Throughout Lent we worked hard at making sacrifices and doing good deeds. We made a crown of thorns to remind us of Christ's pain, and to help recognize that good works comfort Him.
The moms group from our parish started working together on these little peg doll Mass sets back in August/September. It took me awhile to decide how I wanted to finish mine (with a little extra input from Chris), but I knew I wanted it done for Easter, so for the past few months I've been working on and off at finishing it.
Sometime in the fall, Matthew found this weird concrete candle holder (?) thing at goodwill. Just as I was ready to tell him "no, we're not getting that," I remembered seeing something online about creating an Easter garden during Holy Week. This weird decorative item looks like a tomb! So we snatched it up and put it away in our box of Lent and Easter supplies. We bought a few plants and the planter pan to put things in and on Palm Sunday went to work constructing our little Easter garden.
Matthew helps to set in a cross.
With some moss from our yard, some river rock we bought for something else, and some other random plant clippings from the garden, we finished off our little garden.
Aaron slept through most of Holy Thursday Mass.
On Good Friday, we wrapped a piece of white fabric around a small piece of wood carved to look somewhat like a man, placed it in the tomb and rolled the stone over the entrance.
Chris took all three boys with him to confession, and in a not-so-small miracle, everyone behaved while left in the pew on their own.
This was actually a craft from last year, but it saved well so we used it again. We love tissue paper stained glass crafts!
Though hot crossed buns are traditional Good Friday fare, around here we do them on Holy Saturday. For us, home baked breads are a luxury and it just doesn't seem fitting to make these delicious rolls on a day of penitence.
We colored eggs this year. This is not my favorite activity, and last year nobody asked about doing it so we didn't.
Waiting for some of the colors to be ready.
The boys were really focused on their eggs.
Easter morning and the stone has been rolled away from the tomb! All that's left is the white cloth.
And the crown of thorns has been transformed--pokey thorns are now lovely flowers.
Easter baskets ready for the morning, with our little tradition of having new ties made for Easter Mass.
After quite the egg hunt around the house, the boys check out their baskets.
The peg doll Mass kit is ready for play.
These guys can't wait to eat lamb cake!
Easter morning Mass, with Auntie Laura.
And a little post-Mass tree climbing....because why wouldn't you try to climb a tree with your nice church clothes on?
Happy Easter from the [almost] six of us!
