Easter 2012

Hoppy Easter! Hop! Hop!

D with his Easter Frog.

Big sisters just couldn't resist cuddling up to their little bro. I really like this picture. It is one of my favorites. It will definitely be going in the baby book!

The kids were up before 6am on Easter morning! I think they were even more excited than they were Christmas morning. It was D's first Easter, so he also got a new basket as a part of his Easter gifts.

This year we tried the Holy Saturday cookies that I've read about in the past, but never had the time to try. Even dear Hubby helped with the cookies, but the kids didn't care for the taste of them come Easter morning when they were finished. Believe it or not, but they said they were too sweet! If you've never heard of Holy Saturday cookies, then here is the recipe and maybe you can try them next year.

Holy Saturday Cookies: make just before bedtime
1 c. walnut or pecan halves
3 egg whites
1 tsp. vinegar
pinch of salt
1 c. sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place nuts in plastic food storage bag. Have children beat the nuts into smaller pieces with the wooden spoon. Remind the children that Jesus was arrested and then beaten by Roman soldiers. [John 19:1-3]
... Break egg whites into a grease-free metal or glass mixing bowl. Eggs are symbolic of life. Jesus gave His life for ours. [John 10:11]

Allow the children to smell the vinegar, then sprinkle it onto the egg whites. In His Passion on the Cross, Jesus was given vinegar to drink. [John 19:28-30]

Give each child a tiny pinch of salt to taste, and then put into the egg whites. Salt reminds us of the tears and sadness caused by our sins.

Beat the egg whites on ‘high’ until stiff peaks form. Note their pure whiteness, symbolizing Jesus’ pure and perfect offering, the pure Lamb of God sacrificed for our sins. [Mal. 1:11]

Put sugar in egg whites and beat again until blended. The sweet sugar reminds us of the response at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: ‘You have given them Bread from heaven. R:

Having all sweetness within it.’ Jesus is our Bread of Life!

Fold nuts into the egg whites, then drop by teaspoons onto a greased cookie sheet. Each cookie symbolizes the rocky hill with the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. [Matt. 27:57-60]

Set the cookie sheet in the oven and close the door. Let your children help tape the oven door shut. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed so no one could get in or out. Turn off the oven. [Matt. 27:65-66]

Tell the children that it is time for bed. Like the disciples, they must await the Resurrection.

On Easter morning, go to the oven. When Jesus’ disciples came to the tomb on Easter morning, what did they find? They found that the tomb on the rocky hill was empty, because Jesus was alive! Like the tomb, the cookies are ‘empty’ inside. [They will be hollow when the children bite into them.] [Matt. 28:1-9] Christ Our Lord is Risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Easter at Ma and Pa's House

Easter baskets and candy from Ma and Pa, inside Easter egg hunt due to the rain, and finally some outdoor fun when there was a pause in the storms. R took the time to draw a lovely picture in between all the fun. I think she did remarkably well for a three-year old. She even included the teeth and fingers. She was so proud of her creation.

Easter Morning Celebrations

Bright and early (before 6am!), I heard the older five kids getting into their Easter baskets. They were all so delighted with what the "Easter Bunny" had brought them. I laid there in bed listening to them shouting things like, "Wow, look what I got!", "A Holy Heroes T-shirt!!!", "Cool, a chocolate bunny!", and "Look at all those jelly beans!".

I couldn't stand it any longer. I knew I had to get up and share in their Easter joy (as well as, be the candy police!). The song, "Arise, Come Sing in the Morning!" kept running through my head anyway. I knew there was no way I'd be going back to sleep. So I made my way to the kitchen, saw what they were getting into, and proceeded to make pancakes and sausage for breakfast. After all, it was Easter. Why not make this morning even more special with a large breakfast?

The kids dressed up with their baskets before heading off to Easter Sunday Mass. E had already lost his tie at this point.

Our usual Easter pictures of each of the kids in front of a bush at Church. Hubby and I had M take a picture of us together because it was also our 12th wedding anniversary that day. (Wow, who would have thought that 12 years into our marriage we'd have six beautiful children and one on the way?)

Friday Homeschooling Activities

Our homeschool group did some Easter related activities this month. We did a cute paper plate craft that illustrated the empty tomb, a jelly bean prayer (where each color is to remind us of something God has given us), and an Easter egg hunt. The kids had a great time, as always. I am so grateful to the moms who plan these gatherings.

More Easter Photos

We had a very nice lunch at Ma and Pa's house along with a lively Easter egg hunt. The kids had lots of fun, and in the end came away with a boat load of candy.

On Easter evening, we celebrated a friend's Birthday at our house. (Appearantly my kids are the founding members of his fan club!) Everytime he enters the house, a loud uproarious "JOE!" can be heard for miles around. They constantly fight over who gets to sit next to him at dinner and who gets to sit on his lap when we sit around to talk. We jokingly say that our kids are his "peeps". It was only fitting that I make a cake to reflect this little saying of ours.

Easter Pictures

We are loving our new parish! The Triduum was so reverent and holy. The church was decorated beautifully for Easter! The kids were amazed at how different the church looked Easter morning compared to Good Friday.

This year again, I decided to take an Easter picture of each of the kids. In comparing them to last year's, my what a difference a year makes! Dear hubby and I did not get a picture of us, but oh well. No one wants to see a picture of us anyway. The kids are always the main attraction in our three ring circus.

Here is a picture of our "Easter Bunny". He was delicious.

I hope everyone is having a very blessed Easter season. God bless.