Easter Weekend 2012

Tate and I had a gorgeous, festive, fun filled, spiritual, love-filled, Christ-loving Easter.  


As mentioned previously we saw the Easter Bunny on Friday morning...

He also got to hold a real Easter bunny at daycare on Tuesday...

Saturday morning I cleaned, laundried, packed, picked up and got us ready for our weekend adventure.  We headed out to Uncle Bryan's for the annual Tribal Easter Egg Hunt with our wonderful, fabulous tribe of amazing friends who we adore.  Almost everyone has kids now, so the parties are tamer, but no less fun if not more so.  Mimosas were flowing, brunch was yummy and the friendship divine.  Tate fell in love with Ollie, my friend K's dog who is a labradoodle and HUGE!  But after a few minutes of hiding behind my leg, Tate was enamored.   Cascarones eggs were hidden for the kiddos, and after a few minutes of letting the little ones go first, the older kids made a mad dash for the eggs.  (I think our oldest child is 6 1/2).

Me and my sweet boy!

The kids were DYING to get in the pool!

The little bits of the tribe!

 

Tate's new BFF...Ollie!

Hanging with the big kids!

Look Ma!!

A-hunting they shall go!

Tate tries to crack a cascarone on my head!

 

Mommy helps!

Just a boy and 'his' dog.

After there was confetti everywhere, and I mean everywhere...down shirts, in underwear, all over the ground, the kids made a beeline for the pool!!!  They had a great time!!  


We headed off to my parents' after the egg hunt was done.  Tate took a nice hour long nap on the way there;  I stopped off at home to get a few things, so he was able to snooze in the car at our house to give him the longish nap.  Aunt Lindsey joined us at my parents' and it was a nice afternoon and night with the family.  Tate was exhausted and was in the crib by 7:40 and asleep by 8.  My plan was to get up at our normal time in the morning 5:45/6...you know HIS normal.  I wanted to leave my parent's by 7:30 to get to church for the Rite II service at church at 8:45.  I figured we would get there by 8 or so, and hopefully we could get a seat.  This service is PACKED, and I mean packed on Easter Sunday...all the 2 time a year Christians (doesn't make me sound like such a Christian does it?).  And of course there are people who have family in town, so grandparents, cousins etc all come with.  Anyway, I love, love, love this Easter service.  It's beautiful, moving and just filled with so much happiness and joy and excitement.  We've been going to the Children's Service which while great for Tate leaves me missing my formal service.  I love the kneeling and quiet and reflection in the Rite II service.  In any event, with all the undercurrent of excitement and pomp and circumstance I figured Tate would do ok.  


The best laid plans....

WooHoo!!  A balance bike!!!

The Easter Bunny came while Tate slept...

Yes,  the bunny gave him a
couple of pieces  of candy

I didn't set my alarm, because, umm I haven't needed one in 2 years, 8 months and 2 weeks.


I opened my eyes to light.  Yes, light.  


I was confused and disoriented.  Did someone have their headlights directed at my parents' house?


NO!!!  It was 6:51AM!!!!!!!


Tate was still sound asleep!!


I was flabbergasted.  On the one day, the one day I wanted him to wake up at his regular time...he opts to sleep in.  


He stumbled sleepily into the living room to see his Easter basket...

Needless to say we did not make it to the 8:45 Rite II service.  We made it in plenty of time for the 9am Children's Awesome Worship Service, and Tate and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  After these 2 services there is an Easter Egg Hunt on the lawn of the private school attached to our church.  We headed over there for yet another hunt for Tate.  The kids have to wait a bit after the Awesome service for the Rite II service to finish, so those 15-20 minutes are filled with "Come back here Tate!"  "No, Hannah, not yet" and "Put that egg down, Grace!"

But it was a gorgeous morning and every child got their baskets filled...

 

 

We meandered on back to my parents' after Tate filled his basket.  And emptied.  He did not want to take any of the eggs home.  He kept throwing them back on the ground.  So very cute.  He hung out with his beloved Papa watched all kinds of 'real' trains on Papa's iPad while I packed up our stuff and got his lunch together.  Papa was feeling under the weather, but was a trooper and entertained his buddy.

We then all loaded up in our respective cars and headed over to my sister Kellie's place.  She and her family have their new baby, so were not up to coming to my parents' place.  My sister's birthday is also on Tuesday, so we were celebrating that today as well.  


We had yet another Easter egg hunt and the boys had a great time running around outside looking for more eggs.  Tate wasn't as enthused about these though as they were filled with nickels and stickers.  I also confiscated all the candy from his church eggs earlier and threw it away, though I allowed him one piece :).

 

 

Checking out their loot!

 


 My dear sweet little boy and I just had an amazingly blessed weekend.  Certainly there were a couple of meltdowns, a few too many 'nos' from a certain 2 year old and I fathom a guess he would say there were a few too many 'nos' from a certain 44 year old :)  But we are together.  And right now I can hear his little voice as we drove into my parents' driveway..."We're at Grandmommy and Papa's house!!"


Me..."Yes, we are!"


Tate..."You coming with me?"


Me..."Yes, baby I'm coming with you" 


I'll be with you today, tomorrow and for always.


Easter...a time of renewal.  A time of love.  


Alleluia!  Christ is Risen!