Easter

Annual Easter picture

Easter is a big celebration in our home.  We celebrate that our Savior has risen from the grave and is alive.   I love this time of year. It's Springtime, the flowers have started blooming, it's warmish outside, and it is a celebration.  I especially like that my parents have started attending Easter with us. Because Easter is a big deal to me and my family, I like that my parents join us for church and then afterwards for brunch.  This year was no different and I am so happy to spend time with my family.

Dying Easter Eggs

We attended our usual Mass time and saw many friends at church. I love seeing my kids in their Easter duds.  After Mass the kids participate in an Easter Egg Hunt organized by the Knights of Columbus.  This year, Buggy had to be placed in the older age group which meant she was placed with older, quicker kids who made a mad dash for the eggs and she ended up with very little. Whereas Mr. Bananas was at the top of his age group and demolished the competition.  Boogie tried to compensate for Buggy's loss by sharing his eggs with her.  The whole even took less than 10 minutes and we trooped home for Easter brunch with my Filipino Relatives and my parents.

Mr. Bananas' First time decorating Easter eggs

The kids came home to find their Easter baskets while Hubby prepared brunch. Again, I really enjoyed this time with my family and I'm glad my parents could join us.  Later in the afternoon, we trooped over to my in-laws home and we celebrated Easter dinner with my husband's side of the family.  Due to the rain we had to improvise and do the Easter egg hunt inside. With 19 kids looking for eggs, it makes it a little tight, but the kids had fun nonetheless.  I enjoyed my time with my husband's side of the family catching up.  I think it has been over 2 months since we've seen them...we usually see each other once a month because we are celebrating one thing or another. It was nice to catch up.

Easter was pleasant and I truly enjoyed myself. I loved watching my kids interact with my side of the family and my husband's side of the family. Seeing all of our loved ones is a wonderful way to spend our Easter.

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with HIm. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.  The death He died to sine once for all;  but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way, count yourselves dead to sing but alive to God in Christ Jesus (NIV)

Easter 2012

Family Picture on Easter

I've been so busy I haven't had two seconds to check in and post.  I've been prepping for Boogie's birthday party. This is the first year that we have decided to do a separate "friend" party and I've been working hard on that. I will write more about that on another post and sharing my crafty side.

First, I have to write and share pictures from Easter.  He is Risen!  Alleluia, Alleluia!

As I've posted before, the kids have become very involved in Lent this year. They willingly gave up television and video games all through Lent and meat on Fridays.  I have to say we haven't missed television. Even though we can go back to watching it, the kids haven't asked for it, and I'm finding that I am getting more done because I'm not turning it on to "relax." It's been good.

My kids with my parents

Easter was a little chillier than I would have liked, but still sunny and bright.  We picked up my Filipino relatives and headed to Church a little earlier than usual so that we could be sure to sit together. With it being Easter, it was suggested we arrive earlier because of the expected number of people attending Church.  However, I found that it did not seem as crowded. Hubby reminded me that we were sitting this year and not standing in the back...maybe that was it. And when you fill an entire pew with just your family, you get a little more wiggle room.  My parents joined us this year and it was really, really nice to attend Church with them. We attend different churches and don't often get to sit through a service with them. I liked that they were there and the kids loved being with Lolo and Lola. I hope we can make this an annual occurrence.

We finished church with an Easter egg "hunt" for the kids.  The Knights of Columbus put this on every year and they continue to do a fantastic job organizing it.  This year Boogs actually came home with candy. Last year an older kid snookered him and traded Boogie pencils for his candy. No candy for him last year...not that it was an entirely bad thing...

Picture with my Filipino relatives

I love Easter. I love the promises it holds and the promises of new life. I love the hope it brings and how it strengthens my faith. It is a wonderful time and I am blessed to be able to spend it with my immediate and extended family.


To each of you I wish you blessings of new hope, eternal life, and new beginnings. Happy Easter!






1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)