Passover Feast and Easter Sunday

Saturday night we hosted our first ever Christian Passover feast with all the family. 

Sarah, Chris and I provided the meal and the kids all participated in the script. 

We serve lamb chops, Cornish hens, roasted veggies, matzoh (unleavened bread) haroset (sweet apple paste), horseradish and new potatoes. We also had grape juice to drink.
Each of the foods were symbolic in one way or another and each was explained in the script.
It was so fascinating to learn about the Jewish feast and everything that it entails. 

We decided to eat outside because it was a gorgeous night.  

 We lit candles and had the kids sit on cushions outside.
They loved it. We had 11 kids and they all did so good. 

The script went like this:

A Christian Passover Feast

Papa: Father in Heaven, we thank you for making us holy through the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ and helping us to remember Him as we celebrate his Last Supper. Thank you for this feast of unleavened bread, when we can remember how you freed the Israelites from Egypt through the Passover and how you freed us from sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Hazel: Why are we eating unleavened bread tonight?

Papa: We eat matzoh because we remember Jesus. Sin, like yeast, puffs us up and makes us feel bigger and better than we are. This bread has no yeast, like Jesus, who was never puffed up with sin.

Break the matzoh in half and pass it around the table. Jesus was broken for us.

Emmett: Why are we eating bitter herbs?

Pass the bowl of horseradish.

Papa: We eat bitter herbs to remember the bitterness of slavery the Israelites suffered under the Pharaoh. We also remember all the people who have suffered or died so that we may worship Jesus freely and how Jesus took on all the bitterness of our sins.

Tucker: Why do we eat parsley dipped in salty water?

Pass the parsley and a small bowl of salt water.

Papa: Parsley reminds us of the branches that the Israelites used to wipe lamb's blood on their door frames so that the angel of death would know to pass over their homes. It also reminds us of the new life we find in Jesus. We dip our parsley in salty water to remember the salty tears the Israelites cried as they painted their door frames.

Max: Why do we eat haroset?

Pass the haroset.

Blake: We eat this sweet apple paste to remember the bricks and mortar the Israelites had to lay as they did the Pharaoh’s work. Its sweetness reminds us of the hope we have in eternal life with Jesus.

Bailey: In the middle of the table sits a cup of the fruit of the vine. The Israelites never drank from this goblet, saving it for Jesus. Since Jesus has already come, we can drink from this special cup. We drink in hope for our future and joy in Jesus!

Pass the special cup.

Tanner: The Israelites avoided death by the blood of a lamb painted on their door frames. Jesus is called the Lamb of God because His blood saves all of us from our sin and the death we deserve.

Danny: We will eat a special dinner of lamb, new spring vegetables and new baby potatoes to symbolize the new life we all have thanks to Jesus Christ.

Papa: Offers a prayer to bless the food, offering thanks for the atonement, for saving the Israelites from Egypt, saving us all from our sins and for our eternal life through our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The kids all did so great. They were quiet and participated and they all thought it was pretty cool. 

Benson really loved the unleavened bread. So funny. 

 I really hope this passover feast becomes an annual tradition. It was so interesting and fun and I hope its something the kids remember forever. And I really hope it makes their Easter a little more meaningful. 

The next morning was Easter Sunday. It was our stake conference and we really wanted to attend an Easter focused meeting so we joined Aunt Sarah and her family at her ward. It was so nice and a beautiful Easter service. 

The kids looked so cute in their Easter outfits. 

After church we came home for naps and then went over to Stephanie and Aaron's house for a delicious Easter dinner. We all contributed food and it was all so yummy. 

Benson really appreciated the desserts. He was taking the biggest bites of all the cakes and Papa was encouraging him the whole time. 

We had a great Easter and I'm so grateful for the day to celebrate and appreciate my Savior and all he's done for me and my family. Happy Easter! 

Easter Fun

This past week we've been doing some Easter prep.
We got to dye eggs one day and the kids loved it.

I however need to learn a lesson from this year, and figure out a less messy technique for dyeing eggs. 

We did a tie-dye method this year and it was such a mess. However, it did make some gorgeous eggs. 

Aren't those eggs so bright and vibrant?

Granted, there is as much dye on their fingers as there was on the eggs, but it was worth it. 

Benson decided that he needed to eat his egg so he smashed it on the table, peeled off the shell and dug right in. He's so crazy. 

All the kids showing up their eggs. 

Sometimes these kids are pretty dang cute. 

I love them!

Then this afternoon, Saturday afternoon, we had everyone over for a cousin's Easter egg hunt.
Bailey is a bit obsessed with baby Ella and it's adorable. 

Ella was happy to reciprocate Bailey's obsession with lots of kisses 

The kids made quick work of the Easter egg hunt. It was over so fast, but we were able to stump them with a few well hidden eggs. 

Sometimes I can't believe how big Benson is. He wants to do everything the big kids do and so it makes him feel even bigger. 

Bailey happily helped the younger kids find their eggs too and then she sat to enjoy her findings. 

Benson looked so cute with his little Easter basket over his shoulder. So big!

It was a gorgeous day for a hunt and we had so much fun. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday and we are all very excited. 

Tanner's Pinewood Derby

Tonight was the Centerton 3rd ward Pinewood Derby.
This was Tanner's 2nd ever derby and it went much better than our first year. 

Last year Chris was gone and Tanner's car performed awful and I didn't know how to fix it before the race so he placed second to last. He still had fun but I know he was disappointed. 

This year went a little differently. 

 When Tanner's car came in first on his first race, he was shocked.
Then he continued to win and it was so thrilling for him. 

 Out of nearly 15 boys, Tanner won 3rd place.
He was so completely thrilled and loved getting a trophy. 

Benson and Tucker really enjoyed cheering for their big brother. It was so adorable!

He also won the "So fast we almost missed it" award.
Here's our sweet champion with his trophy, award and car.
So proud of him.