Each and Every Day . . .: Easter Festivities!

This post is *full* of pictures! The kids managed to get in lots and lots of Easter fun. It started with a visit with Mimi the week before Easter. She brought some fun Easter bags and got to read all of the kids a book (check out which one - appropriate, eh?).

What is in there????

Oh - it's a floppy bunny. What fun (and what great entertainment in the car on the way to Amarillo!)

Mom told me after her visit that at the end of the story (Peter Rabbit, if you can't see it), Clara had pointed at Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail at the end of the book and said "they got deserts because they were good little bunnies" - and then she sighed deeply. Yes, she's our little bunny that struggles to obey the rules - I can't count the number of times I heard the dreaded "no!" today.

Our next stop on the Easter train of fun (yes, it's getting late as I write this), was at the Amarillo zoo. On Saturday, they had all sorts of special activities at the zoo, so we decided to check it out. Well, I hadn't counted on it being 45 degrees until midday. And I guess I forgot about the wind. So the kiddos look a little cold, but we had them dressed in the warmest things I had packed ....

As you can see from Gracie's face, one of the fun things was face painting. The girls also got to plant carrots seeds in a little pot, make Easter bags, pet a bunny and see the Easter Bunny himself. It was a fun trip and the zoo is just the perfect size for all of them to enjoy.

The girls & Daddy with the sleeping bear. We hoped he would move, but not so. JM was too fascinated with running up and down the ramp to the bear exhibit to be bothered with looking at the actual bears!

But he did like the donkeys:

Saturday continued with more festivities - egg dyeing with the Stebbins clan:

Then it was time for the Easter egg hunt. Sarah decided not to hunt - instead she got to hide the eggs. Susie & I were supposed to be helping, but I think there was more chatting (at least on my part) than hiding. Sarah did a great job! I think we had over a 100 eggs to hide, so it was no small task . . .

And they're off! Gracie was collecting those eggs pretty fast. I think was being a sweet older cousin and taking her time to make sure our kids found enough!

Check out that hiding spot! And sharp eyes (Clara) found it.

Some were better egg hunters than others ....

Yes, that's grass he's putting in his basket ...

The Egg Hunt Crew

And finally, getting a snack ready for the Easter bunny. Thank goodness Grandma had some lettuce tucked away in the fridge, since all the carrots were gone. Then the girls decided some grapes and walnuts would be good, too. Yummy, right?