Easter 2011

This has been such an enjoyable Easter.  We have been to quite a few Easter events the past week and have had such a good time with family and friends.  Ava is at such a fun age right now for all of these holidays.  I tried to document everything with pictures but I didn't get to take any at a couple of Easter parties.  The first egg hunt we went to was at our church, Hope Presbyterian.  Unfortunately, it was last Saturday when the weather turned pretty chilly and it was just not a good day for an outdoor event.  We did the egg hunt (there was really no actual hunting involved--just eggs scattered in a field every two inches or so), played a couple of games, got a balloon animal, and watched the puppet show.  There was lots of other stuff to do but by then poor Ava's teeth were chattering so badly we just gave up and left.  I did manage to get these pics:

Ava and Kevin with her balloon butterfly

Ava and me waiting in line to see the Easter Bunny--when it was her turn she chickened out 

Competing in the tire race against her daddy.  She "won". :)

Next up was her Easter party at school.  Since the grass was still muddy from the rain the day before, the teachers hid the eggs inside.  The children each had their name written on five eggs and they had to hunt for only those five with their names.  If their name wasn't on the egg, they couldn't pick it up.

Ava was so excited before the hunt:

She was the first one to identify all of her eggs!

Last night, we had Easter dinner with my mom's side of the family at my aunt and uncle's house.

Ava loved seeing her cousins Lawson, Addison, and Austin and hanging out with all the family.  Ava, Addison, and Jess relaxed outside before dinner.

Then she and Lawson decided to check the temperature of the water in the pool.  73 degrees!  Soon it will be pool time!

Lawson and Ava posed for me for a couple of pictures

Then it was time for the egg hunt

The adults got to hunt too

The kids got their prizes first and then it was time for the adult prizes.  We had tons of stuff to choose from:  jewelry, Vera Bradley items, sports equipment, picture frames, food items, and gift cards galore.  Kevin and I got hooked up--Vera Bradley stuff for me and then gift cards to Sports Authority, 

Chick-fil-a, Malco, TCBY, Starbucks, and Lowe's.  We all had a blast!

Surprise, surprise--when you leave carrots out, the Easter bunny stops by your house!

We got up early this morning and went to the 8 am service at Hope.  Ava went into "big church" with us today and was such a good girl.  She sat on the edge of her seat listening intently and crossed her legs at the knee so primly.  We were cracking up (quietly!) watching her.  I really wanted to take a picture but I figured that would be inappropriate in the middle of church.  :)  After the service was over, we went to the playground at church which is our Sunday morning ritual.  I tried to get her to pose for me in her dress, but my daughter would rather run around playing soccer in her satin and tulle.

When we got home, she posed for me outside but she insisted on wearing her sunglasses.  Ava must have about 10 different pairs of them and she wears them religiously when outdoors.  The mothers of the other kids in her class call her "the diva" because of this--it's meant lovingly, though!  Ava and I both have very light eyes and they are just sensitive to sunlight.

This has been such a great week!

However, we must remember the reason we celebrate this day:

"He isn't here!  He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.  Come, see where His body was lying."

Matthew 28:6

Hallelujah!  Hope you had a wonderful Easter!