Thursday, April 03, 2008

Happy Easter!

I love Easter. It is such a happy time with beautiful spring weather, lots of bright colors, oodles of candy and of course, a wonderful opportunity to teach my kids about the spiritual aspect. All of the holidays this year seem to have snuck up on me and Easter was no exception. I found myself scrounging through the few remaining bags of jelly beans at Wal-mart on Saturday night at 10:30. There were VERY slim pickins. I walked away with 2 bags of jelly beans and one bag of miniature candy bars. I found a bag of my favorite Robin's Eggs tucked away on a shelf, but when I got to the register I realized that half of them were smashed and sadly we had to part ways. I definately learned my procrastination lesson, but I justified that they really didn't need more candy.
They went to the ward Easter egg hunt and another egg hunt and carnival the day before. I would have gladly been finished with the candy altogether, but for tradition sake I figured I better have something for the morning Easter egg hunt. After finishing all of my grocery shopping I had zero energy left to find presents, so I opted to just stick with just candy for the hunt in the morning. I didn't even get around to buying them new Easter outfits. I didn't think that the kids would remember that I had gotten them a gift last year. I was wrong. Last year I had put clues inside of the Easter Eggs that led them to the shower where I had a present for each of them. That night before Kylie went to sleep she told me that she couldn't wait to find the special eggs with clues in them to find her present. Oops. The next morning Jayden ran straight to the bathroom shower in search of the presents. Double oops. I simply explained that sometimes the Easter Bunny brings presents and sometimes he brings candy and we're just grateful for whatever we get. I was happy to see that they understood and weren't too disappointed. I've also decided that I really like the simplicity of not over-doing it. The kids enjoyed the egg hunt, but it also didn't distract too much from the real purpose of the holiday (atleast that is what I'm telling myself so that I don't feel too guilty :). It was so nice getting home from church at 10:30 (although it made for a very hectic morning) and having a yummy Easter brunch on the back patio. The weather was perfect and we had fun just being together as a family. We also dyed eggs then that night we had our Easter Family Home Evening. We watched the "Finding Faith in Christ" DVD that came out a while ago and it made me happy to see how the kids were so absorbed in it and asked alot of questions. I love seeing their little testimonies grow. What a fun holiday, even if we'll be eating jelly beans for the next year....

4 comments:

Janessa said...

Don't feel too bad. Our Easter was very low key too. Abby and Kambry are looking at these pictures with me right now and just realized that we didn't dye any Easter eggs this year since I had to use my three remaining eggs for our skimpy Easter dinner. Getting back from vacation the night before sure threw our traditional Easter stuff out the window this year. So, you've got me trupmed with the eggs and now my kids have noticed. Thanks:) Just kidding. You are such a sweet mom. I love the relationship that you have with Kylie (and Jayden too). That one on one time with a heart to heart conversation is just priceless.

Jodee said...

Thats the way, blame it on the Easter Bunny, nice one! I have to agree, Holidays are getting so out of hand. Maybe it's just because I am a mom now and on the other side of things- I just don't remeber so much candy, presents, and 2,3,4 or more parties at each holiday. Getting a little crazy! I love seeing your kids in their flip flops and tank tops and hearing about how you get to eat out by the pool- ahhh, that's the life I picture as I am inside my house by the fireplace as it SNOWS IN MARCH, UGH!!!!!!!!!

Sheba Price said...

Oh my gosh Jamie! I said the same thing to my girls about the Easter Bunny not doing the same thing as last year! I had some "OOPS" moments myself! And I think all moms procastinate one Easter or another on the candy or eggs thing. I remember waiting to the last minute for plastic eggs and I couldn't find any! I had to go to four stores before I found the slim pickings. So when I see them around Valentines I just pick up a bag!
The kids look so dang cute and so happy! You are a Super Mom!!! ;)

Michelle Y. said...

I had the "oops" moment last year when I didn't give the boys an Easter present and then we went to Craig's aunt's house that night and his aunt asked Trevor what the Easter Bunny got him and Trevor said, "Nothing". I really thought since the boys were young that they would just be happy to search for Easter eggs and they wouldn't know that they were "supposed" to get a present. So this year I did make up for it with the treasure hunt and gifts in the easter basket.