The "New" Easter Eggs

This year our family implemented a new Easter tradition.  It is a very simple and easy activity, yet it helps everyone reflect on the true meaning of Easter and why we celebrate this sacred event.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ

This countdown-to-Easter activity is known by a myriad of names.  The 12 Days of Easter, The Easter Egg Story, Easter Story In Eggs and Resurrection Eggs are just a few of the names I have heard.

Regardless of its true name, this Easter presentation is a unique advent activity which helps people, especially children, focus on the real symbol of Easter, our Savior Jesus Christ … not bunnies and eggs and chocolate.   (Although we still do little Easter baskets and egg hunts in our house.  We just choose to do these aspects of the holiday on another day other than Easter Sunday.)

You are more than welcome to use this to start a new tradition in your home, whether you have kids or not. It makes for a great devotional with your morning coffee to get your mind, heart, and spirit ready for Easter too.

First you gather 12 different plastic eggs and then you number them 1-12.  When the eggs are filled, you will be placing them either in an empty egg carton or a basket.

In each egg you will put a piece of paper with a scripture on it.  You will also add a small item to represent the passage to be read.  (If you have more than one young child, you might want to put double or triple the number of items in every egg so each child can each take something away from the activity.)  The 12th egg, though, will be symbolically empty to represent the empty tomb when Jesus rose on the third day.

 Here's the verses to write down on the little piece of paper for your corresponding egg:

1. Matthew 26:26-27,39 (sacrament cup or small cracker or chex cereal)
2. Matthew 26: 48-49 (chocolate kiss)
3. Matthew 26: 14-15 (3 dimes) [This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-14.]
4. Matthew 27:1-2 (knotted twine)
5. Matthew 27:15, 17, 21, 24-26 (chunk of hand soap)
6. Matthew 27:28-30  or Mark 15:16-17 (square of red or purple fabric)
7. Matthew 27:31-32 (small nail or toothpick cross)
8. Matthew 27:50-51, 54 (crushed rocks)
9. Matthew 27:57-60 (strip of white cloth)
10. Matthew 27:60, 62-66 (a small, flat stone)
11. Mark 16:1, 2-6 (bay leaf or other herb)
12. Matthew 28:5-6 (empty)

And if you can’t find an item, you can also print a picture of the item on paper from the computer and use that in your egg.

 Happy Easter!

Hula!

Kaitlyn is practicing her hula skills :) She's pretty good :)

Getting so big!

Jacob is growing up too fast!

Doing boy things

LOVES his blanket!

Loves to brush his teeth :)

playing outside in Pjs :)

My boys having fun :)

Learning to swim

Since we have a neighborhood pool, I feel that it is so important for our kids to learn the basics of swimming. I want them to be able to keep themselves afloat without a flotation device.

Kaitlyn got "swim lessons" as a birthday present this year. So twice a week, this month, we are at the pool. She LOVES it! She did SO well too!!!! She listened to her coach, sat and waited her turn in the water, and did great in the water!

Here's some pictures and short videos of Kaitlyn's first swim lessons:

her class with 5 other students, she's on the far right

kick, kick, kick, kick!

 Here's some videos from Kaitlyn being in the water. They are real short.

after class. I don't think she had any fun ;)

Jacob, the supportive brother, watching sister swim

We swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It definitely was a nice break in our afternoon. Looking forward to tomorrows class :) It was so fun to watch!

Sweet Boy

Jacob has everyone smitten with his sweetness. Moms and grandmas that are in his Sunday school class tell us that he is such a sweet boy. We are so blessed. :)