A Little Bit of Easter

So, we did a few things we've never done for Easter this year.  Why?  Because I have a problem with Instagram.  I'll be looking through in my downtime and see a picture of a fun family activity, or a Catholic mom incorporating a fun way of celebrating the Church year into their daily lives. Clothes...don't get me started on that "like it to know it" feature...bad, bad, bad for the wallet. 

Anyway, onto the fun things on Instagram...I typically think last-minute-style, "Oh, we need to do that, too!"  So, this year it was pretzel and hot cross buns making.  I'm a sucker for baking, and I wanted the kids to have some fun, so during Holy Week we did this...

 If you've never read about why people make pretzels during Lent, read it here.  It's so neat!

The kids had a blast rolling them out!

...and we ended up with this!  I used Alton Brown's recipe at the suggestion of a few Insta moms, and it was perfect!

Then, Jeremy had to go help pull a calf, so the boys and I got ready for bed and brought out the egg-decorating fun.  Fun (I need to be more fun, because I don't think fun includes: "DO NOT MOVE THE PAPER!  NO, MOMMA IS THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES THIS PART!"  "AHH, LISTEN TO ME!"  Yeah, not doing so great in the fun department these days.  

But, we ended up with some pretty little eggs.

 Then came Easter morning and we got this gem of a family photo ;)

We also made hot cross buns (thank you, Instagram and Pioneer Woman - I used her her recipe here).

And, we found a winner.  Sophie love, love, loved them!

Then, the great egg hunt before Mass and while Sophie was napping.

 
 

And, finally Mass, lunch, too-fullness, and a day of one too many pieces of Easter candy along with one-too-many snotty noses (thanks to colds that just set in).

But, every little bit was worth it!  

Mary, our Model

"In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal."
--Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Father and Doctor of the Church

13/52

This blogging thing has been terrible lately...sorry!  Maybe I'll get back in the saddle again soon. Until then, here's the weekly portraits...

Carter // 4 - He loves playing with Sophie.  And, he's so good to her.  They all are, often fighting over whose queen she is, ha!  Sidenote: all of the dresses I bought Sophie for the spring look like teeny tunics.  Oops!

Peter // 3 - I know I miss most of his face here, but I love the determination with which he does things...here he was helping me make a pretzel.

 John Paul // 2 - I adore that I know he was laughing at his sweet Daddy here.

Sophie // 9 months - she's started doing this when I bring out the camera, and I love it!