Rejoice! Rejoice! Easter Activities

This may be too late to share, but we are making the most of our shortened school day today to spend time reflecting on Easter. Probably would have been better to stretch it out over several days, but we are really enjoying ourselves today.

1) Resurrection Eggs - For the past several years we have been using a set that I put together with plastic eggs and the help of a website. This year, I decided to buy an actual set. I have to say, it has been totally worth it. We started it on the 20th of this month. Each day, the blessing leader of the day gives us a summary of the previous days eggs and then we open a new one. HERE is a great deal for one for next year if you don't already have one. ;)

2) Object Lesson on Forgiveness - I found this idea HERE and then added a little to it.

I cut a coffee filter into the shape of a heart. 

We talked about this being a representation of our heart. 

Then we talked about ways that we sin (disobey God) and how it makes our heart unclean. 

For each sin the boys mentioned, I scribbled a little mark on the heart to make it dirty. 

Then I poured red food coloring on the heart and said it symbolized Jesus

blood being poured out to cover over our sins. We read Isaiah 59:2 and Romans 6:23

We watched it spread over the whole heart. 

Psalm 103:12 and Revelation 1:5

We are forgiven because of Jesus blood on the cross!

Then I poured a cup of bleach over the heart and described how because of 

Jesus blood and resurrection we are washed clean and given new life. 

We only need to repent of our sins and ASK for forgiveness to have our 

dirty hearts cleaned and He forgives us!

3) Resurrection Rolls - I found the recipe HERE.  We enjoyed this for snack time today - a very special treat. The marshmallow symbolizes Jesus and the crescent roll symbolizes the tomb. After it is baked, the tomb is empty!

4) Easter Cards - I got this idea from HERE.  We used a cardboard template, painters tape and pastels. We marked the edges of the template with the pastels, attached them to the card stock and then smeared the pastels. Then we removed the template. 

Aaron's sweet handwriting and we chose a verse to glue to the inside. 

Phew, we've been busy. I have a couple more activities planned for after rest time and we're planning to try out this cross activity tomorrow with Daddy. We'll see how it goes!

Really struck today by how we should take time every day all year long to reflect on the cross. It is because of our sin that He died and it is because of His resurrection that we have hope and new life! Rejoice! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

All Tied Up

Thankfully, no one is literally tied up over here! :) (At least not today!)

So, I've been conflicted recently about "dressing up" for Easter. It sort of takes the focus off what Easter is really all about. It's certainly not about how cute my kids are or how much money I'm willing to shell out for coordinating outfits. As much as my goal may be to allow the events of Easter to make an impact on every day life, I do think it is important to really set apart Resurrection Day as a special day of celebration and worship. It seems to me that when the boys are dressed more carefully their behavior tends to be more respectful and a little less wild. Still in process here... or perhaps I'm just justifying my urge to dress them up? hmmm...

Anyway, I wanted to dress them intentionally this Easter but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I suddenly had the inspiration to make them ties. I found a great tutorial HERE. (Just to note... our church is not dressy and Darin never wears ties, but the boys had been asking for a tie so I was excited to indulge them.) I was looking for a spring plaid, but settled on the bike fabric below. I think it's pretty cute.

Since I'm not planning to make them dresses, this was a fun boy project. Most of the tie was made without a sewing machine and really all of it could have been hand sewn. I found some great YouTube videos to remind me how to do a slip stitch. There is so much information out there! Definitely a manageable project for a beginner.

Two things I learned: First,  if you can, find a more slippery fabric. It was tricky to tie the cotton quilting fabric I used. Second, it was not expensive, but also not as cheap as I thought. Since the tie is cut on the bias, you need more fabric then you would think. I shortened the pattern for Aaron's tie so it wasn't too long. 

I thought about making Darin a tie that matched, but decided against it. :) 

I think that was a wise decision. I'm sure Darin's glad too. 

Hallelujah!

The tomb is empty! He is risen! What a Savior!