Easter 2009: Celebrating Together

We had a wonderful time celebrating Easter together as a family.

Nanny came over to spend the night on Saturday and, in honor of tradition, colored Easter eggs with the kids. Nanny's always been such a part of the egg coloring experience that last year when she had to work on Easter, the kids didn't color eggs at all -- and they didn't even notice. That made the task even more fun this year.

We used a combination of dye made from food coloring and vinegar along with egg paint, and applied the color by soaking and by using sponges and "ear whackers" (Gracie's unusual and unexplainable term for Q-Tips). While the eggs were drying, we learned from another blogger that Lava soap or toothpaste and a nail brush help dyed skin quickly return to normal, so fortunately, no one went to church with blue fingertips.


Sunday morning, the kids woke up to find their Easter baskets full of goodies. Just as we don't celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus, we don't celebrate Easter with the Easter Bunny. On both holidays, they know the goodies come from Mom and Dad, and they like them just the same.

I was really excited about this year's baskets. I love blessing my children with good gifts, but since I'm a cheapie at heart, I found extra joy in the fact that every single thing in their baskets was either on sale or on clearance. Am I terrible or what? Here's the breakdown:

Gracie's Basket:
Camel WebKinz (After sale/markdown at Justice: $7.60 -- normally $16.50)
BlowPens (On Clearance at Walgreens: $2.49 -- normally $9.99)
Super Miracle Bubbles (On Sale at Walgreens: $1.99)
Rolling Easter Stamp (Clearance at Hobby Lobby: $0.09 -- normally $0.99)
Jelly Belly Smelly Pens (On Sale at Walgreens: $0.25 -- normally $0.59)
Various Easter Candies (Coupon at Walgreens: $0.35 each)

Bub's Basket:
Gorilla WebKinz (After sale/markdown at Justice: $7.60 -- normally $16.50)
Nintendo DS Race Game (Clearance at Walgreens: $3.49 -- normally $14.99)
Super Miracle Bubbles (On Sale at Walgreens: $1.99)
Rolling Easter Stamp (Clearance at Hobby Lobby: $0.09 -- normally $0.99)
Jelly Belly Smelly Pens (On Sale at Walgreens: $0.25 -- normally $0.59)
Various Easter Candies (Coupon at Walgreens: $0.35 each)


After beginning the day with chocolates and fun new toys, we went to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ -- the foundational experience of our Christian faith. Jesus' rising from the dead sealed the deal as far as His sacrifice for our sins is concerned. Because of Christ and the blood He shed, we have the opportunity to be forgiven and restored to God, and Lord knows I need it! Thank God for Jesus. I love that we have the freedom to worship such an amazing day together with our fellow Christ-followers. There are so many people in the world who are denied the right.

Gracie has been asking Nanny to come to church with us nearly every time she sees her, but this Easter was Mom's first time to come. For the last two or three years, she's been required to work most Sunday mornings, but this year, Easter was an exception. When Mom told Gracie she was coming to Easter services with us this year, Gracie was beside herself with excitement. While James and I served as door greeters for the Saturday night service, Gracie told our children's pastor, Mister Rob, that her Nanny was coming the next day. Sunday morning before Mom was allowed to do anything else, Gracie dragged her Nanny to meet Mister Rob (who welcomed her graciously, of course). It was so exciting to bring Nanny, Gracie's now determined her little neighborhood friend will come to church with us next.

Our Little Evangelist in her Easter Dress