Her second Easter.

We had a very full, and very happy Easter yesterday. All week, the little one had a particular reply anytime she heard the word “Easter,” and it melted my heart every time!

 

We started the morning out with some simple eggs and gifts for her. I’m not really into the over-the-top big Easter baskets overflowing with candy and tons of toys. I’m that way about Christmas too; I want my kids to remember the reason we’re celebrating, not the stuff they get. Anyway, she had some eggs filled with cereal, fruit leather, raisins, and fruit snacks. She got a couple t-shirts, a jumbo coloring book, and some fun new sunglasses. Simple, but she liked it.

I mean, really, is there anything cuter than a kid just after waking up happily with messy, bedhead? Gosh, she’s cute. :)

I found a fun, colorful “twirly” dress for a good price online at The Children’s Place for her, and she loved spinning in it. I’m not a real girly-girl, but I love bright colors and everyone needs a twirl or two every now and then!

Her braids lasted about half the day, which is much longer than I anticipated…

Our little family of 3.5, ready to head to church on the best Sunday of the year. It’s hard to believe that next year our Easter picture will have two little ones!

After a great time at church, we headed to my Aunt Jane’s and Judy’s house for a potluck, swings, and an Easter egg hunt…

Another family photo…

My gorgeous sister & niece…

The little one was so tired towards the end. Little girl needed her nap!

Her favorite part of the egg hunt was peeling off the stickers that were holding the eggs shut…

After the egg hunt concluded, she got her kite and bubbles {a tradition I loved growing up too}, and we headed to Great Gary & Great Dottie’s. She snuck in a little cat nap on the way, thankfully…

She enjoyed round two of food & egg hunting. Gosh I love these two…

With these eggs, she was very insistent on cracking each one open before putting it in her basket…

Once she decided she was too tired to keep hunting, Great Gary took her inside to get her bag of goodies. Is the picture below so special? It’s really such a blessing that she gets to have such close relationship with not one, but three great grandparents. Amazing.

My favorite part of the day though, was waking up at 4am – well, correction, waking up that early wasn’t my favorite part – but getting up early enough to have a couple quiet hours alone, reading John 20  while my husband & baby girl slept soundly, watching the sun rise paint the sky and declare His faithfulness yet again. I’m so thankful – filled to the brim with gratitude – that God didn’t leave us alone, broken. That we have real hope. True hope. That Jesus didn’t just die. He has risen indeed forever, and that changes everything.

Oh what a glorious day!