"Easter Weekend 2014"....

Easter this year was alittle different for our family. Jay's cousin got married the night before Easter in South Carolina, and Jay was officiating the ceremony. We had already decided it would be in the children's best interest not to make them drive the 5 hour drive to stay roughly 24 hours, and then drive 5 hours home late at night. It would have been too much to then expect them to spend another 4 hours at church Easter Sunday morning while both their parents were involved in all services. So, while we were sad for them to miss a family wedding, we were confident it was the best decision for them. My wonderful, selfless, sacrificial parents kept them the entire weekend. They made sure Elijah made it to his soccer game and team picture day, took them to an Easter Egg hunt Saturday morning, took them to another Easter Egg hunt that afternoon, gave them their Easter baskets Sunday morning, got them both up, fed, and dressed for 8:15 church service at their church, and then brought them to our church at 10:00 for the other services!!  We were so thankful to have such willing parents to make sure they had a fabulous weekend. I was sad to have to miss EB's game and their egg hunts, but I am pretty sure they had more fun with Bebe and E-Daddy than they would have if they had been stuck with their mommy and daddy all weekend! I left my camera with them to take pictures so we wouldn't have to miss out.

Jay and I had a wonderful drive there and back. It was quiet. We talked. We didn't talk. We sat in silence, and were perfectly okay with that. We had great conversations. We breathed the same air and existed in the same place at the same time for the first time in a long time! I think we were both surprised that God blessed us so richly in such a short amount of time.

The wedding was at 6:00pm and we left the reception at 8:00 and arrived home in the wee hours of the morning - alarm clock went off a few short hours later and we were back at church celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord!

HE IS RISEN! O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY? CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY, ALLELUIA!

We gave them their Easter baskets from us Friday morning before we left town

Egg Hunt # 1.  Most of the children that attend this particular egg hunt will wear their smocked or monogrammed outfits - both boys and girls. Elijah had a soccer game at 9:00 and the hunt started at 10 or 10:30, so they were rushing to get there as it was. I love that he is wearing his Upward Soccer uniform...., and proud of it!!  No shame here! At least he took off his black shin guards! 

E-Daddy and his girl. 

He loved the Easter Bunny this year, she hated him! First thing she told me at church the next morning when I saw her was, "

Doughnuts!  Such a treat. We never eat them. I know...., unAmerican. 

and lollipops...., they were on a sugar high of the century after Easter weekend, but oh so happy :) 

The soccer uniform still cracks me up! 

Easter Egg Hunt # 2 

And cowboy boots with this outfit crack me up too!!!  I love this kid! 

It was pretty wet and soggy, so the boots probably were a good move...... 

and....., ice cream..., all in a day's work! 

Easter Sunday, after church.  She is wearing the dress I wore when I was 2, made by my Mom.  So fun to see her in these dresses. 

So sweet! 

I told EB just to keep smiling no matter what sister was doing...., she was pretty interested in her dress for some reason! 

We are just thankful to have all 4 of us in one place, somewhat still, and somewhat smiling!  This is about as good as it was going to get!