Easter 2011

We made a quick, overnight visit down to Oregon for Easter this year and had a great time! Preparation started Friday when I baked up 4+ dozen sugar cookies {from a mix to save time.... I know, I know - not like me at all but it was quick and cookies were baked, decorated and kitchen cleaned up within just a couple hours}. Once they cooled, I wrapped them up in bags for my Primary class and dropped them off at the Colemans since Vicki was subbing for me - I was feeling a little guilty about missing another Sunday and I was bummed I didn't get to teach the Easter lesson. Meanwhile, we were also waiting for a package from FedEx to arrive - Sean had ordered some Lamb of God DVDs to give to a couple coworkers and Ethan and I were going to run them over as soon as they were delivered. Well.... Sean gets off at 3:30pm and was home by 4pm and the FedEx truck rolled up at about 4:30pm! Oh, well.

Saturday morning we were up early and had to wait for a load of laundry to dry before we left. We stopped in Salem for some gas and a bite to eat at Sonic. Sean and I both decided to try the different hot dogs they were featuring. Sean's was a "New Yorker" with mustard, grilled onions and sauerkraut while I had a "Chicago" style with mustard, dill pickle spear and tomatoes on a poppy seed bun. Yum!

We stayed at my parents' house and not long after getting there, Lizzy and I decided to make a quick trip to Old Navy to check out the deals! I had one mission: get the white 3/4 sleeve crew-neck cardigan I had seen just a couple weeks ago and gone back to get in Vancouver, only to find all the cardigans picked over and none in my size! Lizzy's mission was to find a new summer dress. We both walked away happy - Lizzy was especially happy because we made her find her birthday present from us.

Saturday night my family had already signed up to have the missionaries over for dinner and after that I helped Lizzy get ready for the church dance. I helped her pick out accessories for her new dress and did her hair - it was kinda fun because it reminded me that I helped Christine out with church dance prep (mostly hair) a LOT when she was going because I still lived at home. I haven't gotten to do any pre-dance-sister-bonding-time with Lizzy because I got married and moved out when she was only 9! The rest of the night is a blur of watching Portlandia clips with my dad, chatting with my mom, getting Ethan bathed and in bed and being too tired to watch a movie.

Sunday morning Ethan was up bright and early and went in search of his Easter basket {growing up our Easter baskets were always hidden - seeing how fun it was to watch Ethan try to find it this year and I realized why my mom enjoyed it so much!}. After a game of hot-and-cold, Ethan finally found it behind the curtain in the dining room.

Cars matching game, window markers, new shirt, Goldfish crackers (the kinds we don't usually buy but Ethan always asks for), Red Vines (his favorite candy!) and a froggy bank.

Next it was time to get ready for church, because as much as we love the fun stuff, we wanted to make sure we emphasized why we celebrate Easter and reinforce the family home evening we had on Monday. We went to sacrament meeting in my family's ward and then scooted over to the Thurston chapel to go to sacrament meeting in 5th ward (the only other ward we've been in since we got married). It was so fun to see everyone!

After church it was time for a quick photo shoot of Ethan in his Easter Sunday best!
Then we loaded up the car {including a dresser we just inherited that I plan on refinishing and putting new drawer pulls on, etc. - pictures when I'm done} and headed out to grandma Sandy and grandpa Chuck's house for Easter dinner. Ham, green salad, cheesy Pat's potatoes (funeral potatoes), jello salad and grandma's yummy rolls!
Despite all the weather forecasts of rain and nasty weather on Easter, we got some blue skies and sun in the afternoon and it was perfect weather for an Easter egg hunt {we actually had TWO because most every was napping for the first round!} and perfect lighting for pictures!
Of course, we had to get a few family pictures while we were at it!

This was all I could get for a family shot! Sean and I's heads both cut off, Sean with cup in hand and Ethan being a stinker!

Love this man!

I like both our smiles in the second one better.

Love my boys!

There was strawberry-rhubarb and marionberry pies for dessert and then it was time to make the 2-hour drive home. Hope everyone had a HAPPY EASTER!!