Easter 2013... Baskets, Egg Hunts, and a BIG SURPRISE-- Oh My!!

On Saturday Morning, my children woke up nice and early to hunt for their baskets. I think that I have mentioned before that-- no matter where the Easter Bunny hides Cameron's basket, he is ALWAYS the last one to find it. At times, this trend results in frustration, and a minor case of the Easter grumps. In an effort to avoid this-- the Easter Bunny was kind enough to hide Cameron's basket in an extremely elementary place this year. Unfortunately, some traditions are hard to break, and Cameron was still the last one to discover his basket. It was really pretty funny to watch. Maybe next year the Easter Bunny needs to place it next to his pillow??? All of the children had fun, and seemed really pleased with their baskets.

Later in the afternoon, the younger children went to an egg hunt with a few families in our new neighborhood. It was fun to have a group of kids to hunt eggs with, and even more fun to find the different things the eggs had been filled with.

My girls looked so pretty on Sunday Morning. I love Easter.

After Church, I asked the children if they wanted to go on an Easter Scavenger Hunt. They were all very excited. We really try to focus our Easter Sabbath activities around the Savior, His atonement, and Resurrection. This scavenger hunt was more reverent and thoughtful than most. The children loved it-- especially the grand prize at the end! It turned out to be a great experience.

CLUE#1:  Welcome to this Easter treasure hunt. I hope that as we go through the hunt, and read the clues together, that you will think about Jesus Christ and all of the MANY MANY MANY ways He blesses your life.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, to celebrate Passover, he rode in on the back of a baby donkey. As he entered the people shouted “Hosanna”. They were recognizing Christ as a king. They threw clothes and palm branches on the path before him as a sign of respect. Go look for your next clue in a branch.

CLUE #2 As a symbol of love, and a way to help us all remember Him and our covenants—the Savior instituted the Sacrament.  “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat, this in remembrance of my body”. During the sacrament, I hope you will try to stop and reflect on the Savior. The bread is where your next clue is hiding.

 CLUE#3: One name for Jesus is ‘The bread of life’. This is because if we follow Him and His teachings—it will fill us and nourish our spirits all our life. Our life and paths will be guided and enlightened. This is why another name for the Savior is ‘the light of the world’. Go look by the light switch in Kyle’s room.

CLUE#4: In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus atoned for all our sins, pains, and sorrows. This allows Him to understand you and your heartaches perfectly. He suffered because He loves you. It caused Him to sweat great drops of blood. He suffered so He could keep you from that hurt and pain. The Band-Aid drawer has your next clue.

CLUE#5: President Hinckley taught, “No member of this church must ever forget the terrible price paid by our redeemer, who gave His life that all men might live….  We cannot forget [that on the cross] our Savior, our Redeemer … gave Himself as a sacrifice for each of us. “Take a minute to think about how grateful you are for that sacrifice.  Jesus allowed himself to be nailed to a cross and crucified for you! You will find your next clue by Dad’s nails and tool box.

CLUE#6: After Jesus died, His body was wrapped in a cloth and placed in a tomb.  However, on the 3^rd day, when His friends came to the tomb—they found the large stone at the entrance was rolled away and the tomb was empty because JESUS HAD RISEN—just as he said he would. The stones in the back yard will reveal your next clue.

CLUE#7: Think, for a second, about the joy that the disciples and Jesus’ friends must have felt when they saw the resurrected Lord, and realized that he was not dead. Think of those spirits who were in heaven (you and me) and the excitement we must have felt to know that Christ had conquered death—making it possible for us to live forever-- with our eternal family! Go look where we keep pictures of our family members who are no longer with us on this earth, but whom we will be reunited with again someday because the Savior broke the bands of death.

CLUE#8: The idea of living again after we die, as well as the gift of the atonement which allows us to repent and be “born again” into a new fresh and clean life is why babies are such a prominent symbol of Easter. Go find your next clue in Creed’s diaper basket.

CLUE#9: Baby lambs, baby chicks, baby bunnies, and baby ducks all represent the idea of new beginnings, fresh starts, and the pureness that new babies have. Through the atonement, we can be clean—like a new baby—and because of the Resurrection, we can live forever. So, as we celebrate this Easter (and all it represents) your father and I would like to announce that there is going to be a fresh, clean, new life joining our family. You are going to have a new baby brother or sister later this year—and the best part of all is that because of all that the Savior did for us, we will be able to be with that new baby—and each other—forever. Happy Easter!

Karen reading the big news

"Wait! What did she say?"

Cameron jumped up and started to celebrate with a dance that reminded me of when Grandpa Joe jumps out of bed in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

More dancing!

A little more dancing!

Dance, dance, dance!

And a bit of some more dancing!

Needless to say, the children were pretty excited. In fact, they were so surprised by the final clue that they completely forgot about the stash of candy that was hidden next to the last egg. Some things are simply sweeter than sugar-- and this moment was one of them!