Easter Tree

With our recent road trip to Portland, I didn't get much Easter/Spring decorating done around here.  My Marine did pull the boxes down, but I just didn't have the time to put anything up.  We did, however, manage to get our Easter tree decorated......or at least the girls did!

We also needed a tree topper.  So, I gave Nani an empty Crystal Light container and asked her if she could make a bunny out of it.  Let me know what you think......

So, at least I've got some "spring-y" decorations up!

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My Marine's Easter Surprise

For Lent, My Marine gave up drinking micro-brews.  And being that we are in Colorado, one of the micro-brew capitals, this was an extremely huge sacrifice for him.  You would have thought I asked him to give up beer.....

Oh wait.....I did ask him to give up beer.....

But I knew, in the end, he'd stick to it.  As a surprise for him, I was going to hide micro-brews all around for him to find.  The weather didn't cooperate too much on Easter morning, so I had to hide them in our family room. 

In place of an Easter basket, he was given the 6-pack box and sent off on his merry way to hunt and find!

One happy boy!

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Future Homemaker?

I've made no bones about it. I was never a career-minded woman. I worked because I had to. At times I enjoyed what I did -- the opportunity to travel, meet wonderful people (and celebrities). But I hated the grind....I hated living in Washington DC and having to get up at 4am for an hour and a half commute one way.

I never wanted a career. My career was to be a wife and mother. And when that finally happened, I was content. I reached my goal.

As a mother, I want the best for my daughters. I want them to be happy with their choices in life. I want them to be the best at what they do. If they choose a career-path, I will love them and support them. If they choose to be a mother and wife, I will love them and support them.

Regardless of what they choose, I would hope that I am instilling in them some homemaking skills.  I may not be the best housekeeper, but I can still teach them that Clorox Wipes and a Swiffer can be your best friend.  I may not be the best cook, but I can still teach them recipes that have been handed down from my mother, my grandmother, and my great grandmother.  I may not be the best mother, but I can still love them with all my heart and soul and make them the center of my universe.

I've often wondered......if girls are raised in a home with a stay home mom, are they more likely to become stay home moms themselves?  What made me wonder this was a sweet moment that I caught Nani in the Saturday before Easter.

I was preparing to bake my traditional Easter bread.  It involves a lot of kneading and getting flour all over you, but Nani quietly asked if she could help me.  I watched her face light up as I said yes and watched as she ran for her little apron.  She ran and got her little step stool and placed it at the table next to me.  As she stepped up, she listened carefully to what I had to teach her and then asked for a turn.

I stood back and watched as she took what I taught her and tried on her own.


Love the whole look - the skirt, the apron, the bare feet, kneading homemade bread



I was so proud of her.  Proud of her for trying.  Proud of her for starting to explore options for what her future could be - whether it's mom or working woman.

By the way -- her bread tasted FABULOUS!

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Easter Blessings Tree

Yesterday the girls and I decorated our Easter Blessings Tree.  (It's actually the mini Christmas tree that we put in Nani's room for Christmas, and I just decided to keep it up through the year!)

I explained to the girls how Jesus lived and died for us on the cross so that we can live a happy life.  (That's probably the best way I can explain it to a 6-yr. old and a 2-yr. old)

I also wanted to have a reminder present, something they can look at, to remember everything that they have to be grateful for.

I found an egg template online (which you can download here).  I then cut a couple out and had Nani trace them on different colored foam sheets.  We cut them out, hole-punched them and put a ribbon through them.  Nani wrote down some things that make her happy.

Things that make Nani happy - Daddy, Playing outside, Nudgie, Dolls, Spaghetti, Zoja and Mommy

I gave Nudgie a couple of the paper eggs to color as well. 

I found some solid colored egg ornaments on sale at Hobby Lobby (before Lent, of course....) and used my secret stash of markers to write some meaningful words on them - Love, Faith, Hope, Family, God.

Then we took turns putting our ornaments on the tree.



I really love how it turned out.  So cute and colorful with Nani's ornaments, Nudgie's colored eggs, and my eggs.   Nani made a wreath out of her handprints in the colors of the rainbow and we added that as a tree topper.

And a great reminder of God's love for us all!

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