Easter 2014

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Philippians 3:10-12

I love Easter!! It's the time of year, in the PNW, when you know there will be scattered days full of sunshine and, slowly, there will be a transition from heavier coats to exposed toes. It's a day we spend in christian community celebrating the greatest gift.....the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and God's great plan of reconciliation. How could it not be my favorite holiday?

Oh....and let us not also forget the Easter bunny, egg hunts and a delicious spread of food......brisket is always on the menu with our crew {a tradition I totally respect}. I obviously went a little overboard with my bunny duties this year, but the kids expressions are now burned into my memory and, I suspect, this epidemic will happen for years to come.

Sometime before Christmas, I saw on Pinterest the gift philosophy of "something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need" and I just thought it was brilliant. Harrison's Easter need was a bubble wand.....because all children can not live without a bubble wand. {thus saith the Lord}

Brother also received a tractor shirt, which he was disappointed to find out was not for Easter church service. {It's a Honey Bee Tee if you're interested}

I had the kids buckets about a month before Easter and would pull them out everyday just to look at them......they are just the cutest. {monkey see boutique on Etsy}. 

Oh the joy......I can hardly stand it. Grace promptly threw everything out and started to eat the plastic grass on the inside of the bucket {sheesh}.

......then brother came over to decide what he would claim as his. He was kind enough to leave the sheep but the cup got swiped.  

Since Jody and I aren't brave enough to let H loose at a neighborhood egg hunt, we decided to set up a solo hunt in our backyard......we are smart like that. 

My heart will be broken when he decides that he no longer wants me to pick out his Easter outfit. I felt a little push back this year......he promptly ripped that bowtie off after this photo. 

We made a valiant attempt at posing the kids for a picture but they were all blurry.....every. single. one.....wiggling is our reality.  

Daddy and his little Easter chick......these are the moments I want to remember.

What did I tell you about the spread......our people do great things in the food department. 

Brother finally got to wear that tractor shirt and he was delighted. Side note.....that dog was trying to get away from him. 

We closed out the day with this Easter miracle.......a family photo!! Blessed beyond measure.