Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter this year! Eleanor's allergy has improved enough that we were able to color REAL eggs. She couldn't eat them. But, she could color 'em. And, Matt's little sister Kristin came down from LA with her husband to join in the festivities. It was so much fun to see them!

The weekend before Easter, we went to a community "Egg-stravaganza" at San Diegito Park. They really pulled out all the stops with crafts, a giant inflatable slide, a free face painter, planting stations, a guy in a bunny suit, and of course, a massive egg hunt.

This face painter was so fast. We

were incredibly impressed. 

Adelaide got "snow princess" eyes. 

Elmo Face! 

Eleanor planted a tomato, and Adelaide planted

some snapdragons. We've put them on our balcony.

Wheeee! Eleanor was the youngest 

kid to make the climb up the slid and fling

herself down it. They did it over and over.

Plotting their next moves while they waited for the buzzer. 

They're off! 

So, that fair was a ton of fun. The kids also had Easter parties at school and were so excited for our actual Easter weekend. The missionaries came over on Good Friday for dinner and taught a quick lesson. Adelaide shared her Easter books with them, telling them "Easter is all about God's son!" Eleanor yelled "Jesus!" a lot and clapped her hands.

On Saturday, Kristin and James came down and had an egg-dyeing party with us.

Eleanor enjoyed drawing with crayons on her eggs.

A Masterpiece! 

 Adelaide put a lot of thought

into her eggs and glued sparkles and

sequins on them after the dye dried.

 The team, hard at work.

The completed masterpieces

On Easter morning, the girls found their Easter baskets filled with surprises. New coloring books, pez dispensers, chocolate bunnies and a no-spill bubble container. They were sure hippy-hoppy-happy kids.

Evidently Melinda is not so sly because Adelaide and Eleanor didn't even pretend to think a bunny left them any of this. But, they did thank Mom and Dad with big hugs and kisses.

Easter baskets filled with goodies. 

Thanks Mom!  

Easter bunny cinnamon rolls

were a big hit.

 Eleanor was wearing the cutest new dress
from Grandma Jones. But, she was
not in a picture taking mood, so
this was the only shot we got of
her in her finery... oh well.


Kristin and James were happy to smile
for the camera. Cheese!

Then it was off to church. Adelaide thought the choir sounded extra beautiful because they were an "Easter choir" that day. After church, we went to Granny and Poppa's house for the official egg hunt. They were so nice to let us borrow their backyard and hide all the eggs for the kids. Uncle David and Grandpa Phil were the expert egg-hiders. Then we had an amazing feast that was worthy of Thanksgiving dinner!

Grandpa Phil and Eleanor made a 

fabulous egg-hunting duo. 

EGG! 

 Eleanor took frequent jelly bean 

breaks during the hunt.

Showing Mom their spoils. Adelaide didn't take 

candy breaks while finding eggs. Can you tell

she's eager to stop taking pictures and 

start cracking open plastic eggs? 

The kids had so much fun, they are already wondering about the next major holiday. Adelaide has already asked if we can do some 4th of July crafts this weekend to replace the footprint bunnies and potato stamp egg murals that are currently on our walls.



**You may be able to see the remnants of a shiner on Adelaide's cheek in many of these pictures. The week before Easter she was the unfortunate victim of a flying bucket at school when she rode her bike a little too close to some boisterous boys. She tells us the little boy responsible both told her, "sorry" and that her eye, "looked awesome."**