EASTER!! "It's Friday....but Sunday is coming!"

Wow, we had such an amazing Easter this year!! So much to be grateful for and so much for the kids to experience! It has been so awesome over the past month or so as we've been preparing for Easter and what that really means, having the chance to share that more and more with Reilly this year since she is reaching an age where she wants to know and is able to learn more. We have talked about the real meaning of Easter and she continues to amaze me at how much she retains and how much she remembers from the things she learns at home as we read her Bible, talk, pray and from what she learns and hears at school. I have to say that one of the proudest moments as a parent that I have had may have come last night. We were outside on the driveway and the kids were playing with one of our neighbors. Carter is in 1st grade this year and he kept saying, "Reilly, do you know what tomorrow is??!!" After he said it a few times she very confidently turned to him and said, "Yes Carter, Jesus is risen tomorrow!" Wow! How cool is that? I'm not really sure Carter knew how to take that answer, b/c he surely didn't expect that to come out of her mouth! Shawn and I were pretty proud :)

Our Easter celebrations started on Friday as we died eggs with the kids.....




On Saturday morning, we were invited to Grandma Gibbs and Coach's house for their 12th annual Easter celebration. The kids had so much fun and this was Braxton's first official "Egg Hunt".

Reilly and Braxton with Ellie, Ava, and Branson and Pat's "Giant Duck!"

every year Pat has a group from her church come and do a puppet show for the kids. In years past it's lasted about 30 minutes or more and consisted of 8-10 puppets with tons of youth doing the show. Luckily :) she had the show condensed this year and it was just these two and one lady doing all the talking. The kids actually paid attention for the entire time!

And this morning, we start off by giving their kids their Easter baskets from mommy and daddy. They loved getting new fun surprises when they woke up this morning!! And then we headed off for a packed morning at "Easter at Verizon" for our church's 3rd year celebrating this day with a giant party! The weather could not have been more perfect.....sun and a light breeze. It was awesome. Deedee and Poppi, Brandon and Angel, Aunt Kelly and Shaun all came along with us this year. The kids had fun on the bounce houses and took the Easter Egg hunt very seriously before the service started! The service itself was awesome, with some amazing worship, and then a special treat mini-concert by NeedToBreathe.

Verizon Wireless Ampitheater: this place was packed to the max today!!

Braxton on the bounce house for little ones....

Reilly being all big and brave on the giant slide....

the EGG "Hunt"!

And they're off!! Reilly is just in the middle with a very determined and serious face!!

Braxton just wanted to pick up the "blue" ones and open each one as he picked it up! We'll have to work on his egg hunt strategy for next year!!

Uncle Brandon helping B put his eggs in the basket...

DeeDee and Reilly, proud after a successful collection of eggs and inflatables was acheived!

and then the service began.....

Shaun and Reilly, singing and dancing (until I put a camera in their faces!)

After the service, we came home and met Grandpa and Nanny at the house as well. We did yet another egg hunt in the back yard with just R and B so they could find some quarters to put in the "ice cream truck fund"!! :) We have a purpose with everything :)


And the kids finished up the afternoon with some water fun with the neighbors! They were so funny as they had the first experience with some SUPER cold water on a 90 degree day!



Praise the Lord for an awesome Easter!!