Holy Week!

In years past our Easter Bunny has always come the day before Easter. It made our Easter morning's less hectic and I really enjoy the excitement of the Easter Bunny on Saturday. We don't feel rushed through it and our Sunday's feel more reverent. 

This year I decided to change things up a bit--

One of the things I love about the Christmas season is that the weeks leading up to Christmas we share so many stories of Jesus Christ. Was discuss his humble birth, we share his gifts of love with others. We try our best to be more like him. Those lessons are so important, but seem to be left in December. This year a few weeks before Easter I was thinking about how important the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is. It's almost more important than the birth of our Savior. (Although, without one, we could not have the other!) I wanted my children to understand the importance of Easter. I found online a guide for celebrating Holy Week in our home. I did not follow it exactly, as it was not completely fitting for our young children, but our kids really loved what we came up with. 

On the Sunday before Easter we made Palm Leaves, and learned about Palm Sunday. I had always heard the words, "Palm Sunday," but I did not know why we called this Sunday, Palm Sunday.

We learned about Mad Monday. The day Jesus chased the Money Changers from the Temple.

(My sweet Kevin is mocking a grumpy Julia!) 

Later in the week Lacey was playing house and yelled to me, "Mommy, I'm going to work! But don't worry, I won't sell anything in the Temples!" --Heart melt!--

On Monday we also went to our friends, the Pease's house and learned about the empty tomb and had Resurrection Rolls.

On Tuesday, was teaching Tuesday, We learned about the many Parables Christ taught while He was on the Earth. We watched the Parable of the Ten Talents and then talked about the many talents we were all given and instead of burying them, we should use them to bless the lives of others. I told each of my children about several of the talents that they have that are unique to them. We had complete harmony in our home for the next hour as we frantically cooked pancakes, ate dinner, wrapped up our lesson, made a fruit tray, yummy dips, printed papers, everyone pottied, got their shoes on and loaded in the car to head to youth activities at the church. (Two minutes earlier than planned!) as I drove the 25 minutes to church I reflected on that one hour. It's amazing how each of my children rose to the task and were more than eager to help and work together after hearing how their talents can bless others. We've had a sick weekend in our house and I had a ton to do, I found Lacey cuddling a sick Elena on the couch. I spent a night up for six hours with a sick Elena, when she finally slept, Julia spent the morning playing with Lacey and then caring for Elena while I napped on the couch. I woke up to find all three girls dressed and Julia had done all of their hair. Kevin is the King of seeing things that need to be done and doing them, Without being asked. I'm grateful for the kids, they are truly the best examples of Christ's teachings.

Wednesday was Spy Wednesday. We talked about Judas Iscariot being willing to turn Jesus in for 30 pieces of Silver. 

On Thursday we talked about the passover and Jesus Christ teaching the apostles about the sacrament. Lacey shocked us all by writing Passover without any help. Her S' are the Bestest!

Good Friday was my favorite day. Instead of watching the movies on the crucifixion. My kids are not quite ready for that. We talked about Simon and how he carried the cross for Jesus Christ. We then discussed ways that we could carry others crosses for them. We each decorated a cross with our name on them. Because 1-Jesus died on the cross for us and 2- We can be the one to carry the cross for someone else.

Saturday the Easter Bunny came and we talked about the Spirit World and all the teaching Christ did there. I shared stories with my kids about my Great Great Grandfather and we talked about the importance of knowing our ancestors. 

On Sunday, We took a walk out to our brook, which is a raging river right now. We hiked around, enjoyed the beauty around us, and then the kids all sat on Rocky (our ginormous rock in our backyard that has a name!) and watched the movie of Mary at the Empty Tomb. 

Easter took on a whole new meaning for me this year and for my children. I loved every second of every day with them. On Monday, the day after having completed our eight lessons Julia was very shocked and disappointed to hear that we were only painting and not having a lesson first. My children love this time together as a family and I do too! 

We are blessed and we know it!