Easter Celebrating!

For the past several years, Easter has fallen very close to Maelee's birthday, but this was the first time since I can remember that it fell on my birthday! We joked that Steve might as well give up getting me anything, given that I got a Savior and all... But, it was a great day celebrating both and the Saturday before was such a sweet birthday-heavy day, that Sunday was all about Easter celebrating. 

The girls opened their Easter baskets in the morning before church, then we enjoyed a fabulous lunch complete with an egg hunt with our community group that afternoon, and we finished off the evening with our annual "golden" egg hunt, telling the story of Christ's resurrection.  And of course, there was much Easter celebrating in the days leading up, too!

Starting with some Easter egg dying with some friends from church during spring break

So proud of her work :)

And we were so proud of her adorable drawing of a bunny!!!

 Our little "bunnies" at a great egg hunt down the street, hosted by families from my parent's church, the Saturday before Easter.

Lots of eggs and lots of play!

Then it was off to our local garden store for pictures with the Easter Bunny!

Morning filled with Easter activities?  Success!

Opening Easter baskets from Nana & Pop-Pop a day early :)

Striking a pose on Easter morning!

SO excited to open a new toy car!!! :)

Happy girls!

And we were happy to celebrate our Risen Savior with our church family over a beautiful potluck lunch 

and fun egg hunt for the kids after!

These two... BFFs :)

So sweet together!

The whole gang!

Sweet afternoon!

And the celebration comes to an end with our final egg hunt- 

one that paints the beautiful picture of Christ's resurrection through the items hidden in each egg.

Finding the golden egg!

Filled with candy to represent the SWEET and very good news that He is Risen!!!

Starting on the delicious See's Chocolate Bunny from Too-dad

The gift that lasts!!!

How these girls have enjoyed it :)

More pics from Easter!