Passover and Easter 2015

Our Passover and Easter weekend was a busy, family and church filled three days!  The kids and I attended a Good Friday service at noon, where Cas couldn't peel away from work and the childcare for toddlers didn't show up, so I got about 3% of the sermon and spent the remaining time keeping Maya from being too distracting and Collin from whining too loudly that Maya was getting to run around while he was supposed to stay seated.  

Saturday morning, we headed back to our church to lead our community Easter egg hunt.  This year we had about half of the attendees come from neighborhoods and apartments nearby, which was the intention to welcome families who don't normally attend our church.  (This compares with about 5 non-members and 50+ members when I led the event last year.)

Saturday evening, we met at Aunt Debbie's for Passover.  Maya wasn't interested in being held for pictures.

I should have cropped my mom and Maya out of this one, but this was the best family shot we got!

Once she didn't have to pose, she was all smiles!

Exploring with Brownie (in the outfit my mom made) -

Collin photo-bombing my Uncle Bobby's family and not understanding why someone asked him to move to the side.

It was a nice night to stand outside and talk with my sweet aunts, cousins, grandma and mom - 

Maya in her outfit sewn with love.   She put it on and was so cute, aware and proud of how adorable she looked!

 My handsome matching boys -

 My grandma and her children - 

Collin once again photo-bombing the group - 

Maya's best posing smile of the night came in the arms of Aunt Cheryl -

More pictures with my kids before we head inside -

Collin was great during the Passover Seder, and after a bit of prodding, recited the Four Questions from memory.  Maya did well for a 22-month-old, and afterwards, was cuddled up reading her new book with Leah.  She stayed on Leah's lap for about an hour, which was sweet to watch as I got to eat dessert, sip wine, and catch up with adults!

The next morning, we headed to church.  Cas and I taught Sunday School, so he snapped a photo of the kids and me in our matching yellow in the 3-year-old classroom.

Since we were the teachers, we couldn't leave early, and church ran a little late.  So we arrived at our house at 12:20 - with our family due to arrive at 12:30 - to this:  my mom unloading the dishwasher and cleaning up our kitchen!  She and my dad also brought all the food!  Cas and I contributed nothing but a semi-clean countertop!  Having access to Maya's crib + the best family ever is why we will always volunteer to host events at our house!!

Maya played with the "hop hops" from Uncle Dick and Aunt Rita - 

I had just stuck a piece of some food in my mouth and thought I could hide it in my cheek, but not so much.  Of course, my mom and Maya look perfectly lovely!

Another attempt at a yellow picture.

We should have used a good family picture as the bribe for some Easter candy!

Collin talked Leo into sword fighting with him all around the backyard, and after lunch, convinced all the older cousins to play "dead man" on the trampoline.  He had no idea that everyone was humoring him, and he had a terrific time.