Easter 2012

Per our usual tradition the Easter Bunny visited Saturday and brought a goody-filled basket and hid all sorts of eggs. Gabriel colored some of his own eggs (the day before), and then the Easter Bunny also hid some additional candy-filled eggs. I think the Easter Bunny is going to have to work on more challenging hiding spots next year, because Gabriel found all 18 eggs in about 2 minutes - he was so quick I could barely get pictures (should have used my faster DLSR camera rather than the point-and-shoot). After that we went to I-HOP for breakfast. It had been many years since we had eaten there (and was Gabriel's first time), and now I remember why...they just aren't that good, but Gabriel got a kick out of his strawberries and whipped cream pancakes.

Of course in the hype of all the candy and goodies the true reason for Easter is forgotten about in the mind of a 4yr old. We asked Gabriel why we celebrate Easter and he responded, "So the Easter Bunny can hide eggs and bring candy." I told him there was a much more important thing we celebrate and remember on Easter. He thought a moment, and then he remembered: "Jesus died and rose again." We have cut-out figures of the tomb, stone and Christ (along with a transparent cut-out to represent his spirit). We let Gabriel tell us the story in his words (should have taken pictures):

Gabriel: "Well, Jesus went to the garden and felt a lot of pain from all the bad things we do - that's called the Atonement. Then the bad guys hung him on the cross and he died. They put his body in the tomb and covered it with a stone."

Mommy: "Where did his spirit go?"

Gabriel: "His spirit went up to heaven."

Mommy: "For how long?"

Gabriel: "Three days. Then his spirit came back to his body and the stone was moved and he talked to Mary and the 12 apostles."

Mommy: "What is that called when the spirit comes back to the body?"

Gabriel: "Resurrection!"

Mommy: "So is Jesus still alive?"

Gabriel: "Yes! He lives up in Heaven."



Ready to dye eggs!

Carefully placing the egg (I was NOT allowed to help this year)

Stir it up!

Checking for "doneness"...definitely not ready

Of course you've got to smell it too!



Our Finished Eggs



Gabriel wanted to fan the eggs to dry faster so he could put stickers on them

Saturday Morning - Checking out the goodies the Easter Bunny brought

Counting the eggs he found

Checking out what's inside

Loading the PEZ dispenser w/Daddy