Getting Ready for Easter!

I wish I had already posted several Easter posts by now, but as I shared on Wednesday... I'm a little wiped out ;) So here is all of my Easter prep and plans in one big fun post! I'll start by taking you on a mini tour of my Easter decorations around the house... A. A bowl (from TJMaxx) of vintage reproduction paper eggs, with a wreath around the base sitting on our kitchen table (eggs and wreath given to me by my mum)

B. A few of my favorite Jennifer Murphy Spring pom-pom animals in my hall stand (from her discontinued line for MidWest)

C. My birdbath bowl (garage sale find from a few years back) with a piece of burlap and some speckled eggs (from TJMaxx)

Ok, that was fun, but it's time to move on! Do you remember these lovelies from last Easter? I am happy to report that the girls will be able to wear them on Sunday again this year!!! I'm so excited, not only because they're the most delicious Easter dresses ever, but also because my mom spent about 6 months making them last year and they deserve to be worn again! I always choose to go "too big" over "just right" when it come to the girl's clothes, and it usually pays off - hooray!Also making a comeback this year are 2009's Easter baskets. They began as natural colored baskets from World Market that I decorated in haste 2 days before Easter last year, they turned out pretty cute with white paint and a giant silk flower, but I was never thrilled with the results and knew I wanted to give them a makeover for 2010.

So they both got a fresh coat of lovely pink spray paint (Krylon Satin Ballet Slipper from Walmart), some new lighter colored green paper grass, a wool felt monogrammed scallop tag, and some polka dot ribbon. Love the way they turned out! I can't wait for the girls to use them at our church's egg hunt on Saturday morning (where they will be wearing one of these projects) Just going to be precious!Since I spent so much time on the basket redo, it was of course important to carefully put together a yummy selection of treats to go inside! I typically start planning gifts for holidays and birthdays months out so that I can grab things as I find deals and minimize costs, I'm really pleased with the things I pulled together this year...

A. I found 2 of these oil cloth aprons at Pottery Barn Kids (the one's I got are actually purple polka dots with floral pockets) marked down from $24.99 to $6.00!

B. I bought 2 of these mini silicone spatulas (one pink and one yellow) at Jo-Ann's for $3.99 each

C. I've wanted a cookie press for our family for a while, so I thought it would make a good "together gift" for the girls since Evie loves to help make cookies and Annie loves to eat them! The one I bought is Nordic Ware for Target and cost $9.99 (I couldn't find it online)

D. If you're making cookies you have to have sprinkles! I bought Wilton colored sugar at Jo-Ann's.

E. Candy of course! I love Lindt's precious chocolate bunnies and carrots, and what is a holiday without Jelly Belly?!!! I may like candy even more than the kids do ;)

Here is an idea I've been working on for a few weeks that finally came together today. I wanted to put something other than tons more candy in our eggs for our hunt at my mom's. I just felt like after the church hunt on Saturday, plus the basket candy, we probably didn't need much more (I've already had 2 cavities this year!) Anyway, I played with various ideas such as buying a puzzle and putting one piece in each egg, putting money in the eggs, etc. Didn't LOVE any of those ideas though. Today at Walmart I found this Easter candy necklace kit - perfect!!! I am going to divide up the pieces amongst our eggs - it won't be a whole lot of extra candy, and it will be a fun after hunt activity! I'm excited about this and I think Evie will be excited too.

Ok, best for last... I could really use a little help from you, my Christian women friends. I am usually the "helper" in our 3 and 4 year old Sunday school class, but this Sunday (Easter) I am going to be teaching. Gulp - this is an important week that I don't want to take lightly! I plan to use my Jesus Story Book Bible (would be a great Easter gift if you need an idea) and a set of Resurrection eggs to tell the story. Here is where I could use some guidance... last week we covered Palm Sunday, and as you know there is A LOT of story between Palm Sunday and the Resurrection. At home I have been reading to Evie about Jesus praying in the garden, through the Crucifixion, and then through the Resurrection, but she is absorbing it so slowly. We've talked about it all week and I feel like she cannot answer many questions about the story when asked. I'm overwhelmed - this is the most important story in all of time and space! So, should I focus on just the key points and pray that their parents are taking the time to teach them the rest at home, or should I try to cover the entire story? I can't decide whether to take a "less is more" or a "more is more" approach. I know a lot of you have (or have had) 4 year olds like I do, I would love to hear what you think. Thanks!

Have a very happy Easter!!! XOXO

P.S. I took the pictures of the finished basket and candy necklace kit on manual!!! I've been practicing (and reading) a lot this week - I would love for you photography savvy friends to leave constructive criticism comments as I work on my skills!