny.

One round of the Egg Drop.
Focused on picking up eggs!

Not interested in the camera! It was a VERY WINDY DAY!
Working on the cookies, everyone took a turn beating the pecans.


And we took a chance and ate some of the left over batter too!

Easter Story Cookies

We have not done this yet, but I wanted to go ahead and put it on the blog before Easter so other families can make them too! Brent's Aunt Carole sent me an email about this last year and I thought it was a great idea to get the kids involved in a true Easter project. Plus they would enjoy the cookies of course! I would love to hear what your children have to say about it.

EASTER STORY COOKIES

These are to be made the evening before Easter Sunday.

1 cup whole pecans

1 tsp. vinegar

3 egg whites

pinch salt

1 cup sugar

zipper baggie

wooden spoon and tape

Holy Bible

Preheat over to 300 degrees.This is important - don't wait until you're half done with the recipe.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him. Read John 19:1-3.

Let children smell the vinegar. Put vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest in to the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our sin. Read Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity of God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the over OFF.

Give child(ren) a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.

Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone cookies.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.

The cookies are hollow!

On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9

Texas Bluebonnets

Yesterday we went to a park near our house to take some bluebonnet pictures. I have always loved the idea of it, but never tried taking them anywhere. They did a great job considering that the wind almost blew us away and it was chilly on top of that. Knowing that you can kind of tell they were cold in the pictures. Now bribing them by taking them to the mall for chic fil a afterwards I think helped!

Wind AHHHH!

Bunny Nails

Today our afternoon entertainment was bunny nails! This is a suggestion my mom made and the girls LOVED it! For the detailed part of it I did not know if they would sit still long enough, but they did!

Bunny Nails!
Kate's hands
Caroline's bunnies!
Mason also completed his LAST speech class this week. Wed. was his last day, he no longer qualifies to be a part of the program.Yea!

Busy Weekend

This past weekend was fun and busy. Started off Saturday morning with and egg hunt and games with our ABF (Sunday School) then a crawfish boil that afternoon/evening. Sunday we went to church and our ABF went to an assisting living home in McKinney to visit and played bingo. I was so happy that all 3 got into giving prizes to bingo winners and were totally into passing out pudding, applesauce and other treats to residents that were not able to leave their rooms. Kate was not even wanting to go home so she could keep handing out the prizes to bingo winners!

Egg Hunt

It was a windy morning!

Kids and their pizza while we ate crawfish. :)
The couple at the end of the table were having their first try at peeling crawfish!
Kids at the Nursing Home.

Spring Sing

Last Thursday the kids had their Spring Sing and Open House at school. The twins, their class and MANY other classes sang in the sanctuary and then we went to their classrooms to see what they have been working on all year. They did a great job singing considering the huge audience they had. It was funny though, half the time Kate had her head turned watching the screens over them!

Caroline, Daddy and Mason in Mason & Kate's class.
Kate with her book of projects.
Caroline showing off her artwork.
This is not quite half of the kids on stage!