Easter fun - through the lens of Uncle Brock

Uncle Brock took some great pictures at our recent Easter family get-together . . . thanks for sharing them with us!

Happy Easter!

Our three precious children

Looking more and more like his Daddy every day!

Lael is becoming quite an amazing young lady!

Our whole family

Daddy with his kiddos

An Easter egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Martin's house became a "chase Noah all around the yard" game!

Noah is SO almost 2 . . . he couldn't sit still for a second!  We had to grab this pic before he squirmed away again!

The "big" cousins after their egg hunt

Cousin Hanna

Noah finally got the hang of the egg hunt . . . once everyone else had their eggs - he was more interested in the running around part!

Cousin Abby was quick to find her eggs!

Taking a look back

I was looking through old pictures today . . . and found a few Easter pictures.  I can't believe how much my children have grown!

Easter 2005

Lael - age 4

Jaden - 10 months

 Easter 2007

Lael - age 6

Jaden - almost 3

 Easter 2011

Lael - age 10

Jaden - almost 7

Noah - 11 months

Today Lael, Jaden and Noah received special packages in the mail with Easter surprises from Nana and Papa. 

Noah was quite taken with the wrapping paper concealing his gift . . . it took him a while to decide whether or not he would tear it off the present :)

But when he did, he was delighted by the little pets that were waiting for him inside!  He especially loved the puppy . . . he gave it LOTS of kisses and hugs!

 Once Noah understood that there were fun things waiting underneath the wrapping paper, he wanted to help brother open his gift also.

 Jaden is very excited about his butterfly garden . . . he can't wait to order his caterpillars!

 Lael's gift was a beautiful bracelet - she was intent on reading the inscription as I took this picture.

 After taking this picture, I had to put the camera down so I could assist her in putting her bracelet on!

Thank you, Nana and Papa, for these special surprises! 

We love you!

Palm Sunday celebration

Rejoice, O people of Zion!
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
riding on a donkey’s colt.

(Zechariah 9:9 NLT)

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!"

(Matthew 21:8-9 NLT)

Part of our church's Palm Sunday tradition is that the children process in wearing biblical costumes and waving palm branches.

This year they also sang "Amazing Grace - My Chains Are Gone"

Back at home, Lael and Jaden tried to explain to Noah about the significance of waving palm branches for Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey.

I'm not sure that he understood what they were telling him, but he definitely was having fun!