Easter, Part 2

Easter was a fun and busy day for us.   

EASTER MORNING

This was Fischer's Basket.  

Fischer thought it was pretty neat.

Of coarse Fischer had to try some of the candy.

As you can tell he liked it.

EASTER AFTERNOON-ANDREASON'S

That afternoon my Mom invited us to her place for lunch.  The kids had a blast. 

And look what the Easter Bunny left Fischer at Grandma's place! 

Actually this nifty 'little' toy belongs to Uncle Glenn but he was nice enough to take us for a ride.

After lunch, we had an Easter egg hunt. 

Grandma was nice to help Fischer find some eggs.

Maddie and Hunter were definitely in the action  

After all the eggs were found we posed for a picture 

Then Grandma and Grandpa surprised us with a pinata. At first dad had to show Fischer how to hit the pinata. 

Then he decided he wanted to do it by himself 

WACK!

EASTER EVENING-CHRISTENSEN'S

Later that night we went to Karl's family for dinner.

Grandma and Grandpa Christensen spoiled the kids with Easter baskets.

And provided an Easter Egg hunt. We all had to stand on the porch until until Grandpa said go. 

Because Fischer was the youngest, he got a head start 

But then he was distracted by an airplane that was flying over. 

But he eventually got over the airplane and started gathering eggs. 

Once all eggs were found we gathered together for a picture. 

It was a great day spent with our family.  We are truly blessed to have most of our family close by.  

Bunnies, Bunnies, Everywhere!

I don't know about your house, but at my house when Easter gets close we have bunnies running around everywhere.  They're quick little buggers but I managed to get a couple shots of the bunnies at our place.

Easter, Part 1

Today we had the pleasure of participating at the annual Easter egg hunt held at the Legacy Center where Karl's Grandma, Clara lives. 

We were lucky enough to catch a picture of Fischer and the Easter Bunny before the Easter Egg hunt started.

Fischer was ready to go as we were waiting for the Easter egg hunt to start.

Let the egg finding begin! 

 

After the hunt was over of course we had to expect the eggs 

Fischer and his cousin Kinsley got to hunt eggs together since they were in the same age category. 

And of course we had to get a picture of our family 

Then we had to get a picture of all the kids... 

 and everyone at the hunt (minus Grandpa Mike who was taking the picture) 

Afterwords we went up to Clara's apartment to visit for awhile.  While there Clara walked out in the hall with the kids to show them all the decoration and let them run around.  Each resident had decorated their door area.  It was really fun to see what everyone did.  This particular door was Fischer's favorite.  This gentleman had placed a gumball machine with candy in it.  He then placed a little soup can on the floor with pennies in it with a note on the top of the gumball machine telling people to please help themselves. 

This was Fischer pointing out the candy to Dad. 

Watching Dad turn the handle 

Digging into the candy 

He was so excited about it he then turned to tell me about it.  Mouth full of candy of course. 

I loved this shot of Fischer and his Dad walking down the hall together.  They're pretty good pals.  

Before we left we had to get a picture of  Grandma Great and all the kids. 

Thanks Clara for inviting us in the fun and letting us play at your place for a bit. 

Resurrection Cookies

Being a new mom it's important to me to start fun family traditions.  With Easter around the corner I really wanted to do something that was not only fun, but brought the true meaning of Easter in my home.  I tried this out with my 10-11 yr old activity day girls and they loved it.  (Fisher helped me with the first batch since I made some ahead of time so the girls could actually try them.)

Children of all ages LOVE to help make these cookies (as well as eat them) and reading the story that goes with it.  Ideally, you make them the night before Easter but you can enjoy them any time you want to remember and experience the joy of the Resurrection!  You will need:

• 1 cup whole pecans
• 3 egg whites (if using smaller eggs, add 1 additional egg white)
• 1 cup sugar
• A wooden spoon
• A Bible
• 1 teaspoon Vinegar
• A pinch of salt
• 1 zip-lock baggie
• Some heat-resistant tape

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees before you start
2. Place the pecans in the zip-lock baggie and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman Soldiers.  Read John 19: 1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
4. Add the egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.  Read John 10:10-11
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and then brush the rest into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27
6. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add the sugar.  Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and belong to Him.  Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
7. Beat the mixture with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.  Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.  (Note:  If your mixture doesn't ever get to stiff peaks it just means it needed more egg whites.  Do not despair, use the batter as is.  It will still work.  It will just spread more cookie-like then staying in a mound)
8. Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop the mixture by teaspoons onto a wax paper-covered cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.  Read Matthew 27:57-60
9. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and TURN THE OVEN OFF!
10. Give each child a piece of tape and let them SEAL THE OVEN DOOR with the tape.  Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.  Read Matthew 27:65-66.
11. GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
12. On Easter morning (or the next morning), open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are HOLLOW!  On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28: 1-9.

Have fun with the cookies, and have a very blessed Easter.

Every Last Bit

These pictures were actually taken awhile ago from my brother but I thought them too cute not to share.  Grandma was making whip cream for a dessert and Fischer had a grand ol' time licking the beaters.


This picture makes me laugh.  Had to make sure he got all the cream off Grandma's finger too. 

Lil' Punkster

The "TAT"

The "TOUGH" Guy

 

The "HOG"

Showing of "the GUNS"