Easter!

We had such a wonderful Easter season! Lent began on Valentine's Day this year, which now seems so long ago, but with me teaching Joseph's religious class and Ella attending her preschool class on Sundays we talked a lot about Lent and getting ready for Easter.  Joseph and I attended a Stations of the Cross shadow puppet play put on 4th graders which was excellent and the girls helped me prep for some neat crafts and activities revolving around Lent and Easter for his class so they learned a little more about this special time this year, too.  

The Easter festivities began a week before Easter with an egg hunt with some of our friends from Ella's soccer team.  We met at the Westwood club one afternoon for pizza and then an egg hunt which was a great time!  

 

 

 

 Julia was meticulous about counting her eggs and making sure they were then all in her basket.  

 

Then on the day before Easter the Westwood Club hosted their annual Easter egg hunt, which we had never been to before, so that was neat to check out; although I don't really have a desire to go back to.  I just don't think community egg hunts are my thing-I'd rather just keep it with a small group of friends or family.  But, the girls loved it and Joseph left disappointed since he didn't find the "golden egg".  Ha.  

Joseph is right there in the front in his orange soccer jersey-there was so much talks bout finding this "golden egg" that he bypassed many of the regular eggs so when the hunt was over and he only had like 4 regular eggs and no golden egg he was not happy!  

Charlotte caught on real fast! 

 

 

Attempt to get a decent picture before the hunt!  

After the egg hunt and two games of soccer we came back home to color our Easter eggs.  Charlotte missed out on the fun this year since she was napping which was probably a good thing since I'm sure she would have been all over everything!!!!

On Easter morning we had some excited kids in our bedroom early trying to see if the Easter bunny had paid our home a visit!!  Thankfully, he did come and did a great job of hiding the baskets!!  He also hid a few eggs with goodies inside but left most of the eggs filled to be hidden at Nani and Poppa's later that afternoon.  Their baskets were filled with new pool/beach toys so lots of excitement.  Joseph did tell me that although his basket didn't get what he was hoping for (Roblox characters and an xbox) he was still really happy.  

 The aftermath of finding everything and some fort building before church...

 We met Nani, Poppa and the Ozecks at our church which was so nice to have us all together for the service.  We attempted some group pictures after mass....

and then we headed to Nani and Poppa's after.  We swam, had an egg hunt, an egg-citing game by Nani, and a delicious Easter dinner so it was a wonderful day!!  

Sydney performed a little show by reading Bible stories.  

Just hanging out with these two...

Nani's game consisted of sit-ups, jumping jacks, bear crawls and other fun activities!

The boys!  

Getting ready for the egg hunt!  

 

 This year we did begin a new tradition by hiding a golden egg (this idea actually started before the Westwood Club's search for the golden egg)!!  We decided that whoever found the golden egg would get $5.00 and then they get to hide the egg the following year.  It took awhile (Daddy hid it this year) but thankfully Joseph found the egg because if not we would have been really upset after two losses.  

 A little help from Aunt Hollie!

SO much love in these pictures!!