Happy Easter 2020

Easter is my favorite holiday. 

And this was a great week leading up to it.

One of my favorite children's authors is Barbara Cooney. If you want to read books to your kids (or yourself--they're that good) that aren't dumb tv-knock off stories but actually tender and heart-swelling stories with beautiful art, read Barbara Cooney.

We especially like Roxaboxen. We were reading it last Sunday, and the girls wanted to form their own Roxaboxen in our own backyard. They formed rocks in a circle and made a little town, and Dan and I started wondering how long our muddy yard will be a muddy yard. We bought the house with the understanding that grass and landscaping would be put in as soon as the ground thawed enough, but now with COVID 19 craziness, we were pretty convinced we would be grass-less for several more months.

Imagine our surprise when the landscapers showed up the next day. No phone call, no nothing, but this outside our blinds-less windows. (We have also ordered blinds but they can't be installed until COVID 19 is taken care of.)

Harris. Was. Thrilled. Live TV! He ran from window to window, watching the workers till the ground and plant the grass seed and then lay hay over everything. I'm sure it was startling for the workers to see his face right next to them every time they looked up, but they were very kind.

Monday night, we had our annual "Last Supper" with the kiddos and talked about the last week of Christ's life, pre-Resurrection.

We added a special treat this year--real honeycomb.

The honeycomb bombed. It was soooo sweet and made everyone sick. Dan wants to do Bit-O-Honey next year.

This week's randomness:

June loves the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books, and Grandma sent her some more for her birthday. She read this much in one afternoon. I loved them at her age too, and it's nice she likes something I like.

Where is this baby's curly hair coming from?

We spent a good portion of Thursday and an even larger portion of Friday reading the Great Illustrated Classics version of Heidi before watching the movie for Friday Fun Night. I have never read it either so it was fun. Confession: I really love that Swiss Alps/German/Austrian country fashion. I love what they wear in Sound of Music, and I loved the dresses in Heidi. I always want to do my hair in a crown of braids, but I always look like a sixth grader at a slumber party. Thick hair, I have not. 

Another confession: I want to live whatever life I'm reading about. It drives Dan NUTSO. For example, a book about the city makes the city appealing to me. We could totally teach our kids to get to school on the subway! By themselves! Never mind the fact that they can't locate our trash can.

A book about a farm--this is for us! The open air! The space! The animals! So good for our kids. Never mind the fact that I don't want a dog. Or a cat. Or anything.

So Heidi made me think about living on a mountain somewhere, even though I get sick when I'm in elevation. I'm really fun. 

Anyway, Dan has said we shall be staying here in PA for the time being. 

And today--Easter!

Gwen and I were at TJ Maxx months ago, and she saw a dress she really wanted. I didn't like it. Every cotton candy pastel color under the sun, plus a sparkly overlay? Too much for me.

BUT. I knew going clothes shopping again before Easter would be tough (boy did I have no idea how tough), and there was one in her size and one in June's size, so finally I said yes.

And they actually turned out great.

I curled their hair, but they have my hair and it won't hold any curl. That Beck! I'm so jealous.

The start of the photo shoot is often good:

They wanted to show the heart cut-out in the back, but the hair was still in the way. I didn't have time to get it out of the way because . . .

Harris joined the party! (Beck was taking a nap.)

And Harris has just been mad lately. He kept screaming "NO EASTER!" all morning and finally took out some of that I-don't-want-to-celebrate-the-best-holiday aggression on Gwen during the photo shoot.

And then June wanted to fly. This is the final signal that the photo shoot is over.

For church, Dan administered the Sacrament, then each of the girls gave talks, and Dan put on some great General Conference talks about Easter. After church, we watched the old church video "Easter Dream" and I cried a lot. It's an oldie but a goody.

And then an Easter hunt, using trash bags instead of Easter baskets because all of ours have broken and I don't think I want to spend more money on more baskets that will get broken, pretty as they may be.

Happy Easter, everyone! Easter is my favorite holiday, because I greatly treasure the gift of Jesus Christ. He suffered all for us. And He lives again, as will we.

The End.