Easter in a flash

So I only have one picture to post because that is all I managed to take over the Easter holiday weekend.  It's been months since I've used my big boy camera and I've missed it.  Easter was the perfect way to end the kid's spring break from school.  It's late in the school year and it was a desperately needed time away from our hectic routine.

We got dressed up fancy for church.  I bought a new top (and wore it backwards because I liked how it looked under my sweater better & no one even knew!).  The girls got new dresses and the boys looked pretty handsome in their suits.  I spoke in Sacrament Meeting and the Mr. sang my very favorite Easter song "Consider the Lilies".  I've loved that song since I was a little girl, when my grandma was the choir director in our ward in Pittsburgh and had them sing it every year.  Maybe I love it because it is a memory that is attached to Grandma.  I love anything that reminds me of her.  Anyhoo.....I also had to teach the Sharing Time lesson in Primary and Tatum gave a short talk too.  I really felt the Spirit throughout the day

I was completely exhausted from our adventures during the week and just wanted to collapse on the couch and take a nap right after church.  Instead, I talked everyone into heading right into the backyard so I could take a family picture.  And then I collapsed.

I hope this Easter was good to you & your loved ones.

easter weekend recap

Our Easter weekend was filled with egg dying, candy eating, dinner with friends, church and soccer games squished into the mix.  The Bunny treated the kids to a new soccer ball so they can practice at home and Hotel Transylvania - our new favorite movie.



The kids left the bunny a little note and the Bunny kindly replied.



I hope your Easter weekend was filled with good memory making.

happy easter

[image via aka design]

I know the Savior lives.  I am grateful each day that I have this knowledge.  May you and your family enjoy this Easter Sunday with gladness in your hearts that He is risen.

DIY easter basket

Easter is practically here!  While our family focuses on the Savior on Sundays, we are all about the Easter Bunny bringing us goodies on Saturday morning.  Since the Bunny & I are pretty tight, I already know that candy and treats are prepped and ready to go for the big day.  Egg dying happens Friday.  But while getting ready for the festivities, I realized I only have 4 baskets on hand.  The Mr. & I kind of wing it from year to year, using whatever we can scrounge up in the house to use as a basket.  Sometimes we end up just using a bowl.  Well not this year my friends.  I was super inspired by Mer Mag's bunny basket made out of a oatmeal tube and duct tape and wanted to give something like that a try.  You really should click over and check it out - her basket is adorable.

Being that I am on a super tight budget and don't have enough duct tape lying around, I decided to cover an oatmeal tube with scrapbooking paper I already have on hand.  I also pulled out some velvet ribbon to use as a handle and glue strips to hold it all together.  I cut one piece of 12 x 12 paper in half.  While holding one of the pieces on top of the tube, I carefully traced along the top of paper with a pen and then I cut along the pen mark with an exacto knife so that the tube was 6 inches tall (the same height as my paper).  Then I glued one piece of paper down on the tube.  I trimmed the 2nd piece of paper so that it went exactly half way around the tube.  Then I put glue strips on each seam and added my ribbon.  I eyeballed the ears and bow tie, figuring that if my first try looked to crappy, I could trash them and start over.  Luckily, I didn't have to!

Did you make an Easter basket this year?  I'd love to see - leave a link in the comments.