Easter is considered another one of our favorites as Christmas is the other. Not for most reasons that most have. The reason is because of the Christian aspect of it. As Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. For Easter we celebrate what Jesus did on the cross for us as well as His assent to heaven. Yes, we still do the Easter baskets, gifts, and even doing colored eggs.
We have our own family Easter tradition like we do for Christmas. On Good Friday I read how Jesus was captured and died on the cross. Then Saturday night I read about how Jesus went to heaven and that He is alive. So our Easter is celebrated from Good Friday through Easter Sunday.
Saturday morning of Easter weekend we usually eat late in the morning so we have actually brunch. Which helps us because we have a busy afternoons usually. Joel enjoyed watching his weekend cartoon shows, and having a picnic on the living room floor because it was raining off and on outside.
We then got to Winterset Care Center North for there annual Easter Egg Hunt. Since it was just sprinkling and no lighting they went ahead and had it. There was lots of goodies that is for sure.
Joel's godparents met us out there. They love watching him have fun getting goodies, and they love to help him. This year with the rain there wasn't very many kids so there was a lot to get. I think Joel walked away with a grocery bag and half of stuff. Needless to say his little bucket was not big enough to hold everything. He also got a prize from a drawing. He got a jump rope. It will take him sometime to get use to it for sure. The funny thing was when we got to the church for decorating Joel's godfather tried to show him how to do it. LOL should of had my camera in my hand at the time.
Joel's godparents and us then went to the church to start getting ready for the next morning. The boys played games for a while, while us gals got the eggs to boiling and filled the Easter Eggs with candy for the next day's big hunt. Joel then helped for a little while coloring the eggs for the next day. Due to a white shirt that he was wearing we had to take it off. It was so much fun watching him color the eggs. He made us laugh. Then Joel's godmother and I finished
decorating the church fellowship hall for Easter Joel and his godfather went and played some more. Then we all went to the grocery store for things. Saturday night Joel and I read the ressurrection story.
Sunday morning we got up VERY early. Had to get ready and dressed for church. Plus Joel opened all his Easter gifts from everyone. I just loved watching him open his gifts. His face was priceless. Joel does know the true meaning of Easter which is good. He knows that God gave us the best gift ever. Having His only Son die on the cross so that we may live, and to me brought to life again and is in heaven. Joel looked so cute in his new Easter outfit. Yes, I make my son wear a cute Easter outfit every year. This was the first year since his first Easter that he did not wear an outfit with a little tie. I think he was more comfortable in the new outfit anyway. He even look cute with his glasses and his cheesy smile that he does every now and then. Then it was off to Easter services at church. We were there a little bit after 7am. Love hearing the Easter message at Sunrise. It is so enlightening to listen to. Still it is so hard to not cry thinking what Jesus went through just so that I may live eternally with Him in heaven. He didn't just do it for me he did it for everyone.
Then during morning worship Joel and my niece sang for everyone. It was so cute to listen to them, and see them. You never know what my son is going to do. It was neat to see how my niece is loving being part of church. She reminds me of me. I think she had a lot of fun too. I was part of the Easter play with the young adults and teens. I think it was awesome!
Then after the Easter morning worship the kids got to do an Easter egg hunt. Joel enjoyed having his godfather help him. Watching them is so much fun. Joel once told me "I don't need a daddy, I have my Uncle Chris, he is all the buddy I need." It is sad that Joel's biological father is missing out on all this fun with Joel, but it is his loss, and everyone else's gain. Easter is so much fun.
I do miss the old Easter get togethers my family use to have. Like going to Great- Grandma Betty's and Great- Grandpa Roberts farm, and spending it with all my cousins, aunts, and uncles, with my brothers, parents, and grandparents. Miss going to Grandma Charlotte's as well. It seems like we all went apart our ways. It is nice though to have Joel's and I own family Easter Traditions. What better way to celebrate Easter than with our Church family, and family?!
Joel and I got to go with his Grandma Karen, Papa Steve, and my niece to see the Shriners Circus in Des Moines, Iowa. Joel and my niece loved it. It was both their first times to the circus. I enjoyed parts of it. Shriners Circus I will have to admit it isn't as good as Barlem and Baileys Circus, but it was good. Going to the circus was for the kids anyway. Joel and my niece got a book each. They went to the different clowns and got their signatures on it. Not all the clowns were there, but they got quite a few.
One of the Shriners put their hat on Joel before we got to go in. It was so cute I had to share the picture. Joel danced around in it. While we were waiting outside a few of the clowns came outside to see the kids. It really helped the wait outside for the kids. It made the time go faster. It was fun listening to my niece and Joel talk about the different clowns, and what they were dressed up as. Their was a farmer clown, Referee Clown, and so many more. Right before the doors were open they sang it was Circus Time. The nice thing is we got their in good time that we weren't way back in the line. We also got good seats as they were first come first serve. So we got seats down on the floor. While we were waiting we let the little ones not only get signatures from the different clowns, but also get elephant rides. It was a little pricey to ride, and it wasnt that long, but heck it put smiles on the kids faces.
The kids like most of the acts. Some not as much. One of the acts that they liked was the flying trapease. The kids just was amazed at how they could do that so far in the air. The smiles and faces they had were priceless. They also enjoyed the lions, the elephant that stood on al big round ball with all his weight, and their favorite was the motorcycle act that was done. I was in awe of it too. I think Joel talked about it for the next couple of days. I really didn't have a favorite act that was done.
It was so much fun to watch Joel enjoy his first real circus with his cousin. Joel was such a good boy. I can't wait to take him to the big circus some day.
