Playing with Big Brother

Morgan was really fussy this evening, as she usually is during this time of night.  Eli was playing the computer and I asked her if she was fussy because she wanted to play with big brother.  I put her down in the Bumbo chair and the computer as well as Eli were talking with her.  She was fine after that.

Resurrection Rolls

We found this on Facebook and decided to try it on Easter evening.  It was a big hit for the kids and we were able to focus on the true meaning of Easter.

RESURRECTION ROLLS

Recipe and Instructions for Easter Rolls that tell the true meaning of Easter

which is the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is an inspiring family project that can be done on Easter Morning....
...
Ingredients needed:
Crescent rolls
Melted butter
Large Marshmallows
Cinnamon
Sugar
Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Give each child one triangle of crescent rolls.
Explain that he crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
Read Matthew 27: 57-61

1. Give each child a marshmallow.
This represents Jesus.

2. Have him/her dip the marshmallow in melted butter.
This represents the oils of embalming.

3. Now dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar.
This represents the spices used to anoint the body.

4. Then wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up, but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside.)
This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after death.

5. Place all in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.
The oven represents the tomb--while you are waiting for the rolls to bake, read Matthew 27:62-66.

6. Remove rolls from oven and let them cool slightly.
Now the children can then open their rolls (cloths) and discover that Jesus is no longer there! HE IS RISEN!!!!
(The marshmallow melts and the crescent roll is puffed up, but empty.)

~ Now read Matthew 28:1-10

Easter Pink

I am not usually one who dresses the entire family into corresponding colors, but I felt like matching my daughters by wearing pale pink.  This is as color-coordinating as we get.  I asked my husband to take a picture to celebrate the moment.

Resurrection

Today was a very challenging Sabbath as seen in the picture below, but not without it's rewards.  The children were very irreverent during Sacrament meeting and so I grabbed Riley and put her on my lap and whispered to her that she needed to think about Jesus.  I told her that Jesus loves her and loves Eli and that she has a body just like Jesus and many other things about Jesus.  When we came home, we made the kids practice how to be reverent at church. 
Being that it was Easter, Riley and Eli learned about the Resurection and that we can live again.  It brought joy to my heart to hear her say that becuase a few weeks before, she kept asking about my Grandpa Jansen.  He died March 2009, much too young for Riley to remember.  However, she is very curious about death.  One particular day, she kept telling me, with tears down her cheeks, that if Mommy died, then she will never see me again.  I tried to teach her that because of our Savior Jesus Christ, we will see each other again.  It was difficult for her mind to comprehend and at the time, she didn't get it.  I put her down for a nap and took it to the Lord.  I prayed for a way for her to learn it and for some reason, she came home from Primary, understanding the Resurection.  She knew that Jesus lived again and was no longer dead. 
Toward the end of the day, she stood on a stool and taught Cinderella and Jake (and the Neverland Pirates) about the Resurection.  She told them that Jesus loves Riley, Jesus loves Eli, Jesus Loves Jake, Jesus loves Izzy, and Jesus loves Cinderella.  She told them that Jesus was Resurected and that Jesus is Risen and lives again. 

Egg Dye

After a shower from dancing in the rain and Riley woke up, we dyed boiled eggs.  It was magical for the kids.

Pouring Rain

A typical El Paso rain storm will usually come ot of nowhere, pour really hard and then quit all within about thirty minutes.  Many times, it won't even hit in the entire city. 
I tried to get Eli to dance it the rain with me and he wouldn't, so I did it and showed him how fun it could be.  Finally, I convinced him it to try it and it was.  This whole experience reminded me of President Uchtdorf talk about showing gratitude in any circumstance. He quotes: "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"  When Eli will have trials, I will remind him how much fun we had, dancing in the rain.

Glo in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt

This is something we have never tried, but so glad we did.  We stuck some glow sticks inside the plastic empty eggs and hid them in the yard.  Our yard is not the usual El Paso yard because we have grass and trees and bushes.  It was perfect for a hunt because the weather was warm as it usually is in El Paso.  We had young woman come and help prepare and hide the eggs (with packaging tape).  The yard was like looking out in space with colored stars.  It was beautiful. This picture can't begin to describe it because it is so blurry. 
While the kids were waiting while the eggs were being hidden, we had the kids play the chameleon game.  It is this lizard that dances around while the children try to toss eggs in his mouth. 
The party was such a blast.  We had 13 kids and their parents. Both members and non came and we had some opportunities to invite them to future events.  I am thrilled.