Easter - 2008

Easter egg coloring for the first time with our little dude was quite entertaining. Especially when mommy wanted just one or two nice photos to commemorate the event. Somebody didn't want to cooperate, hence the pictures below :) Little does he know that we still got some great shots that perfectly capture his "precious" personality and one of my daily struggles right now with such a giggly, bouncity, ornery 2yr old! Not a bad thing to struggle with at all, I know!

Mommy and Benjamin using the spinner method. Mommy tries to hold her pose and smile while daddy works on asking/demanding/encouraging/bribing, anything to get Ben to pose too!

Here he smiles, but will not look at the camera.

Now he lifts his head, as requested, but still makes sure to avert his eyes right as daddy presses the button :)
Mommy tightens her death grip and attempts a little tickle which just results in the classic Otis (Mommy's maiden name) closed eye grin, only this time with some extra toddler teeth bearing cheesiness mixed in.
His response to our request to smile naturally :) We think he looks an aweful lot like the little dictator he sometimes thinks he is!
Daddy instructs the submersion technique.
We've had a really nice Easter 2008. Benjamin is really into the Easter story and likes to ask us on a regular basis what sin is... since we told him that Jesus died for our sins and then was raised from the dead to give us the promise of everlasting life with God in heaven! So far, we've just told him that sin is when you're bad. He seems to get that, although I think he was hoping that sin was some kind of big dinosaur.

He also wants to know where heaven is and if we can go there. I think he thinks Mickey Mouse might be there too.

And finally, he is into going around and talking about things that are dead and alive and pretend verses real. Some pretty big concepts, and a little bit of a challenge at times to put it into a perspective he can wrap his little mind around, but such a blessing to be able to teach him these wonderful stories and important lessons.

We mixed our family traditions this year and had a little basket of goodies next to Benjamin's bed when he woke up (Marc's family tradition). We had fun playing with everything inside before getting ready for Church. Our Church service was wonderful. Marc and I are always amazed at how much we can learn about a topic that we've been celebrating every year since birth. Marc pointed out today that he's a little amazed, having really thought about the awesome promise that Easter brings, that this holiday isn't a bigger deal. I think it will be with us now.

After Church we went to brunch at the club with some dear friends the Peterson's. Delicious! And then it was home for a major family nap :) Followed by part two... an Easter egg treasure hunt (Jaimee's tradition growing up) where Ben looked for things and crossed them off of a picture checklist. Fun fun fun!

Reading the list.

Cool dress up space gear.
And space binoculars.
We were excited when he finally let us have a turn :)
Finally it was time to just play with some of our new things... a definite new favorite, battery operated water squirt guns!

The stand off!

I'll chase you...
You chase me...
I've got you now! (Which may look mean, but what I didn't capture in picture form was the whooping daddy took willingly because he's so dear to the little guy!)
A truce and cease fire was accepted in honor of growling tummies that were anxious for dinner!

Happy Easter 2008! He has risen INDEED!!!

love,

The Summers