Easter 2013

I love the reason we celebrate Easter.
Death could not keep it's prey, Jesus my Savior.
Although it's so easy to get carried away with the festivities and forget the real significance, I do think it's a time to dress up, make beautiful things, enjoy family, and share joy with each other. All the while keeping the important things important. I want my children to grow up looking forward to family traditions, and knowing exactly why they are there. Like the feasts in the bible.

Evin's favorite food at the moment is eggs, so you can imagine his delight when we told him to find pretty colorful eggs out in the yard. He thought it was just the greatest thing ever.  We eat pretty healthy around here, so Evin hasn't ever had candy (to my knowledge), so he was pretty content with his raisins he got, but I'm not sure what we'll do next year. And ah! I just love dressing little boys up! Yes, I'm looking forward to little dresses at some point, but I'm enjoying what I have at the moment.

We had our traditional lamb dinner, but Tim grilled it this year, yummm! And I made my favorite lemonade bars, which I could eat pretty much every day if I let myself. I'm more of a tart and or creamy dessert type girl, vs. too sweet. And there's something about cooking in a little Anthropologie apron that makes everything taste better.
We were going to do our 'official' Spring family picture but my weather app says a typhoon is coming tonight so I guess we'll have to hold off for a few more days. Speaking of which, I'd better go check our basement and make sure everything is off the floor. Hope you enjoy our little family fun.


  

Easter DIY - Bunny Napkin

Some more fun Easter inspiration for you.

I just love this little bunny napkin fold!
It would have worked a little better with some starch, but ain't nobody got time for that. 

And here's our traditional lamb dinner. Sorry I don't have the recipe, I just make up my own variation every year.
Ok, will you all comment and answer something for me? I've been eating lamb for Easter for as long as I can remember, and every time I mention lamb to my friends most of them say they've never even tried lamb, ever. And I'm socked every time. Have you had lamb before? Do you have it for Easter? 

Easter DIY - Basket

Is it too soon to start some Easter posts?
There's something about Valentine's and Easter that gets me every year, I just want to create. I want to cook, and make pretty things by hand, you know, be all domestic and such.
Thought I'd share a few traditions/crafts we do for the holiday.
Today I'll give you the link to make adorable baskets made from paper grocery bags.

Want to hold on to the celebration a little longer?
Once you're done with your egg shell let the kids fill it with flowers and decorate the table.
From the empty shell comes life.
Mark 16:6

Christmas and Valentine's Day

Ok, I admit, I really didn't feel like taking too many family pictures over the holidays. To be honest, I just wasn't feeling well for the last three months, and that's my excuse. Now that I am no longer feeling 'blah' with morning sickness I hope to be posting more on here.

Haha, we still haven't had our family Christmas, that tells you how 'blah' I actually felt. At least I decorated the house, aren't you proud of me. Here are a few decorations. And since a post just isn't the same without Evin's little face I'll also add in his Valentine's Day cards he gave out to the family. Which one do you like the best? He's actually pretty proud of them, it's hilarious. I had grand hopes of using more props, and poses, but this was as good as it was going to get that day. Life with kids...

DIY: Valentine Decor

Ok, I'll admit it, it took me awhile to figure out what d.i.y. meant.

What do you mean they were a diy bride? 

Diy ideas for Easter, what's that?

So, here's a definition of d.i.y. for any of you who are like I was.

D.I.Y.

[from the Greek, for, do it yourself.]

All that said, I love diy crafts and projects!

Even if I could buy a said object I would still rather make it, just for the fun of it.

Within reason of course, I don't think I'd be very good at making a camera lens.

I've always wanted to be surrounded with unique things.

Ever since I was young I would buy perfectly good clothes and modify them just to have something no one else had.

I get a thrill from making stuff or finding used things and making new things!

Which is technically called "upcycling" I guess.

'upcycle' [Latin for 'the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value']

Anyways, whether you call it upcycling, diy or something else, I love it!

I thought I'd show you a few projects I've been working on recently.

I actually made these decorations for a birthday party but I'm sharing them now to give some Valentine's Day inspiration.

For this garland all you need is an old book, heart shaped punch from a craft store, staples, and twine.

And here, just a book, scissors, and staples.
Just cut six strips two short, two medium and two longer.
Bend them into a heart and staple the bottom. This would also be cool with sheet music.

All you need is colored paper (or you can do what I did and use paint samples and a book), a heart punch, a heavy duty needle, and string or embroidery floss.
I hand sewed two paint chips back to back and then spaced them how I wanted them on the floss. 
This one did take quite a bit of time but it was worth it.
So simple, but I love how they turned out!
Next up, the birthday party and how I used these decorations.