Easter 2016.

Happy Easter! (One of the few days of the year when we actually look coordinated* ;0)) I'm so grateful to be able to be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a blessing He is to me. I am grateful that He had such GREAT LOVE to live, suffer and die for each of us. And it brings me so much peace to know that death is not the end, that we will be with our loved ones again.

Brad & DeAnna Silvey's family had us over for Easter dinner.  It was delicious, fun to catch up with them and find out that they are expecting baby #3 this Fall!


*Thanks to Bompa & Mémé for the dresses, little boys' suits, Bry's tie and my lace cardigan.

Celebrating Spring.

15 April 2015

We waited for a beautiful Spring day and did our Spring Celebration.  I made a special dinner:

Rotisserie Chicken

Pasta Nests w/ Alfredo Sauce

Roasted Carrots and Brussel Sprouts

Green Salad w/ Strawberries & Mandarin Oranges

Orange Cream Soda

Carrot Cake w/ Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting*

*Alex & Lij helped me make the frosting.  Instead of adding vanilla I decided to add lemon zest & juice.  I loved the fresh touch that it added and want to remember it for next year.

Then you kids put on bunny ears and chased around the yard hunting for eggs.  Afterwards you came inside to find your Easter sacks.  Dad finished off the evening (while I was at a Primary Presidency Meeting) by reading you "God Bless My Boo Boo" with the new finger puppets that Grauntie had given you.  It was a fun evening with all of you!  Hooray for Spring having finally arrived here in Normal!!

Easter & Conference Weekend.

It was wonderful to be in Utah to spend Easter & General Conference weekend with our families.  Friday night we drove up to Holladay for Grandpa & Grandma Stevenson's BBQ.  As you three kiddos were running around outside during golden hour searching high and low for easter eggs, I suddenly had a flashback to 8 years ago.  Dad & I were dating at the time and had hidden the easter eggs for the younger cousins to find.  Dad later told me that he had wanted to kiss me behind one of the big bushes in the yard but didn't get the chance ;0)  And there we were watching our 3 kids (36 weeks pregnant with Aimee) chase around that same yard at Easter time.  What a fun recollection.   

We spent that night at Rach's place (we had accidentally left Alex's blankie in Salem so it was a long night for all of us).  She & Starla made us a delicious breakfast Saturday morning.  We were a bit distracted by family both days, but enjoyed the conference talks that we were able to listen to.  We had a lovely Easter feast at Bompa & Mémé's Saturday afternoon (Grauntie and Gramps were there).  Grauntie gave each of you your own stuffed animal bunny.  Dad went to a priesthood session broadcast with Grandpa, Uncle Alan, Bompa and Uncle Tim while Aunt Emmie & Buck took you three fishing at Salem Pond AND while Mémé, Aunt Rachie & I chilled on the couch and took it easy for our GNO...we were beat and didn't have energy to do anything.

Sunday morning Mémé had her traditional yogurts and kiwis, then you kids did a mini easter egg hunt and we took some family pictures.  We spent the rest of the day at Grandpa & Nana Julz' where we found out that Aunt Julie & Uncle Walt are expecting a GIRL (Hooray!!), watched conference, had a delicious dinner, did an easter egg hunt (for coins) and had a family testimony meeting.  It was a PACKED weekend, but we loved that we could make memory with our families.

Looking dapper.

Easter Sunday I got the kids all dressed up for church (thanks Mom & Dad for the CUTE outfits!) and snapped some pictures.

Do you remember this lamb from last Easter?

Same lamb, very different baby boy ;0)  Look how much he's grown!  I love this little sequence of pictures...

My friend Hannah was so sweet to snap these pictures for us after church.  It was a nice morning of church services and a BEAUTIFUL Spring day.  Perfect reminder of the new life that Christ brings to each of us!

For Easter Dinner we had tilapia, couscous and salad.  I had forgotten to get a ham while grocery shopping earlier in the week, but had fish in the freezer.  It got me thinking how ironic it is that we eat pork on Easter when Jesus would not have eaten it.  In any case, maybe fish will be a new tradition for us.

Celebrating Spring.

 For the last few years Em has been here during Easter.  This year, with Easter being later in April, she was going to miss it.  So we decided to do a Spring celebration while she was in town.  I LOVE all of the cute bunny and baby chick ideas on Pinterest, but feel like the true meaning of Easter can get lost when the focus is so much on that. So we decided that we wanted to separate the secular from the sacred this year.  We looked at the forecast for a beautiful day to celebrate Spring: I made bunny behind pancakes, we had Easter bags (Em spoiled us as always!! Since my parents got the kids church outfits I decided to put matching jammies in their Easter bags.), spent several hours at Purina Farms (looking at the baby animals--baby pigs included!--watching a dog show and taking a tractor ride), had lunch at Red Robin, and an egg hunt that evening. The weather was perfect and so pleasant all day.  That weekend we made sure to include brussel sprouts for dinner, in honor of Mom :0)

Brie was SO excited to see baby piglets in real life!

 this picture cracks me up!

The Saturday before Easter the Easter Bunny came to Park Forest and there was an Easter egg hunt.  All month we'd been focusing on giving and with it being Easter weekend we'd been focusing on the Savior giving His life for us.  I was a little torn about the kids going to the egg hunt, it interrupting our focus on the sacred.  But I had the thought to talk to Brie about our theme of giving and suggested that she could give away some of her eggs, then I left the decision up to her.  When the time for the egg hunt came I watched as Brie would collect an egg or two then give one away to a smaller child or someone who didn't have as many.  It was so touching for me to see.  That felt like the true spirit of Easter.  So although I had thought of separating the secular and the sacred, I realized that there are ways to teach meaningful lessons either way.  In any case, it was so fun to celebrate springtime with Schmemmers!

Easter with Em, take 2 :0)

Emmie came out again to visit us around Easter time.  I say we make this a tradition :0)  Before I do an official post about her visit, I wanted to post about Easter.  Saturday we {made it in time} saw the Easter Bunny and did an egg hunt at the complex play ground.  The kids loved her (yes, Sarah from the office said that this was a girl bunny), even Alex!  They kept hovering around her and giving her hugs.  Gotta love it! During nap/quiet time I made scrapbook paper monogram tags for each of our bags...inspired by some that I had seen at Target. It made for a fun little creative outlet while Em snoozed with Elijah on the couch, and it will be fun to use them each year.  After Alex got up from his nap the kids came downstairs to find their Easter bags.  We had little bags for each of the kids (with fun surprises added from Bompa & Mémé and Aunt Rachie) and then Em emptied her carry-on with all sorts of other cute clothes, candy and gifts for the kids AND for us.  She has always been UBER thoughtful!

Remember me mentioning the Panda Cheese commercials?  Well when I saw this panda bear at the Outlet I couldn't help but buy it for Alex!  Then I found these little panda treats and knew they had to go in his Easter bag ;0)

Before heading out for church we of course had to get a little family picture.  If you look closely Elijah is also sporting a bow tie ;0)  Good ol' Target dollar bins.

Sunday morning Ed & Ruth Anne came over for brunch then joined us for Sacrament meeting.  It was so nice to spend the morning with them, especially since they just recently moved away :0(  After sacrament meeting I came home and started coming down with a really nasty cold that put me out for the rest of the day.  Sweet Emily whipped up a lovely Easter dinner for us while Bry wrangled the three kids.  Bless you, Schmem!  Bring back memories from Thanksgiving? ;0)

With it being Easter weekend and all I was especially grateful for the conversation that Em and I had one night after she got into town.  We talked a lot about baggage, change, repentance, making mistakes and the Savior's atonement.  I'll probably say this each year, but even though I don't even start to comprehend the atonement, I am grateful that I have this life to learn, to change and grow and to become more like my Heavenly Father!

Easter and Emmie's Visit.

(6-15 April 2012)

Emmie came out to visit us last month over her Spring Break.  

It was SO wonderful to have her stay! 

 Some of the highlights from her visit include...

Em making us dinner EVERY night * dying Easter eggs and making dyed flowers * watching Brie do an Easter egg hunt with Nelli and her cousins * arranging the Easter baskets *going shopping to good ol' Target * setting the Easter table * making carrot cake (extra salt, caramelized and all) * helping to make "Minnie Mouse" in her Altoid's tin bed * GNO--salty caramel bars, watching "the help" and making cards * taking Em to see Ruth Anne's awesome jewelry * treasure hunting at the Goodwill Outlet * heart 2 hearts * exchanging Easter baskets * painting nails * Princess Tea Party * walking in Webster Groves * pizza party & documentary on sea turtles * Em doing an impromptu sleepover with Brie during a huge thunderstorm * Em picking out a shelf & containers and organizing our cluttered kitchen corner * crêpe breakfast * just spending time with my big sis, sure do love her more than my luggage :0) *

(our cute neighbors Ed and Ruth Anne looking on)

We missed the complex Easter egg hunt by a few minutes and were bummed, but Azhar sweetly hid a few of her boys eggs for Brie to find.  And then Martha & Taylor invited Brie to join their family Easter egg hunt.    What great neighbors and friends.  Thank you guys!

It dawned on me while I was taking these pictures of Alex and Brie that this was Alex's first Easter out and about.  Last year he spent most of his Easter being born ;0)...and then in the hospital.

(Awesome Easter baskets thanks to generous 

and thoughtful Bompa, Mémé, Grauntie and Emmie)

(if I know anything about design it's thanks to Em.  She has such a knack for putting things together creatively and beautifully.  It was so fun to work on setting the Easter dinner table together.  It turned out super bright and springy. ) 

The eggs on each plate were part of an Easter tradition we have (12 eggs through walk you through the atonement).  After dinner, we took turns opening our given eggs, showing the object and reading the scriptures.  It was a simple yet nice way to talk about the Savior's sacrifice for us.

BTW, even though we don't have a picture, our friend Julie Hoyt joined us for dinner.  It was a nice evening.

 After seeing everything tucked into our "green wall" I found Brie sticking her bunny and sippy into the wall.  Love it.  Here she is with the bunny we found (and thoroughly washed 3x ;0)) at the Goodwill Outlet.  BTW, in the last two pictures Brie is blowing a dandelion.  She loves to watch the seeds fly!

Mémé.

(15-28 April 2011)

Can I just say YAY for moms?! :0) First off, it was so special sharing Alexander's birth with my Mom (in part because she had to have c-sections with all us kids and never got to experience a "normal" birth) and having her there. There is something calming and reassuring about having her there in the room...her mother's intuition...and the thoughtful care that she gives. I told her that she should just plan on being present for all subsequent births as well :0)

Aside from that, it was so wonderful having her here for all the other moments leading up to his birth and afterward. She was SUCH a great help to us and SO fun to have around. Here are some of my favorite moments with Mom...Making jewelry, trying out new recipes, cooking and baking, shopping, making and delivering Easter treats, coloring Easter eggs, having an awesome gastronomic experience at a friend's house (gourmet oil/vinegar/salt/cheese/chocolate taste-testing), playing games, her scrubbing my dry calloused feet, making us delicious omelettes, being Brie's bud, doing lots of loads of laundry, making us a belated Easter dinner, treating us to Ted Drewe's, taking part in our Easter Eve morning, and chatting with our feet up.

Oh Mom, thanks for being here. We sure appreciate EVERYTHING that you did for us! You were a HUGE help and so wonderful to spend time with. We love you!!

Paparazzi & Peeps.

Easter morning Bry, Brie and I snuck up to the grand room...decorated a bit and hid plastic Easter eggs. We decided to fill the eggs with facts/quotes about the Savior, origin of Easter traditions, etc.

Since Bry and I were married I have put more thought into holidays and the sorts of traditions I want our little family to have. One of my goals is to bring the true meaning back into certain holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. If you have any ideas, pass 'em my way.

That Elaine, she always finds the CUTEST things!



(Thank you Bompa & Mémé for the
CUTE Easter dress. Yay for Costco!)


We had originally planned on everyone searching for eggs, but instead the fam followed Brie around and helped her fill her basket...it looked like the paparazzi with at least 3 people behind cameras snapping shots. Oh dear :0)




One idea I found online was numbering and filling 12 plastic Easter eggs with objects & scriptures that have to do with the Savior's atonement. You can open them all at once or open one each day leading up to Easter.

Rach brought a few mini Brie-sized eggs filled with candy.
Oh boy did Brie like the peeps!
(If you look closely you can see residue of
yellow Peeps on her face. Saving it for later :0))



Everyone pitched in to get lunch ready
and put dinner together for later...

(Here's a great example of the importance of focusing on the right thing when taking a picture. Sure the flowers are pretty and all, but I was kind of hoping to have the group in focus. Oops!)

I love working with everyone in the kitchen.
BIG kitchen + family + cooking = Quality bonding time!
(Well I guess a small kitchen would make an even closer knit family...
due to a lack of space. Ha ha :0))
Someday Bry & I will have a nice BIG kitchen for whipping up all sorts of fun international dishes. Someday. Til then!



Our little Easter bunny...several peeps later...a little sugar high!

I love the years when General Conference falls on Easter. Not only do we get a whole weekend full of inspiring and uplifting messages, but we get to spend it all with our families and friends. (It's kind of weird that this was the last conference we'll be spending with our families for several years. October we'll be spending it with our ward family and it won't be the same, but it will be great too!)

For the last two years around Easter time I have added an entry each day while writing in the gratitude journal...one reason why I love the Savior. Last year, after a few days of wondering what I loved about the Savior that particular day, it dawned on me that I could take note of the promptings I'd gotten from the Spirit. For instance, if during the day I had been inspired to take time to listen to a friend...that prompting shed a little light on the Savior. If He had been there He would have compassionately and lovingly listened to my friend and that is why He prompted me to do so. Does that make sense? This year I realized that I could learn more about my Savior by watching others. For instance, after listening to Elder Kopischke speak with such enthusiasm and optimism, the thought came to me that the Savior is very much the same. Anyway, it was really neat to better "see" and get to know the Savior as I watched those around me.

I'm grateful for the person He is. For the love He has and for how that love affects all that He does. I am grateful that with His resurrection He brought new life, new chances...new beginnings. Now it's up to me to make the most of what He has given me.

Happy Easter!