Easter - and a bit of Memorial Day

On Easter Sunday (even with GC) the kids got new church clothes. They did wear them to church the week before Easter. The Easter bunny made his way to our house leaving the kids: new flipflops, a sandwich container for picnics, a few pieces of candy, cookies, and an egg with a baby chick inside (given by grandma e, the egg is placed in water and over time cracks and reveals a plastic baby chick). We watched confernence and let the kids play during the day and went to F's parents for dinner and met at my parents after to have an easter egg hunt. Since the weather did not permit it to be held outside, my youngest bro had to hide all the eggs in the house. They were everywhere!! You could stand in one spot and find 10+ easily. This was one 2 floors! The kids had a blast finding all of the eggs and stuffed animals. My mom loves doing things for the kids and I would have to say this is one of her favorites. She has got it down to saving the eggs because she has written the grandkids names on them, making sure each child has the same number of eggs. She does a fantastic job.

This year, with the kids being a little older, we tried to focus more of Easter on the real meaning...the resurrection and life of Jesus Christ. We had a fhe about it and hung pictures on the mantel about the last few days of Christ's life, in the center the picture of the resurrected Christ. I am trying hard to help the kids to understand more of the holidays and not just the gifts. We have been reading the scriptures with them (children's scriptures) and they are learning. It helps me to feel I am doing the right thing and teaching them what is right.

This was not on Easter, but just this last Sunday in sacrament meeting. lil' L was looking at the Children's New Testament at the pictures and maps found in the back. He asked his dad, "Is that where Joseph fell out of the window?" That previous week, we had finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants. Both of the kids are listening and this is one of the many examples that confirms what they are learning. I am grateful to have the gospel and teach my children about Christ and the sacrifices He has made on our behalf. We took the time on Memorial Day to visit our grandparent's grave sights with the children. This was a good experience for us to teach a little bit more about the plan of happiness. The kids kept asking, "Is this where they died?" We corrected them telling them it is where they are buried after they died, and how they are now with Heavenly Father and Jesus. We also explained how we are sad to not see them on earth right now, but we will be with them again. Each of the headstones had a picture of the SL Temple, and I thought that was neat to show the children how important the temple is. lil' L was convinced he has been inside (we did take them to a temple open house last year). I love to see the kids learn, but they are growing up too fast.