Days with the Dorans

 Happy Easter!!! This old picture of the six of us popped up in my "memories" from when we took a trip to Orlando for Easter. Crazy how things have changed!! I can hardly remember these cute little people! One thing that didn't change was that the bunny came! The kids got some candy and a few fun toys to play with.  They went on a search for eggs, played a bit, and then we went to church. It was nice to be back at St. Matt's but there was a guest pastor and... well... I missed our pastor. After church, we went back to the Drapals for breakfast and an egg hunt. At Nana and Papa's, the kids have to get eggs that are ONLY their color. It's so fun to watch them search and help each other along the day. It was a wonderful morning. Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed!!!

 If we are in the state, we always go to Grandma Doran's for Easter... except this year!  Jeff had to lead both Easter services for church and then tear down the stage.  Saturday was also out because Al had a scrimmage, so we went up on Good Friday!  I remember Grandma's Egg hunts from before our kids were even born!  JD, Mary and Abby would have to wait inside while we went out and hid all the eggs.  It was so much fun! This year WE were the ones who stayed inside while THEY went out and hid eggs.  The Bigs were mad because they thought that Sean peeked a few times, but I don't think Sean even really knew what was going on.  When it was time to hunt for eggs, he would find one, open it up to see what was inside, put the trinket or candy back into the egg, put the egg back in his bag and then look for another (I think he'll understand a bit better next year...). Once the eggs were all collected, we headed back inside to s...

Easter Sunday was a busy one. We woke up early (that is the kids and I since Jeff was still sick) and they found a note from the Easter Bunny that he didn't hide the eggs they dyed because he was worried the dogs would eat them, so he hid the plastic kind instead. This kids got some cute things in their baskets, but they were all about finding the eggs. The kids ate their hard boiled eggs for breakfast and we somehow made it to church on time at 9:30. My folks were there and Dan and Steph came with the kids too. The message was great and again I found myself a bit overwhelmed thinking of the sacrifice that Christ made. It put me in a wonderful mood and reminded me what the important things are in life. After church, I went and got gas, a muffin for me and donuts for the kids and then we were on the road to Saginaw. It was the first time I had made the trip without Jeff, but I can't imagine Easter without going to Grandma's. The trip felt like nothing after being i...

I remember when Jeff and I first started dating going over to his folks' and watching his nieces and nephew have an Easter Egg Hunt. It was such fun then and is even more fun now that we have added so many more cousins to the mix! Poor Joe came down with a fever early Thursday morning and hasn't been able to shake it, but when on medicine he's been practically normal. I was happy that he was taking it easy and didn't mind one bit that he was playing his DS (and it was so cute watching him share it with his cousins!). It wasn't long though before he got a burst of energy and was ready to play. Grandma got the grandkids some fun toys to play with outside. The boys loved these little nerf rocket things and I loved watching them all run around together and having fun. I am sometimes amazed at how boys play- the sounds they make- I am beginning to think that it is something they are born with! Even Z held his own and though it took him a little longer to 're...

Today was the annual Easter Egg Hunt & Celebration at the L ittle's school/church. It started out hectic as we were running late (I feel like I am having deja vu from last year...) and it was a bit chilly outside- but thankfully we did make it on time and the kids were all dressed appropriately. The eggs are placed where you don't really need to 'hunt' for them but the kids sure had fun gathering them up. They only took five eggs so that there would be enough for the smaller kids and Ali Jane was excited to see that her BF, Holly was there too! Though Zach qualified for the littlest group- he joined the Bigs to make it easier for me. Because it was a bit chilly- Jeff stayed inside with Sean Asher enjoying coffee, donut holes and conversation with some of his buddies from church. Zach did really well and I was happy that the kids all followed directions. They did notice that some kids had way more than five eggs in their baskets- but commented that perhaps they...