Our Easter Activities kicked off with Palm Sunday. The girls looked adorable cute and waved their palms in church. It was Lilah's first time at this and I got no pictures because they were on the other side of the church. I did take a few pictures before hand.
After church we went to visit the Easter Bunny. Lilah talked and talked about how she was not going to cry this year. As we waited in line she and Addy kept walking up to the front to peak at the bunny. The closer we got the more timid Lilah became. We were a few people until our turn and now she is in Tim's arms not wanting to be put down. Once it was our turn she screamed where the entire Bass Pro could hear, "NO! NO! NO!". The camera ladies said amongst themselves that there was no way this girl was sitting down for a picture. Sounded like a challenge to me. So Tim sat down with her and he got his picture with the Easter Bunny. Haha
On Wednesday we attended a Holy Week Breakfast at the church. I really enjoy this little break in our week to remember what we are celebrating. We all had off Friday for good Friday. We spent the day starting the playhouse transformation (we are transforming a shed into a playhouse). That evening we had our friends over for egg dying. Let's just say I am not sure I have laughed that long in a while, spilled die, malfunctioning cameras, husband and crazy kids. It was quite a combination.
After all of the excitement the kids watched a movie while their eggs dried.
Aren't they all adorable lined up.
Finally time to put the finishing touches on, stickers.
Saturday morning Tim worked on the playhouse while I switched out all of the girl's clothes from fall/winter to spring/summer. Then that afternoon we went to an Easter carnival and egg hunt at the church affiliated with Tim's school.
On Easter Sunday Addy woke up and came running in our room. "Mom, Dad, someone left things in our Easter baskets, but I won't touch them until Lilah wakes up." She snuggled up into bed with us and started talking out loud who put those things there. She thought it was us or was it the Easter Bunny. Then she asked the dreaded question. "Mom, tell me the truth. Did you put those things there? Is the Easter Bunny real?" I was still not awake yet, so I responded "Well, yes I did. But don't tell anyone else." She started saying well I knew it because I could see the shoes of the Easter Bunny (lots of high schoolers were dressed up as bunnies at the carnival the day before) and I could see their skin through the back tie. Then this spiraled into well then "Mickey Mouse and Minnie are not real and all the Disney characters, but the Disney Princesses they are real because I can see their skin". Crap my child is losing all her childhood magic fast. I was praying Santa wasn't next. Why didn't I have my coffee yet and get up earlier so I was prepared for this. So Lilah woke up and they opened their baskets. Nothing more was said. Tim and I were like what have we done.
Up next on the agenda was Resurrection Rolls. Tim read the resurrection story and we re-enacted it using butter (oils), brown sugar (spices), a marshmallow (Jesus' body), and crescent rolls (the clothes). Then we put them in the oven and closed the door (tomb). As soon as we sat down for this activity Addy announced to Lilah "The Easter Bunny isn't real. It is just Mom and Dad". I said "Addy we told you not to tell anyone". Addy responded, "Mom, I am just telling her so she won't be scared of the Easter Bunny anymore". Oh no, my child is going to tell everyone that the Easter Bunny isn't real and she is going to be known as the magic spoiler.
We went to church then had lunch at my sister's house. On the way I tried to undo what I had done that morning. I told Addison I had just tricked her that she looked scared when she thought the Easter Bunny was real, so I said it was me and Dad so she wouldn't be scared. She didn't buy it the first time. After the third rendition of this she finally said okay. The cousins also had a little egg hunt. All of them are getting the hang of it. Of course, we also had to decorate our bunny cake.
Easter Bunny saga continues: So we get home after a long day and I ask Addison what had she decided about the Easter Bunny. She says it is me and Dad. I then say well if you don't believe in him he probably won't bring you anything anymore. Should we call him and tell him. She started crying and said no no I believe. So now I guess she "believes" after her mom torturing her. Now I am not proud of any of this. This is in fact a big mom fail in my book. I wished I would have handled it all different, but I guess you live and you learn.
The next day I asked her what her friends got from the Easter Bunny. I wanted to find out if they even talked about it. She completely dodged and ignored the question after asked several times so I dropped it. I decided we would just deal with this next year.
Fast forward to a week later. Addison has her new Elsa PJ top on, which Tim believes is too little. He asks her Addy who got you that, going through a list of people. "It's too small!", he says. I respond, "Tim, I bought that". She proudly with the biggest smile ever points at me and yells "I knew it! I knew it!" I start laughing hysterically. Tim keeps saying "what? what?". Addy smiles sneakily and says to Tim. "It's from the Easter Bunny". Haha so she knows the truth but it looks like she is going to play along. Golly, she is growing up fast. I hope we handle challenges in the future a little better. And Tim and I are going to have to get our game face on for Santa this year. I am hoping the "skin" showing will buy us one more year of magic.
P.S. Our children know what Christmas and Easter truly represent. We teach and talk about those all the time during those holidays, but we still like to add a little fun with Santa and the Easter Bunny. After all, those years seem to not last long.
