easter joy

after a break-neck pace post-vacation unpacking, grocery-getting, and house-scrubbing (and one big group deep breath), we were ready for family visitors, concert plans, and a weekend full of easter celebration. i love easter for the forgiveness of sins thing, and the everlasting unconditional love of God. that's good stuff. i also love easter because of the sunshine and the new baby flowers and budding trees and the chirping birds. i love easter because i love seeing my family and having a house full of joyful children and sisters and brothers in law and parents, and they keep coming to my house every easter (the best! seriously, host is my favorite role). i love easter because i really like ham. and now, i love easter because the kids are fully of squirrely anticipation about finding their baskets, eating candy, and having an easter egg hunt.

and this year, i SUPER loved easter (well, easter eve, if we want to be specific) because i finally got to go to a belle and sebastian concert after 16 years of being a fan.  i mean, these guys...



the weekend fun started at the zoo with these wild little joeys,


and one less wild little joey. poor byron got a fever while at the zoo, and laid right down on the bench at the playground. watching him lay there was hilariously adorable and heartbreaking and tender and sad and cute and sweet all at the same time. 


later, it was babysitter time for the kids, a movie out for julia, and a seriously joyful concert for david and i, our friends, and other people who apparently like belle and sebastian concerts just a little bit more than watching the badgers men basketball team win in the final four and make it to the championship game! (truthfully, we kinda watched the game on our smart phones a little bit during the concert). (seriously, this review really captures the night perfectly).

easter sunday meant church, family photos, intense cousin love, and basket hunting, easter egg hunting, eating, and general merry making.

james got down on his belly for some basket hunting


and ramona had basket finding joy.

pre-egg hunt empty bags and kids eager to find those hidden eggs,

egg hunters, prowling by the pig,


searching in the rocks,


and climbing up a tree.


the final comparing and inspection of egg hunt booty.

 

hooray family!