Easter 2013

 The kids and I drove down to South Carolina to spend Easter with Ben.  But before we left, we painted Easter eggs.  I found this idea on Pinterest and we will definitely be doing it again: mix food coloring in shaving cream and paint the eggs.  The eggs dry colored and it's much easier and interactive than just dipping the eggs in dye.

It had been a month since we saw Ben and we didn't get to the hotel until late Saturday night.  We were all up extra late and then got up early for church.  The service was well worth the drive and tired morning.  It was so refreshing to worship as a family and the sermon was just what my heart needed to hear.  After church we went out for brunch and then back to the hotel to open baskets and take some much needed naps.

This was the first year Eli was really excited about getting a basket and was quick to consume as much candy as he could.  Colin didn't seem to even notice he was left out of the basket receiving and was just happy to bouncing on the bed they were on.

Bubbles are a traditional Easter basket gift in the Shear house.  Usually we would play with them after an egg hunt, but this year blowing a few in the hotel living room would just have to suffice.

I attempted several times for a cute picture of my 3 little blessings.  However, one particular little stinker wanted no part of cute pictures.  He was too busy pretending everything was a gun or sword or that he was buzz lightyear or superman.  He was simply too busy to sit and smile.

Some of Ben's friends had rented cabins on the base, right off a little lake.  They invited us out to spend the afternoon with their families.  I was so very thankful for this afternoon.

Ben taking the kids down to see the water.  They were just happy to be with daddy.

It was nice to get out of a hotel room and soak in some fresh air.  It was also great to meet some other wives and let the kids run around with some new friends.

soaking up the view of the lake

Running up from the dock.  She was so excited to be playing outside.

We made one more attempt for a cute picture, but again Eli has a gun in his hand and is roaring.  He is quickly turning into a little boy.

Then we headed over to a nearby park with some of the kids.   Every time Eli would come down the slide, he would say "YES!".

Colin was way overdue on his nap, but was a trooper waiting for us to finish playing at the park.  Daddy tickling your feet always helps time pass by quickly.  For not seeing Ben for a month, he had no reservations about jumping into his arms.  I love that about our kids.

We headed back to the hotel for some crockpot soup and a movie.

It certainly was a different Easter.  I missed being home, eating ham and potatoes and hiding eggs in our backyard, but it was all worth it to be together.