Celebrating the "escape from deadness"!

Thanks to a fabulous set of teachers at both Sunday School and Mission Friends (Wednesday night), Turner has really started to key in on some of the Biblical truths associated with the Easter season.  Last week I found her in the kitchen, waving her two hand-made palm leaves and shouting, "Hosanna, hosanna!"  She also crafted a tomb, which was a vocabulary word that required clarification.  But my very favorite was her exclamation last week over dinner, "Mommy, Jesus escaped from deadness."  It took me a moment to grasp what she had said, as I was sort of stunned at her astute description of such a complex event.  I know we'll never reference the resurrection again without thinking of this simple, yet profound proclamation.  Yes, sweet Turner, "He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said!" (Matthew 28:6)

Our weekend was full of wonderful moments and memories made with friends and family.  Saturday morning we attended the Easter Eggstravaganza hosted by the children's ministry at our church.  It was a hugely successful event again this year and Turner had a blast hunting Easter Eggs with a bit more purpose than in the past!

These three are a MESS!! Jamie Claire, Turner, and Andrew are three peas in a pod at church almost every time the doors are opened.  They get so excited to see one another and can't help but run and hug - they almost suffocated Andrew I think when they all reached one another on Saturday morning.

Mark and I have laughed at this picture - our little "old lady" shading her delicate eyes while listening to the resurrection story.

 One of my favorite pictures.

Of course there were lots of things to occupy our time as we waited for our turn to hunt - Turner is really good at hula hooping, which is a directly inherited trait from her Tootsie who won a hula hooping contest in her younger years.

When they called for the 3-5 year hunt Turner and Jamie Claire took off...

...surveyed the scene...

...and Turner gave me the stink eye...I think she hadn't comprehended that all the eggs weren't hers to find?

But once she got started...

...she was quite successful.

This girl may very well be a photographer one day...she can look through Tootsie's viewfinder and actually capture some really good images.

Easter Sunday was especially busy since we had Sunday School breakfast duties in addition to my musician responsibilities, so we opted to let the Easter bunny find our house while Turner took her afternoon nap.  We did snap a few family shots before lunch and were blessed to have the Stones, the Fuscos, and Mrs. Norma all here to enjoy a wonderful afternoon of celebration.

After Turner's nap, she went to the front windows to see if the Easter Bunny had located her house.  When she saw the trail of eggs she started squealing and jumping and immediately wanted to go follow the trail.

The trail led her around the entire house and up into her playset in the back yard...

And of course we had to dye some eggs (dot some eggs according to Turner) and every day since she has begged to dye more!

BB was really into her egg...

How many people does it take to help a 3 year old dye Easter eggs?

Check out that lip...it has to be held in just the right spot for maximum concentration.  (That's inherited too.)

It was SO fun and refreshing to see Matt and BB...we haven't seen them since the wedding and I am even more grateful for the gift of their marriage after spending time with them on Sunday.  They were so relaxed and happy, and comfortable...and they make me laugh.  I love this picture and the way he's looking at her.  He's starting to realize that the egg she's working on is a gift for him.  We gave her a hard time about all the lovey dovey hearts and words on this egg...oh to be newlyweds again!  :)

And just before everyone left to head home Turner put on her dance costumes for our guests and gave a little preview of the dance recital this weekend for Matt, BB, and Norma since they won't be able to join us.  This pose just cracks me up!  (The band-aids are purely fashion .  She still has one of them attached even today and told me tonight she planned to wear it for 100 days.)

Picture snapped mid- Échappé.  Look at that vertical leap! :)

We enjoyed a beautiful and blessed Easter weekend with family and friends!  A special thank you to my sweet Daddy and sweet husband who worked tirelessly on Saturday to make our flower beds look beautiful.  Another special thank you to my sweet Mom who helped me all weekend with anything and everything - especially the food preparations for my Sunday breakfast (I think she cut fruit for an hour straight) and our Sunday lunch.  I am a blessed girl indeed.