William helped me prepare a little Easter egg hunt for our family last Saturday. The grass was sloshy and the finding went quick. Then many muddy boot prints led to the kitchen table were the loot was opened.
We kept the candy to a minimum and instead filled the eggs with pieces to a 300 piece jig-saw puzzle. It was a good thing all the eggs were found and a good thing no one missed all the candy.
The kids were as quick and frantic about assembling the puzzle as they were in finding the eggs. Paul noted that with so many arms reaching and grabbing this activity felt kind of like a game of Twister.
Meanwhile, I tried to remind them of the reverence and significance of this holy holiday. It was suggested that life, just like this puzzle can feel broken at times, this is true of all people, no one is immune to life trials that can make us feel in pieces, both physically and spiritually. The beautiful gift of the Savior Jesus Christ, his perfect life, sacrifice and Resurrection is what allows us to become "whole" again. This knowledge and the promise of "wholeness" is what we rejoice in and celebrate at Easter.
There were plans for making simple Easter dresses for the girls but post-vacation-laundry-overload and a baby cutting molars prevented me from constructing even the simplest of dresses. The simple solution was to wear the dresses from two years ago. Somehow they still fit - though Maryanna refused to wear the puffy slip insisting she had out grown "fluffiness". Either way, I love how beautifully the girls are growing into themselves.
After church we were treated to a feast at Nanny and Poppy's house. The kids enjoyed another egg hunt with their cousins and we were sent home with enough goodies and delicious leftovers to feed us for days. I love that about holidays.
We were also sent home with some very happy and tired little children. But what made this Easter so happy for me was keeping it simple.
Alison, I love your puzzle idea and the analogy you drew...perfect! Glad you had a lovely and simple Easter. Your kiddoes are precious.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to use puzzle pieces - I just may have to copy that next Easter! :)
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Simple is good. Kids don't remember all the time we adults spend fussing over the "perfect" holiday, they remember the time we spend with them. Something I have to constantly remind myself!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for the egg hunt. We did something similar for our toddler. I bought foam alphabet puzzles and put the letters in the plastic eggs and the foam mat on the table. He had fun finding the eggs and then trying to put the letters into the mat.
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