Easter Memories 2011

 My Easter 2011 memories are mostly of being so swollen I couldn't even recognize my own feet! I spent the day doing a 24-hr at-home sample collection for the doctor and being filled with anticipation and anxiety about my doctor's appointment the next morning. (She had told me to be ready to go to the hospital and have the baby in case my blood pressure and test levels were bad again.)

I hope the kids remember...

The Easter Egg Hunt

 Decorating Eggs

Finding their eggs and baskets on Easter morning.

Also...

• The delicious "pot luck" dinner that we had planned to share with our cousins, but decided against it since I was so sick. (Thanks, Sis! You did most of the work!)

• Aunt Natalie offering to do a photo shoot of the kids in their Easter clothes. It never would have happened if she hadn't done that for me. (Thanks again, Sis.)

• Doing our traditional Resurrection Eggs and talking about the Savior. We talked about the physical symbols of Jesus' last days that were inside each egg and we felt unusually unhurried because the kids seemed to be engaged and attentive. I felt a calm, sweet, grateful, and reassuring spirit as I reflected on what the Savior had done for me and what I was about to experience to bring another baby into the world.

This year was different because instead of falling in the middle of the birthdays, Easter was towards the end of April. Because it's always such a busy month for us, we have found it best to keep things simple at Easter and focus on the most important thing: celebrating the Savior's Resurrection. This year, more than ever, I was so glad for those simple traditions since ready or not, baby #4 was on her way!