Easter 2012

For the past several years, we've asked the Easter Bunny to come a day early in order for us to focus on the miracle and majesty of the Savior's Atonement on Easter Sunday.  This year, though, we didn't even have to ask.

Here's how we do "Easter Morning" (on Saturday).  The kids come into the family room/kitchen area to find candy and plasitc, candy-filled eggs laid all over the place.

They immediately run to the couches to grab their Easter baskets so they can fill them with the candy and eggs.  Before they can do that, however, they must empty their baskets, which contain a little candy, some cheap trinkets, and an outfit from Grandma and Grandpa Dixon.

 

Then they're on the move gathering eggs and candy.  The rules are the eggs down low are for the little kids.  The eggs up high are for the big kids.

This year we adopted new candy consumption guideline that definitely goes against my creed as a mother, but it's much more desirable than our old method.  Instead of limiting their candy intake to one or two pieces after dinner, we told the kids to eat all they want, whenever they want for two days.  Whatever is left is history.  This way, we don't have Easter candy hanging around in our cupboard till just before Halloween, when the cycle gets repeated all over again. 

In the afternoon we dyed Easter eggs.  Nearly naked babies was preferred in order to salvage clothing.

Then this pair drove off to conquer the world!  Never mind they weren't dressed for the occasion.

Our Easter tradition for Sunday is to have an Easter devotional.  We watched some of the new Bible videos made by the Church.  They are terrific.  We also have a little lesson - the same every year - with plastic eggs each filled with things that remind us of Jesus.  Included are thorns, a nail, white cloth, red cloth, cloves, a little cross, a stone, 3 dimes, a piece of rope, and of course, the last egg to be opened is empty.  The kids love it, but they also feel the true spirit of Easter.