Easter 2021

Today we wrapped up Easter 2021.  Although I worked hard to make this day a special one for our family, this holiday turned out to be a a comedy of errors as there were several things that went wrong throughout the entire day.  From Logan becoming very grumpy during the egg hunt because his eggs were too hard to find to Ella breaking one of my kitchen table chairs (the seventh time this has happened in the past few years) to not being able to shell our hardboiled eggs due to the new egg dye almost glueing the shells to the eggs to Emmett being totally wild and disruptive while I was trying to teach our older three children an Easter lesson, the list could go on and on.  Although there were many lows in the day, I was grateful to stay home with my family and enjoy seeing our children find their Easter baskets, watch some General Conference, and eat a delicious dinner at the end of the day.

Since I always include items like swimsuits, flip flops and sandals, shorts and t-shirts, and church clothes with the children's Easter baskets, it always looks like they get more stuff for Easter than they really do (as I would normally just give them these clothing items for the warmer season anyways).  It's a great way to get the kids to think that they are really getting more for this holiday than they actually are as their Easter baskets containing a few toys and gifts are the real present.  Here is Ella's basket and items on her side of the larger couch.  

In addition to clothes and his basket, Logan received a bunch of pirate-themed, throw pillows for the new, window seat that Ron built for the boys' bedroom earlier this year.

Lia's basket and clothes with her American Girl Doll, Caroline, who I sent into the doll hospital in February to get a new head (since her hair was pretty damaged).  Since Lia really doesn't play with her dolls anymore, I am hopeful that Caroline's hair will stay nice for the long haul.

Emmett's basket with a bunch of clothes and another pirate pillow for the boys' bedroom.

Since Emmett didn't understand that the children couldn't peak downstairs until we said it was "go time," Ella and Logan dragged the play tent in front of the stairs and draped some blankets over the railing at the top of the loft.  It was so funny watching them try to keep him from looking downstairs that I had to take a few pictures.

Emmett peaking out from around the tent before Logan pulled him back.

After Ella put a sleeping mask on her face, she poked her head out from behind the blankets.

Logan draped one of his blankets over his body and also came out from behind the tent.  They were being so funny that this entire scene just cracked me up!

Once Lia finally emerged from her bedroom, it was time to come downstairs.  Here are all four children running down to the living room.  The look of pure joy on Ella's and Logan's face perfectly sums up their excitement!

Ella and Logan taking their first look at their Easter loot.

Emmett immediately reaching into his basket for a toy train.

Lia surveying her gifts for the first time.

Ella holding up the jellyfish pool floatie that she had wanted for this coming summer.

Logan holding the Treasure X, pirate toy he had asked the Easter Bunny to bring.

Emmett holding his Thomas the Train book and stuffie.

Lia opening up her Mini Brands toy.

Emmett driving his choo choos back and forth over the piano.

After breakfast and the morning session of General Conference, we headed outside for our Easter egg hunt.  Although it had rained in the night and also during the morning, it dried up enough for us to hold the hunt outside.  This is our second time doing this (last year was the first) and I think it is so much better than an indoor hunt.  Emmett loved it and happily ran all over the backyard finding his eggs.

Emmett picking up another egg while Ella jumps over the fence.

Ella finding one of her eggs in the nook of a tree.

Logan trying to summon a smile during a frustrating hunt that proved to be too difficult for him. :-(

Lia finding an egg in our empty garden.

Since I helped Emmett during his entire hunt, he finished first before anyone else.  All on his own, he walked down onto the back bank and spread out his eggs on the retaining wall.  He then started counting them in his funny way (3, 4, 7, 8, 10, etc).  I managed to get some of it on video and it was just the cutest thing.

A group picture of the kids and me when the hunting was all finished.

I just had to take some photos of the children in front of the stunning cherry blossoms in our yard and our neighbor's yard. These trees are always so pretty this time of year!

A vertical shot of the Hartland kiddos.

And another close-up shot of our darling children.  I just can't get over how grown up Emmett looks in this picture.  He sure has become "one of the gang" in recent months!