Easter Celebrations 2011

Well Easter Day has come and gone and I still haven't posted any of our Holy Week or Easter posts.
So today I will start back tracking our way from Easter Day to the days of Holy week.

Obviously on Easter Day we attended Mass and had our traditional Easter family photo. I am so glad our camera has a timer that we can use so we can get everyone together.

Our Resurrection cookies have come out of the tomb.

Checking out the contents of the Home made Baskets  I put home made things into each year. I try to do differing items but still retain some of the same themes. Butterflies are always into he basket as a representation of the new life from the caterpillars that are put in on Holy Thursday (post on this later)

Just waiting for everyone before getting all the chocolate from the Easter Bags

Trading is a tradition where we can swap of those less desirable, according to taste, chocolate with others.

A close up into the Easter bags. Cadbury is our chocolate of choice and the children and me too would rather have less if it is Cadbury rather than more of another brand.

Doesn't that look like a huge Bunny for a little girl??

One of traditions we have as a family, after we come home from Mass and raid the Easter bags is to play outside together. Red Rover Crossover is a current favourite game with our  younger children and they love the fact that Stephen plays with them.

Arwen loves playing especially and does a funny little stance as she gets ready to chase the others.

Then of course we had the traditional sword fighting between each other. I wasn't going to play this year as we have some very competitive sword fighters, and I didn't want to risk an injury with the little baby.
Stephen of course had to get a trusty stead a bike and have jousting fights. Saxon was the only other jouster though confident enough to take on his father.

As Dad isn't home to sword fight all the time there was a general gang up on Dad to defeat him.

Stephen and Vellvin fighting ....

Eden is a most competent and dangerous sword wielder and can be  a little intimidating.

Kynan uses two swords to fight but tries to temper his blow so as not to hurt people.

Corbyn for all his size and age is a very deadly opponent and shows no mercy.

The double sword technique is used by Eden too.

If it seems like there is a good fight going on some where else the children will congregate to where it is happening,  hence a sword fight between two can be a general fend for your self

Rogan is probably our most timid sword fighter and rarely engages others.

Two very dangerous opponents are Autumn and Saxon...often fighting till one gets hurt.

Our little ones were content to dig holes under the the wattle trees, playing there own little games

It is so sweet to see our little ones playing outside making up their own little games.

After a while it is time to get ready for our Easter dinner. For some reason our Easter dinner tens to be fairly plain
Roast lamb with rosemary and basil
Mashed Potato
Baked Sweet potato
Broccoli and peas

This year we didn't even make our Lamb Cake, but seriously we had so much chocolate that it wasn't necessary, except for the symbolism, which as I write is quite significant.

We actually didn't do our Egg Hunt until Monday.
I love these  group photos of our children. We are all ready for the Easter Egg hunt.
I put out 140 small eggs out for the children to find.

 Trampling all over the place to find the eggs.

 I love how our little ones are often helped by the other children.

After all the excitement of the Easter chocolate Kynan and Braedon then bought everyone a huge Red Tulip Elegant Rabbit and a box of 15 chocolate eggs. A huge expense by the boys....Thank you.

Thank you to my dear brothers...it is another huge chocolate spurge.

Just for your information I have hidden away the small  children's chocolate to be 'dolled' out over quite a few days.

Blessings to you and your homes,