On Thursday we took the family to the cabin where we planned on having our special Jerusalem dinner that we always have for part of our Easter celebration.
Part of this tradition is where we make our own clay oil lamps and talk about the parable of the Ten Virgins, and talk about how we can be ready to receive the Bridegroom. Will we be ready when He comes again??
It was in the most unlikely hour at midnight when He came, and those who were wise had oil in their lamps with extra oil too...we want to be found as one of the wise, and we are working on it in our family every single day. :)
The kids had fun being creative and making their lamps while I was with them in the kitchen baking Easter treats and making dinner.
After the lamps were finished and the food was ready, we turned off all the lights, sat on the floor, and enjoyed our special candle lit feast. Then we stayed up late and watched a movie too...
While we were at the cabin we also got to take the side by side out for a little while.
All the kids were excited for their turn to ride...all except for Kesslyn. She had enough excitement just sitting in it while we filled the tires with air. :)
Gavin got to drive it a little bit for the very first time...lets just say it wasn't for very long...
I was a little too nervous for that...;)
Dallin was the only one officially old enough to be driving it, and since I have seen his driving skills lately I was OK with that. :)
Clint also took Kambriella for a ride all the way into Fairview to the gas station to fill up, and get a treat of course. ;) I think she felt very special...:)
Then, Dallin and Gavin drove and drove until it started to get dark...
...and then I made them come in.:)
The next day when we got back Dallin got his Driver's license!!!
He was soooo excited, and for his very first outing without another adult in the car, he took his little brother to the temple. They had a great time, and then went to McDonald's for an ice~cream cone when they were done, which I thought was strange since it was only 9:00 in the morning. :)
Clint and I also went to the temple early Saturday morning too. We got done around 7:30 in the morning and the tulips were opening up and were so big and bright and beautiful that I had to get a picture by them...one of the many ways that God shows us His love...
The Easter Bunny also visited our house early (since He likes to have Sunday to focus on the Savior...:)
and the girls were freaking out when they saw that this year the Easter Bunny had left their baskets on the front porch!!!
They got all kinds of treasures in their baskets, including some cute new summer clothes...;)
We also traveled to Roy to visit Grandma and Grandpa Trickett and have our annual Easter Spring Fling with all of the cousins and everyone...
Everyone found eggs, some with candy, and some with money...
But really the hunt for the eggs is always fun when you are with your cousins. :)
The little ones were way more excited about their candy eggs than their money eggs anyways!
(And this year, Clint found the Golden egg with a $50 bill inside!!! LUCKY!!! :)
There is a new gazebo in the back yard that all of the kids loved hanging out in...it was a fun time with family. :)
Saturday night Clint and I also went to the late game for the Jazz who are in the playoffs, but who we really aren't sure if they will win a game...
...but needless to say, it was loud and exciting and full of energy, and we had a really fun time. :)
And then came Easter Sunday. :)
The best day of the week!
I think that all of our focus on Christ and His life throughout the week was wonderful spiritual preparation for this special Sunday because I felt the Spirit so strong all throughout the day.
From the moment I woke up and said a prayer of gratitude, to sacrament meeting and Sunday School...the music and words were so good for my soul...
...and of course the time spent with my family too... :)
We had a group of sisters that made a special Easter dinner that I got to deliver to a family in our ward, that gave our day an extra added measure of love with service that made it feel extra special too.
We sat with our family at our "Love One Another" table for our special Easter feast, and read all of the love notes that everyone had written to each other throughout the week.
The things that came from our kids hearts that they wrote to one another made my momma heart so happy...they truly do love each other. What more could a mother ask for???
For our Easter dessert we had planned on making these cute chick cup cakes...which Kambriella had a blast helping with! (Except they don't look quite as cute and fluffy as I wanted since no one would let me put the colored coconut on it for the feathers!) I love coconut, but apparently I am the only one. ;)
Oh well...they still looked cute. :)...and tasted yummy too! :)
At the end of the day I had Clint and the kids watch a special Easter movie about Paul the Apostle of Christ too. I was going to watch it with them but ended up getting an emergency call from a sister in the ward who needed me to go with her to take her baby to the ER. Everything turned out OK, and I was glad that I was there to help...after all, isn't that what we are here for?? To help each other all along the way and to return to live with our Heavenly Father again someday?
I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and that I feel His love so abundantly in everything around me.
I love Easter, and I LOVE my family!!!
It's been such a wonderful week of Easter!
