Easter - SparkNotes Version

In my day, we called them Cliff's Notes, but I'm trying to keep up with the times.

Finally... a post!  (I know, it's only been a few days, but I'm patting myself on the back for my display of posting-restraint in the continual quest to prioritize effectively.)  I will try to fully utilize my limited time to it's fullest, so don't expect entertainment, organization, or even correct spelling.  Those things take time.

Let's start at the very beginning.  A very good place to start.

The egg lights were hung almost a full week before Easter.   Just don't call me late for dinner.

Tulips (my next-to-favorite flower) were purchased as a reminder of Spring, which has been MIA around these parts lately.

The eggs were boiled, and refrigerated for a more convenient time to dye.

That time came around 9:30 pm on a Friday evening.  Lex kindly put her friends on hold for a whole 10 minutes, so she could be included in this highly anticipated family tradition.  (Small amounts of coercion and parental persuasion may have been involved.  And a pizza bribe.)

Lex dyed her eggs, then headed back to the friends.  Such a teenager-ish thing to do.

I personally LOVE this technique for coloring eggs.  It's quick and easy, with relatively little mess.  Except for on your hands, which is why we now always wear gloves.  Smart, huh?  Here's the formula in a nutshell, courtesy of Family Fun mag, April 2006:

Tie-dye Easter Eggs

1)  Place several hard-boiled eggs in a colander in the kitchen sink and splash them with white vinegar.

2)  Drip food coloring on the eggs.  (Just a drop or two of your first color.  Lighter colors first.  Two colors works best, but you can use up to three -- any more may make your colors turn muddy.  We use the McCormick neon colors in those little squeeze bottles.)

3)  Gently (ever so gently, so as not to crack your eggs) agitate (I call it "swirl") the colander for a few seconds to help the color spread.  Let the first color set on the eggs for 30 seconds.

4)  Repeat steps 2 and 3, allowing each color to set for 30 seconds.

5)  After the last color has set, give the eggs a light rinse (in a very small stream of slow-running water... not a full-blast from the faucet) and let them drain for a minute or two.  Air-dry on paper towels.

You can't color eggs without a pair of bunny ears or two.  And two willing subjects to wear them.

(Note the Easter goodies on the counter... courtesy of Grandma Syddall, who NEVER forgets that my kids LOVE a package in the mail.  Thanks, Grandma!)

To clean up all that food dye, Clorox is your best friend.  Just don't splash it on your pants.

On Saturday morning, my friend Steph kindly took Mar to an egg hunt at the park.  I really appreciate friends who offer to pick up my slack.

Sunday morning, we attended church.  Mar and I headed out early for a final choir practice.  I LOVE that she is singing in the choir with me.  Britta used to sing with me, and Shilo has on occasion, but there's been a long, dry spell of lonely practices until Mar joined (along with a few of her closest friends).

The talks were thought-provoking and moving.  The Relief Society lesson was excellent.  It was the perfect way to start a beautiful (although somewhat gray and overcast) Easter morning.  

Note:  Bill and I snuck out during Sunday School to play bunny.  Don't tell anyone.  We have done it for years - but only on the years that church starts early.  Is there a twinge of guilt?  For me, yes.  Could we have the bunny come on Saturday?  If we had it together enough.  But it's what we've done.  And we get a little sugar fix pick-me-up before heading discreetly back to attend the rest of the meetings.  Withheld judgement would be appreciated :-)

After church on Sunday, it was like corralling angry chickens to get a picture of the girls all dressed up.  Not really, but Lex was dying to get into her sweats, because she is so darn uncomfortable in a skirt.  (Her explanation, not mine.)  Then the Easter basket hunt could begin.

Trusty Dad had the video camera rolling.  SOMEDAY we are going to want to sit for hours on end, enjoying the Easter basket hunt from years gone by.  Just like we will relish watching the opening of every Christmas gift from the past 50 years.

Mauri was the only family member that got a new Easter dress this year... handpicked and selected by herself.  She LOVES the ruched bodice, the flounce skirt (polka dots a bonus), sequined floral embellishment, and the attached jacket (modesty is important).  AND it will match her self-purchased bright pink 3" bejeweled heels that she wears for dress-up.  (No, you can't wear them to church).

Mauri found her basket first.  The Easter Bunny thought he had done a bang-up job at finding somewhat difficult hiding places.  I think it took Mar all of 2 minutes.  Next year I'm hiring out.

Shi and Lex whined a bit, since they were still looking after a whole 10 minutes.  

After a few blatant hints (anything to stop the whine), they found them fairly quickly.

Lex went straight for a Peep.  Personally, I only like them when they harden up a bit.  

Note to Bill:  Peeps are NOT my favorite candy.  Please do not stock up at a post-Easter clearance, and give me a boatload for Mother's Day.  Or my birthday (although they WOULD be nice and hard by then). 

For Easter dinner, we had the Yoshikawas, Baumgartners, Billats and Angells over.  You should have heard the Syddall discussion about seating arrangements.  (Yes, I believe in seating arrangements.)  It was finally decided to have ALL the children sit in the dining room, and all the parents in the kitchen.  My girls were put on a required cell phone ban, and Rebecca passed it along to her girls that it would be a text-free social event.  Genius.

It worked splendidly (at least from the parents' point of view -- after all the company had left, we were discussing how the "arrangement" worked.  Shilo mentioned a few moments of awkward silence, followed by lengthy discussion from the older crowd about ACT's, college, and the like.  Then she said, "It sounded like you guys were all having a good time in the kitchen... talking, laughing, enjoying yourselves..."  It just takes practice, I told her, which was the purpose of the arrangement in the first place.)

In conclusion (before I head off to the Science Fair -- more on that another day), I will share our favorite Kids Say the Darndest Things Easter moment, a la Taylor, circa 1999(ish):

"I know you and Dad are Santa,

and I don't believe in the Tooth Fairy,

BUT I KNOW THERE'S AN EASTER BUNNY...

because he comes while we're at church!"