Easter

Happy Easter!!

We hid the kid's Easter baskets and let them find them before getting ready for church. I knew the baskets would get emptied very quickly (in search of their favorite thing...candy!), so I took some before shots of the baskets.

Jenna got an Easter book, a 24 piece puzzle (which was lenticular and INCREDIBLY difficult - even I had a hard time putting it together. Thankfully it was from the dollar section at Target.), a hollow chocolate baby bunny (which neither of them liked anyway), new sunglasses, a small Cinderella toy, and a few eggs containing some Rasinets (thanks for the extras Cathy - they love those!) and jellybeans. Oh, and the bunny ears I added to the baskets even though they're not "new". It's fun to have them put them on each year.

Grant's basket had an Easter book, 2 Hot Wheels cars, some toys to dig in the dirt pile out back, new sunglasses, the hollow chocolate bunny, and a few eggs.

The kids waiting eagerly to go search for their baskets.

I'm going to have to hide them better next year. They both found theirs VERY quickly. Grant's was behind the glider rocker and Jenna's was behind our tree in the corner of the room. I think next year I'm expanding the search zone to the entire house! ;) That'll keep them a busy a little longer.

When Jenna found her basket, she immediately dumped it all out in search of the candy. I believe she's in "mid-chew" in this picture. They only got to eat the contents of one egg since it was still early.

So cool!!

Jenna excited about her little Cinderella toy.

All dressed up and ready for church. Jenna picked out her dress at the store all by herself on a Mommy-Daughter date we had a few weeks back. I tried to convince her to get a bright pink and green dress, but she had her heart set on the purple one. I think she chose well - she looks beautiful! :)

I love the sequence of shots - her trying to keep the smile on her face while grabbing Grant to stay put. A BIG thanks to Drew for taking these pictures of the kids while I was still upstairs getting ready!!

What a handsome little guy!

Jenna apparently wanted to include the donkey in her Easter picture.

A family shot...

And one more "cool" shot...

Even with the excitement of the Easter basket that morning, whenever we'd ask Jenna what Easter is all about, she'd reply, "Jesus". We're so glad she still gets the true meaning of Easter and what we're celebrating leading up to Easter Sunday! I'm so thankful we serve a RISEN Savior!

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 9

Day 9: Clean

Lesson Egg: Dirty Pennies
Treat Egg: Stickers

This last card pretty much concluded the past 8 days and helped clarify the big picture. We talked about how we're "stinky" and "dirty" with sin, but that all we need to do is ask God to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us. We should thank Him for sending Jesus to die on the cross, so that we don't have to bear the burden of our sins anymore.

Look at that eager grin! ;) (He's learned that candy is usually involved!)

We put the pennies in a bowl of apple cider vinegar. We then watched over the next few hours as the pennies got clean(er).

Haha...she thought the vinegar smelled "yucky" and wouldn't take her hand away from her mouth and nose.

Throughout the past week and half, discussing the cards and doing the activities, Jenna has learned the basic Easter story. Even among all the Easter eggs, Easter baskets, and candy yesterday, when asked what Easter is all about, her response was still, "Jesus". Simple, straightforward, to the point. Don't you love the simplicity of a child! Jenna's also learned the word "sin" and understands that it signifies the "bad things" that we do. Thank you Cathy for putting this together!! It has been so much fun and such a blessing for us to see our children learn and grasp these stories/concepts. :)

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 8

Day 8: Grow!

Lesson Egg: Grow-an-Animal
Treat Egg: Reese's Pieces

After Jesus rose from the dead, He spent time with His friends before ascending to Heaven to be with his Daddy. We asked Jenna what we're supposed to do now on Earth before we go up to Heaven - we're to grow to become more like Christ!

So we put the "animals" in the water to watch them grow. Jenna was intrigued!

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 7

Day 7: Empty Tomb

Lesson Egg: Empty Egg (tomb)
Treat Egg: Jr. Mints

Today we discussed how when Jesus's friends went to see Him in the tomb, He wasn't there - He was RISEN!! The tomb was empty! We talked about how exciting that is and that He's more powerful than death itself. :) I even heard Jenna telling Grant later on about the empty "egg" and how Jesus is alive...and then she said, "Isn't that exciting Grant?!" :) Melted my heart!

Again, love their smiles!

This was Jenna's surprised face that the tomb is empty. :)

I finally got caught up so the last two eggs will be spread out over the next 2 days as we open them. :) Tonight we're having a family service to talk about the whole story and thank God for loving us enough to send His Only Son to die on the cross for our sins. We're also making the Resurrection Rolls - a recommendation from Drew's Aunt Jean! Thanks Aunt Jean - I'm looking forward to making them with the kids!! :)

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 6

Day 6: Cross

Lesson Egg: Cross
Treat Egg: Glow-in-the-dark Lizards

Today we talked about how Jesus died on the cross and the reason for Him doing that - to take away our stinky sins so that we could have a relationship with God. Our sins separate us from God, but Jesus's death on the cross bridged that gap. Then after Jesus died, he was buried in a tomb. We asked Jenna how she thinks His friends felt (her response: sad).

Grant's really been getting into this as well. When he sees me grab the bag of eggs and my camera, he goes running into the other room and sits down. :) Today he wanted to hold the bag while I took the picture.

Intrigued by the lizard

Cathy included some extra lizards for the kids to play with. I'm thinking they're perfect for the dirt pile in the backyard. :)

I didn't get a picture of Jenna holding the cross, but I've seen her carrying it around. When Drew got home from work yesterday, she showed him the cross and told him that Jesus died on it. I also overheard her telling Grant about the cross at one point too. It's so neat seeing her "take in" what we're telling her and realize she's really listening to us.

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 5

Day 5: Crown of Thorns

Lesson Egg: "Crown"
Treat Egg: Reese's Pieces

After Judas took the soldiers to Jesus, Jesus was taken away and beaten. They made him carry a heavy wooden cross up a hill, stuck a crown of thorns on his head, and nailed him to the cross. They were laughing at Him and mocking Him because He said He was our King. We asked Jenna how she thinks that made Jesus feel and whether she's ever been hurt or felt sad before. (Love the comparison - making it more personal for a 3-year old)

Then after she opened the egg with the "crown" she had to try on the "bracelet of thorns". Ouch! We asked if she could imagine that on her head...another great comparison.

I LOVE their smiles here...

Jenna trying on the "bracelet of thorns" and saying, "owww..."

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 4

Day 4: Betrayal

Lesson Egg: Pennies
Treat Egg: Raisinets

Today's lesson was on Judas's betrayal of Jesus. We talked to Jenna about how one of Jesus's friends told soldiers where to find Jesus in exchange for money. These soldiers wanted to kill Jesus.

I love the lesson egg for today - pennies. Jenna loved getting money! So we went upstairs and put the coins in each of their piggie banks that their Great-Grandpa Jones made. And of course they loved gobbling up the raisinets!! :).

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 3

Day 3: Prayer

Lesson Egg: Chicks (that light up)
Treat Egg: Stickers

After Jesus had dinner with his friends, He went to a garden to pray for them. He prayed for them because He loved them. We asked Jenna what she prays for and whether she thinks God hears her prayers. She usually prays for people to feel better....everyone, whether they're sick or not. Haha! Then we read from the card, "One thing Jesus prayed for was for His friends to be a light - to shine so others see Jesus."

So they each got little rubbery chicks that light up when you shake them. When I was taking the picture below, I could only find 1 of them, but there's also a pink one for Jenna. Very cute! And Jenna LOVES stickers, so she immediately found some paper to stick the stickers on.

Going over the lesson...

Look at my chick!

Stickers!!

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 2

Day 2: Fellowship

Lesson Egg: Koolaid & a Cracker
Treat Egg: Socks for Jenna

We talked about how before Jesus died on the cross, He had dinner with his friends because he wanted to spend time with them. We asked Jenna who her friends are (Elise, Heidi, Landon, Carter - friends from church) and what she does with them (I think she said "play and swing")

Again, I forgot to take a picture before the cracker was eaten, so I just put in a Townhouse cracker that we had for the picture. Aren't the socks so festive and cute?!

Discussing Jesus's fellowship with his friends. Look at Jenna's intense concentration. She's really done a great job at listening to the stories and remembering them later on.

Opening the eggs...

Yay!! Socks!

They make the perfect mittens too!

The True Meaning of Easter - Day 1

One of my favorite Easter children's books is "What Is Easter" by Michelle Medlock Adams. In the book they talk about what most people think of with Easter (the Easter baskets, jellybeans, new dress, etc), but that Easter is really about Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and then rising again 3 days later. I love the simplicity of the message, written in a way that is easy for kids to understand, but I also like the last few pages of the book: "Okay, now I get it. The Easter Bunny is okay, and Easter eggs are fun. But Easter's not about that stuff...it's all about God's Son."

So we haven't talked to Jenna much about the true meaning of Easter because last year she was still a little young to really understand. We read the above book and tried to explain some of it, but you could tell it was still "over her head." I had been looking for ideas of things to do with her to help her understand the true meaning of Easter, when her Aunt Cathy told us she put together something for the kids. Each day (for 9 days) there's a note card that I read to the kids that discusses a part of the Easter story. She's done a phenomenal job writing it in a way that is easy for Jenna to understand and also includes questions for us to ask her. So it pulls her in, makes her think, and helps her process it as well. I love it! Then they get to open 2 eggs - 1 of the eggs has something in it that ties to the story for that day and the other egg is a "treat" - either candy or a toy.

We got the box of goodies a few weeks before we were to start and Jenna has been anxiously waiting, asking if she could open the eggs from "Aunt Cassy". :) So I thought I would chronicle each day and the lessons from it.


Day 1: Stinky Sins

Lesson Egg: Fish sauce
Treat Egg: Jr. Mints

We talked about how our sins are stinky to God and how He can't be around them. We smelled the fish sauce, which was VERY, VERY stinky!!! Such a good example of something smelling terrible and how we don't want to be around that and have to smell it all the time. We asked Jenna what some things are that she does wrong and she said, "hitting Grant." Then Cathy went on to say that that's why God sent Jesus to die for our sins. :)

(I remembered to take this picture after we had already thrown out the stinky fish sauce!)

Jenna smelling the fish sauce...

STINKY!!!

But the Jr. Mints make it all better! ;)