Easter Happenings

We had some great times together this week getting ready for Easter. For Family Home Evening we dyed Easter Eggs. Zach had been anxious to do this for a long time, and he loved every minute of it. That week we also went to see some Baby Animals that the FFA group from the high school brought to Maceys for us to see. Zach enjoyed petting a sheep, goat, and horse. They also had a pig, rabbits and chicken. We also saw "Hop" with Olivia, Caleb and Jennise one day. I thought it was a really cute movie. We decorated our house, made Easter crafts, made a bunny cake and really tried to talk to Zach about the meaning of Easter. It was a fun week.

We woke up Easter Morning and made sure that before we went out to find if a certain bunny had made it into our house, we talked about why we celebrate Easter. Zach said "cause he's not dead yet, he's not in the rock, He is risen!" We came out to find a jelly bean trail leading up to his gifts. Earlier in the week, Zach had asked me how the EB got into our house, to which we made an immediate phone call to Marnee (she has had many more Easter bunny visits than me!) to find out how. Thankfully, we also went to see Hop and that answered some of his questions too! Zach was of course very well taken care of, and got a BIG BOY BIKE! He was so excited, and has done quite well riding it around, except when it goes too fast! He also got the movie Tangled and some floaties for this summer when we go to the pool. We had a wonderful Easter Day. Later we went to Stake Conference, where we attempted to stay for all of it, but we made an early escape to get a tired, sugared-out, becoming-a-bear 3 year old down for a nap. When he woke up we headed to Grandma and Papa's for the easter egg hunt. Our eggs are hidden everywhere-kleenex boxes, in the fridge/freezer, and anywhere else you can think. Zach had fun finding his(and he had help from his cousins) and then they get to take their eggs down to Grandma who gives them the gift that matches the picture on the paper found in the eggs. Grandma and Papa always spoil us all so much and we all have a fun time! Zach got a Jesse "action figure"(aka doll) to go with Buzz and Woody, some clothes and other toys and in Zach's words "The BEST THING EVER"-a trampoline for our backyard. Papa and Brandon finished putting it together last night, and my oh my does my boy LOVE to bounce! He even said in his prayers Sunday night "Thank you for my trampoline, the best thing ever"! I feel safe with him in there because it has the cage around it. He never wants to get off, he just wants to bounce forever. Normally I wouldn't mind, but we are still in winter here and it is CCCCOLD outside! And he can always find a friend to jump with him, Andrew and Kensey (our friends next door) are just as excited as my boy. We then had a yummy Easter dinner at Grandma Koeven's, followed by another Easter Egg Hunt and a Treasure hunt. Grandma K always does such a good job making sure all the kids have a fun time, and they always do!

For me, I really enjoyed this Easter. I read a little every night about the life of Christ. I woke up early Sunday morning and immediately thought of that beautiful Easter morning when his friends came to take care of his body, but he wasn't there. I thought of how that must have felt, seeing an empty tomb. Then I thought of how wonderful the miracle of the Resurrection really is, that he suffered, died and rose again, and he did it because he loves ME. Me, small, imperfect me. What a miracle, and I am so thankful I know what I know. To have the knowledge that I get to LIVE with my family forever and love them FOREVER is just so wonderful. I know that our Heavenly Father lives and sacrificed his Son so that we might live with them forever.