Celebrating Easter

I've been thinking a lot lately about our traditions as a couple. We don't have too many, but we've tried to establish some, because I think they're important. Not just for us, but for our kids. Traditions make people feel like part of group and build a sense of connection and shared memories in a family. So I want our children to have traditions that are just ours. We've got some pretty good Christmas and Thanksgiving traditions and my little book that I wrote about here is chock full of other ideas once we have slightly older kids.

But I have nothing for Easter.

Easter at our house usually goes like this: It's the middle of tax season. Jamie is exhausted and working long days 6 days a week. For a week or so before Easter I try to come up with something meaningful to do. Usually a day or two before Jamie's grandparents ask if we have plans and if we'd like to do lunch with them. And then on Easter day we go to church, have a late lunch with the grandparents and call it a day.

It's not a bad way to spend a Sunday, it just doesn't have anything meaningful really. I want our Easter celebrations to enforce to our kids that this day is important. I hope that we will do a good job of teaching them year-round about Christ and His sacrifice for us; how He defeated death and opened the doors to Heaven. But if we're going to teach them 364 days a year that Jesus' death and resurrection are the basis of everything we do then shouldn't that 365th day, the day all of Christianity sets aside to celebrate his resurrection, be something special?

So for the next several months, until Easter comes around again I'll be making it a point to take notes of any great Easter/Holy Week ideas I hear. Any suggestions?

Happy Easter from the Hotalens!

The Big Ones...




The Little One...



And the Dumb One...

Who decided to take himself for a walk to Kroger this morning. In case you were wondering, chasing the dog around the neighborhood is NOT a good start to Easter morning. If you were looking to add a new tradition to your Easter Sunday celebrations, I don't recommend it.

Quoted

"That baby's gonna be honkin'. Every time I look at you, you're huger."
- My co-worker Dani who comes from Minnesota, where, apparently
they use words like honkin' and huger.

She's right, though.

A couple weeks ago, just before my trip to Virginia, Baby Girl decided to make sure Nana, Big Daddy and Aunt Shannon could see her. My tummy started to pop just a little.

And then, suddenly, there was no stopping it. Practically overnight I went from "Is that a baby bump or too much dessert?" to "Most definitely pregnant". And now, I look like this:


And now like Dani said, every time I turn around I'm huger! I love it though :) I'm feeling good and enjoying the whole pregnancy physique. Although clothes are becoming an issue...
(Look, even Kona's getting excited about the baby!)

Right Now

Eating: Cheese fries with bacon bits and ranch dressing. Healthy, right?

Drinking: V8 Fusion Peach Mango juice. Does that counteract the cheese fries:

Listening: to the washing machine and seriously looking forward to clean sheets tonight!

Feeling: Energetic! It could be some second trimester energy flow. Or the 3 cups of coffee I had today.

Missing: these shoeless girls -


Wishing: I didn't have to wait until August to meet this baby face-to-face.

Wanting: A pedicure. It's getting pretty ugly.

Loving: the warm spring weather we had today.

Hoping: Baby DeVol's referral comes soon!

Wondering: If we'll ever be able to pick a name for Baby H.

Anticipating: My mom's trip to GA this weekend. I can't wait to see her!!

Thankful: For a new opportunity at work that might keep me employed AND home with the baby come this August.

I'm grateful for life today :) Hope you are too!