Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

deep thoughts

Holidays seem to highlight how much our children have changed in one year's time. Last Easter we had just moved to Virginia and Dan won a raffle at work to stay in a cabin in the mountains. I remember how excited I was that Cora could hold up her little stuffed bunny from her basket and shake and Easter egg. She crawled around the lobby of a small church that we found and Dan and I took turns trying to listen to the service.
Easter 2008

This year Cora kept telling us about the Easter Bunny coming and about getting candy (we're not quite sure how this happened). She ran around the front yard looking for eggs and kept up with the big kids during the hunt at John & Em's house. She sneakily climbed on the kitchen table to get candy from her basket and gave a perfect 'not guilty' grin when caught. She puts her stuffed bunny from last year 'to bed' when it is nap time and 'feeds' it from food in her little kitchen.

A friend posted a good reminder on Facebook this morning about the true meaning of Easter. Her basic message: its not about the bunny & peeps. Very true, and thank goodness!! But when you're 2 what better way to learn Joy, Anticipation, Hope, & Love than by hunting for eggs with a basket, being outside surrounded by the early signs of spring, and yes, even a jellybean or two. I look forward to revealing to Cora the true and powerful meaning of Easter with each new year. Tonight I'm enjoying the memory of her tasting her first Peep.



First Peep.

Tidal Basin

The Cherry Blossom Festival marks our one year anniversary in Alexandria/DC. Dan got off a little early on Friday and we took a walk around the tidal basin. Beautiful evening to start a great Easter weekend!




Meeting Baby William





Cora and I finally made it to Richmond to meet Baby William. He is even more wonderful than I had imagined. 2 hours can seem like a really long way when you'd like to see someone more often! Meg and I got to catch up amidst toddler chases, sandbox sharing, and newborn needs. We've decided to find some time this fall to leave the kiddos with Andrew & Dan and give ourselves some more chat time (okay, its in writing!). Maeve and Cora seem to have more fun together with each visit. They both got the giggles during lunch and kept copying what the other was doing. Friends are a fabulous thing!