easter.

Let me tell you, holidays are infinitely more special and fun with a kid.

Just saying.

Carly and I have made some friends in the neighborhood.

We ran into them in January while we were on a walk wearing about 17 layers.

Turns out Carly and the little girl, KP, are just 5 days apart.

We've run into each other a few more times over the months.

At our last run-in, I was telling KP's mom that I wanted to take Carly on an Easter Egg hunt, but didn't know what to do because I knew Carly wouldn't fare well in a busy one with older kids. She gets easily intimidated. So KP's mom, Tam (ha! these are code names, obviously), suggested we do a little one for just the two little girls at our neighborhood park.

So thats what we did.

I really like seeing Carly interact with KP. She tends to be shy around other kids, but she has loosened up a little around KP. They always scream when they are forced to separate.

On to the Easter Egg hunt:

Carly was slow and methodical.

KP was speedy. Pretty sure she got twice as many eggs as Carly did.

We sat and divided them afterwards.

It was a fun morning, and a mini Easter Egg hunt fit both girls just right.

Afterwards, we went on a walk. The girls just love pushing their little strollers together.

They are hilarious.

And KP taught Carly what a doorbell is.

Thanks a lot, KP.

After our Easter Egg hunt, we settled in and waited for daddy to get home.

I watched the Pens lose embarrassingly 8-2, and Carly enjoyed Dora clips.

I know, mom of the year award, right?

Daddy got home from school and we tore the house apart, went to the park, watched Toy Story 3 ("toys!") and ate BBQ chicken pizza for dinner. It was a nice Easter Eve.

This morning, Carly found that the Easter bunny did indeed come.

He brought a basket with books sent from Grandma L, the cutest Cubs pillowcase dress from her penpal Eliza in Kville, and Dora sandals from Grandma K. Oh, and a blue hotwheels mustang from mom and dad. There were also eggs filled with candy, which the Easter bunny should have thought about before giving to Carly first thing in the morning.

We pulled ourselves together and headed to church.

I have to say, Carly's dress just killed me.

It was outrageously cute.

I'm a sucker for ruffles, its true.

I put it on her and she said, "Ooooooooo."

Oooooo, indeed.

She also had sparkly white shoes on. They are new, and turns out they are still a little big. The nursery leader said they were a big hit with all the little girls in nursery. Carly's shoes would slip off, and the other girls would try to take them! The nursery leader said it was like she was Cinderella :).

For Easter we enjoyed an Easter feast of bacon-wrapped sirloin, twice baked potatoes, deviled eggs, and GF German chocolate cake.

I do love Easter.

Tonight before bed, we watched some of Finding Faith in Christ with Carly. We would point and say "Do you see Jesus?" and "Who's that?". She is good at finding Jesus.

At the end, it shows Mary Magdalene weeping at the empty tomb. "Go night-night," Carly said. No, we explained. She is sad because she can't find Jesus. Where did Jesus go?

Then the Savior walks into the scene.

You can just see the bottom of his white clothes.

They showed his face, and Carly said, "Ici!" (there He is!).

And then a word that warmed my heart:

"Yay!"

Easter Egg hunts are fun.

Food is great.

Chocolate cake is even better.

But at the end of the day, Easter is so beautiful because its a day we remember Christ a little extra. We celebrate His life and miracles. We feel gratitude for His incredible selfless sacrifice. And we rejoice in His resurrection from the tomb and His power over death.

We say "yay".

Happy Easter.