Team Jenkins Easter Hunt

A very wise friend (thank you Stacey!)

once told me that their family did Easter baskets 

on the Saturday before Easter,

rather than Easter morning.

I thought the idea was brilliant.

While we've never been 'easter bunny' kind of parents,

we do love giving them some goodies,

as well as doing a Resurrection Egg type of hunt.

And doing all that on Saturday really sets up for Sunday,

as well as keeps the focus where it needs to be on Easter.

Anyway, we did this again Easter weekend.

We enjoyed a nice Saturday morning filled with an egg hunt

(found at A Holy Experience blog) 

and baskets at the end!

Just love Blaine-o's face right here -

always up for some fun!

Each egg had a clue as to where the next egg was hidden ...

and each clue had to do with with the death, burial & resurrection of Christ ...

Jacob looking in the pantry ...

... and reading the verse & next clue ...

Jarrett looking in the spices ...

The baskets were at the end - 

outside by a big stone that we have beside the driveway.

Each boy got some flip flops or shirt, a Ten Boys chapter book,

a fun ice cream freezer cup, and candy!

So thankful for the ability to celebrate with just our family!

Easter 2011

After our sunrise service, we headed home for breakfast.

Of course, Pancake Daddy worked his magic.

Love how he'll do 'theme' pancakes.

We headed to worship with our church family,

then headed over to my parent's house to celebrate with everyone.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch,

(which included the family going through the Resurrection Eggs)

some down-time,

and then a game of wiffle ball,

followed by an egg hunt.

It was a wonderful day in so many ways!

So grateful to the Lord for all His gifts ...

A cross and an empty tomb ... love his creativity!

L.O.V.E.

I love having the family all coordinated.

Seersucker was the theme of the year ...

the boys have on seersucker 'bottoms', I have on seersucker wedges

& Bowdie's pants are seersucker-ish.  :)

Team Strickland ... I told Rob that he's going to have to start

standing out front ... his boys are outgrowing him.

The family.  So thankful for my tripod and the timer on my camera!

This was the first time we've been able to get everyone in ...

T & Rob 

Mom always does a small basket for each grandchild.

This year they all got an egg with $1 in it.

They are supposed to use that dollar to do something nice for someone.

Jacob wants to spend his on Ty.

So sweet!

Wiffle ball!

Jess got up from a several hour nap to join in ...

Look at that face ...

Think he's lovin' it??

Caught Jordan and Blaine in a tussle ... 

Bo was all time pitcher.  He loves that position.

Handsome boy!

Sweet pic of Lena & Jacob

Impromptu hug between father & daughter.

Let's just say Lena has her daddy w-h-i-p-p-e-d ...

and Rob's no easy man to whip.

Dad - great shot taken by Jordan.

Easter egg hunt.

They are looking for the golden egg.

Nana promised a prize.

The adults were praying for no live animals.

Remember last year??!

Jacob scurrying around ...

Blaine-O was a madman ...

And Jarrett ended up with the prize.

The note inside the egg said 'quack' ...

we assured Mom that if there were ducklings again,

they would live with her at the lakehouse.

Thankfully, she only bought a stuffed duck.

That giggled and sang.

It really is quite adorable.

Sweet little fella.

No feed required.

No mess made.

That's our kind of pet!

Cleft Sunrise Service ...

Easter morning was gorgeous.

We were able to witness it firsthand.

So thankful to Chuck for the great idea ...

All the families in the Cleft (except the Stokes & Hartsocks - due to travel)

headed to Little Mulberry Park about 6:15 a.m.

Then we walked up to the highest point there ...

which, I hear, is the highest, or one of the highest, points in the county.

We enjoyed the sunrise.

Then we had our own Easter service -

music, Scripture reading, and prayer.

It was a beautiful way to start such an important day.

Heading up the trail ...

Off the beaten path ...

Beginnings of daybreak ...

Setting up ...

An early morning snuggle ...

Team Warbington 

Team Mock

Team Jenkins

Team Smith

Resurrection Eggs ... great tool for getting the children

involved in the 'sermon' ...

Each child, telling their part of the story ... each dad, reading

from Scripture the part of the story corresponding with the item in the egg ...

Clefties, bathed in sunlight and SONlight ...

so grateful for all this day represents and these wonderful families to celebrate it with!

Pre-Easter Lunch

We enjoyed a nice day-before-Easter lunch with Bowdie's parents.

And his brother & family.

And his cousin & family.

And his aunt.

The day was gorgeous, the food delish (Papa's bbq), and 

the time was sweet.

We enjoyed a nice game of wiffle ball after lunch.

The kiddos were thrilled.

The adults were hysterical.

I chose to take pics.

Blaine, Riley & Jason in the outfield.

Stu - all time pitcher.

He liked calling strikes on batters.

Lisa - as a former softball-er, she had to play too.

Batter up!

Riley ... "Cool Moe-D"

That's one intense game face.

That's about as mean a look as he can make, folks.

Papa looked on from the edge of his shop.

While Bo watched from a chair.

He had just woken up from an nice after-lunch nap.

Jackson shot the nerf gun.

Yep, he's a boy.

Jacob rode the big wheel.

Fun Fact:  I used to love my big wheel.

Super shot of Grandmama & Papa with the boys.

GREAT day!