Easter Eggin'

We like to spread out our Easter festivities over an entire week.  This year we started first with an Easter FHE on April 10th where we started a couple of daily countdowns to Easter we found in The Fried Magazine and made/ate peanut butter rice krispie treats cut into egg shapes (recipe idea thanks to The Friend, as well). 

Sprinkles thanks to Cal.

Then, on Tuesday the 11th, we met up with the whole Blanchard clan in South Jordan for a quick couple of hours that everyone would be in the state at the same time (Ryan and the girls were here visiting from NC/VA and Laurel's family was leaving for WA that evening).  The kids hunted for Easter eggs in the backyard and then we ate Cafe Rio for dinner.  We also snapped a family photo since it will be a while before everyone's all together again with our missionary grandparents leaving soon.

All eight Blanchard grands in one room.

Sam was way more interested in the lawn mower toy than the
egg hunt.

Gregg was the official photographer.

Notice those motorboat lips going full blast.

Chow time!

Callie had been looking forward to dying eggs all month, and we finally got to do it together for "Mom and Cal time" on Friday the 14th.  She was in heaven mixing her love of art with her interest in science.  Dying eggs was the perfect combo!

Writing on the egg with a crayon before dipping
it in the dye.

Such concentration!

Sam was actually there, but I made him stay in
his high chair and eat because he's too wild for
my liking when dye is involved.

He's pretty darn adorable, though.

Beauties, all of them.

The annual Elwood family Easter egg hunt at my grandparent's house was held on Saturday morning.  It's kind of fun to see this tradition being passed on to the next generation of Elwood great grands.  Callie totally knew what to do and wasted no time collecting her ten small eggs and one big one.  Sam had a little help from his friends.  After eggs, we had a yummy sloppy joe (inside) picnic and then parted ways.  We went to Hyrum to tour H&T's under construction house (and they're nearby neighborhood park).  On our way home we stopped in Mantua for some rock splashing in the lake and some dirt road exploring.  Dinner was a to-go bag from Maddox, which we ate at a park in North Ogden that we always drive past but had never stopped at.  Then home over the mountain to bed.

Gracie wasn't about to be left out of the fun.

Testing out the patio swing.

Sunny deck group shot.
Back row: Emmy, Taylor, Chiara, Mugs, Heather and Grace
Front: MaKinna, Macie, Evelyn, Kim, Cal and Sam

Mantua views.

Sunday morning I attempted a fancy hairdo on Callie for church.  It actually worked out, but I have never tried it again.  Best not to tempt fate and step out while I'm ahead, I think.  Man, we have cute kids, and they finally agreed to look cute and smile for a picture together in their new spring clothes from Grandma Blanchard. (I had been trying to snap a picture of them in their outfits for weeks to no avail.)

It was a fun week with family, culminating in a beautiful Sunday to celebrate the most amazing miracle ever - Christ's resurrection.  What a blessing to know that He is risen!  Alleluia, indeed!  Here's my very favorite Easter hymn to finish things off: