happy lent and easter {better late than never}

(She asked to be in this picture… She never asks to be in pictures!!)

Once upon a time, I had high hopes for this blog post.  I spent a good deal of time perusing blogs and asking friends about their Lenten plans, trying to find more ways to engage little people in this beautiful season.  Because it is oh so very very beautiful!  

I love the focus of Lent.  It's a time to pull back, a time to test yourself, a time to be still and come to know Him more.  I long to share this in some small way with our girls.  I want them to know the beauty of sacrifice, the beauty of slowing down, the beauty of suffering - suffering with a purpose.

While we managed some of this during the 40+ days of Lent, the detailed blog post was a fail.  However, I'm posting a few pics so I can remember some of our ideas for next year… because who knows if I will be able to find these cards or the poster again, or if I will even remember that we did this! eek!  I will say that most of my inspiration came from here and here.  

We also had great fun experimenting with Kool-Aid for Easter egg dying this year!  It was great fun, smelled extra fruity, and was amusing to mix colors.  The only downfall of the Kool-Aid dye, was that if you handled the egg too much (transferring it from the dye to the carton) then the dye came off on your fingers, leaving white spots on the eggs.  We also used regular crayons with great success; much more fun than the plain wax crayons that come with dying kits.

I always have in my head, this slow late holiday morning fantasy… 

In reality the little people are up and waiting expectantly by no later than 5:30.  By 6:30 the sugar high is in full swing and melt downs are rampant.  A second pot of coffee is usually already in the works by this time.  All of this makes me smirk.  One day it will be funny, right?!

I thought we would attend a 10 or 11 o'clock Mass, grab lunch, and nap the day away.  Instead we made it out the door for 8a.m. Mass and dined at IHop for a late breakfast.  It was perfect.  

I simply could not resist posting the above photo.  It's ability to elicit a chuckle from me is just too perfect.  Memories.

We did, indeed, all manage to snooze away the middle of the day.  Perfection.

Then we joined with our best Fort Eustis buddies for our own little Easter Egg hunt.  My camera battery died before I could manage more pictures, but there were even lollipops 'sprouting' from the ground!

The best part was little Lila - who half filled her basket with eggs, found an out of the way spot, and proceeded to open and devour the candy inside the eggs all by herself!  Her little eyes were sparkling with delight when I discovered her!

And now we will continue to enjoy what's left of the rest of the 50 days of Easter until Pentecost!  Come, Holy Spirit and set our hearts on fire!