Birthday/Easter Weekend

We had a great Easter weekend. It began on Good Friday with Chris having work off. The weather was threatening rain, but Chris got to work on building the last garden box first thing in the morning to try to get it done before the rain set in. Jared had wanted to have a picnic at the park, but with the weather, we decided that a picnic in the Living Room would probably be safer. Jared promptly built a fort in the Living Room and we had hamburgers and tater tots in the fort. Once the rain hit, we halted the work outside and went shopping for fruit trees. We bought an apple, a peach, and two cherries, which seemed appropriate since Chris loves cherries and his birthday was on Saturday. Speaking of cherries. I made this yummy birthday cake with cherries and cream cheese frosting for his birthday which we had Friday night because he and I were going to be gone on Saturday night.

We kept the fort up all day as the kids wanted to sleep in it. Here's all four of them in the fort, but Amber didn't last long before she headed to her own bed.

Saturday morning wasn't raining, but it was cold. That didn't stop us from showing up at our friend's house for a hayride and egg hunt.

Chris stayed with the kids on the hayride while the Easter Bunny hid the eggs.

Jared and his friend Charlie.

The egg hunt was divided into three sections by age. I had to run around to each section trying to get pictures of the kids. Amber did really well finding eggs this year. I think she got the idea right away.

Krystal was a little timid at first, but she eventually found some eggs.

Clarissa and Jared were in the back yard which covered a large area. Apparently Clarissa was worn out from running all over to find eggs.

The rest of the day was spent with the kids helping Dad do yard work while I cooked sweet n' sour chicken and the best ever coconut shrimp (Chris' birthday dinner). Then we left dinner, hard boiled eggs to decorate, and a babysitter with the kids and we headed out to chaperone the youth dance in Bluefield, West Virginia.

Sunday after church the kids were looking forward to hunting for the eggs they had decorated the night before.

Jared just found the one in the apple tree.

The girls were still wearing their Easter dresses while they hunted for eggs.

Clarissa gave Krystal an egg so they would have an even amount. How sweet.

Here's Amber with her chocolate bunny. I think that's what she ate for lunch! But we did enjoy ham and sweet potatoes for dinner and ended the day with a visit to our neighbor, Mrs. Mundy. We sure do miss our extended family at the holidays, but we are blessed with many great friends to share our lives with.