Easter and a Birthday

It's been a celebratory week at the Jolley household. Between June's 6th birthday and Easter activities, every day has been full of fun. And I've loved it. It seems only fitting for Easter that this week the weather would finally seem to get a bit warmer and the earth seem ready for its rebirth. My heart seems to be melting with the snow as I feel liberated from this extremely long winter. I'm ready to get out of the house and live again--moving forward instead of the stagnation I have been feeling the past several weeks. It's almost as if with the prolonged terrible weather and inability to leave my house, I have also been unable to make the changes I have been needing to make with myself. Here's to a new season of moving forward with Christ.

Last Saturday, we went to our little town's Easter party. We played games, made crafts, and  . . .

DANCED. Who knew the Jolleys had it in us, (I suppose all of you did) but we got the dance party started. Namely Dan. There was a DJ playing some fun songs, and Dan took his girls out there and boogied while the rest of the crowd watched, until they finally joined in.

And Harris, true to form, was just happy to be there.

The kids took a photo with the Easter bunny, and much to June's chagrin, EB wouldn't answer any of her millions of questions. It always cracks me up seeing June try to strike up a conversation with a mascot-type person who can't talk. June's own "Nevertheless, she persisted" moment.

Many of the children attending the party were dressed in their Easter clothes, but the bohemian (i.e. tired) mom that I am let my kids dress themselves. Hence Gwen's Minnie Mouse meets Plaid Pants and Butterfly Skirt combo for the win. But she did wear her bunny shoes, which seemed appropriate.

After the party, we went over to the Wilkes house and had a pinata and pizza and ice cream cake for June's and Duncan's birthdays.

I picked out the cake from Last Licks. It had a layer of brownie batter ice cream and a layer of salted caramel with that yummy "dirt" layer in the middle. None of the wimpy kids could finish it, so I just worked my way down the table, finishing up everyone's piece because I will not waste food. And also because I have problems.

Since General Conference falls on Easter this year, we dressed for Easter last Sunday. The dresses I picked for the girls last year still fit, so they wore them again this year. And last year, Harris made his appearance two days before Easter, so this is his first year in the Easter Sunday pic. I prefer this year to last year. A lot.

Easter is my favorite holiday, and last year's Easter was kinda terrible. So I think I've been doubly excited over Easter this year.

After church, we started Easter festivities with the kids, and we've tried to do something with them every night this week (though we have totally missed a day or two that we've had to make up later).

We made resurrection rolls. This was my first time doing this, and I think we did them wrong. The rolls were not hollow when we took them out of the oven. But they were yummy. I think I needed to bake them longer to let the marshmallow evaporate, but then there would be no marshmallow in the middle, and that would make me sad.

While the rolls cooked, the girls opened plastic eggs with different items which relate to Easter. There was a thorn, pieces of silver, a flower (Garden of Gethsemane) and a few others I can't remember.

Then the rolls were done, and we gobbled them up.

The next day was June's birthday, and I attempted to make her pancakes that spelled her name, but that actually just fell apart until I smashed the broken parts together to make the letters I wanted. Kind of like how I do puzzles. I hate puzzles.

Dan always tells me how he loved getting a candy bar poster on his birthday, and this year I finally decided to do it.

Breakfast in bed! June's request. I myself can't stand eating in bed. First, mess. Second, pressure! I feel like everyone just stands around and watches you eat, and that is uncomfortable.

But June loved it.

That night, we had our rendition of the "Last Supper". We ate on the floor in the living room and had finger foods and grape juice and talked about what happened at the real Last Supper . . .

after which June opened her birthday presents. Do you see what I mean? Lots of stuff going on this week.

We've been playing a lot of Candy Land.

Fast forward to yesterday when we decorated eggs in between conference sessions--

--And today when we hid and found them.

And we've also been prepping for Easter dinner. The sister missionaries are coming over to eat with us and then watch the rest of conference.

Happy Easter to all three of you who read my blog. I know that Jesus is alive, and that we will all be resurrected too. Because he suffered all that he did, we can repent and change. The fact that I can change is the best news I will ever hear.

The End. Or hopefully the beginning.