Easter Blessings, 2014

I just LOVE Easter time and all that it represents.  I've always seen Easter as a time for new beginnings and 5 years ago, we were celebrating Eastern Orthodox Easter in a Russian Orphanage playing with a little girl who was soon to be our daughter.  And being the sentimental fool I am, I love bringing myself back to that time - when we lived in an apartment for 5 weeks (where breakfast was served to us each morning and we had daily cleaning service) and we didn't have to wake up early to go to work.  Kinda like winning the lottery, eh????  We did, big time. :)

Our angel slept in until 10am this morning (yes, I count our blessings in more ways than one EVERY day!) and then we followed her out to see if the Easter Bunny came.  She was soooo excited to see a few books, Lego sets, a Barbie DVD, and of course, a great variety of chocolates.  To watch a child truly believe in the Easter Bunny (and Santa) is really heartwarming.  I know our holidays are numbered in this respect...but we'll hold true to the real meaning of each holiday and ensure Kristina knows, too.

A-ha! The Easter Bunny again left a trail of eggs down the hall leading to Kristina's Easter Basket! 

And there it is!



What a lucky girl.

The Easter Bunny somehow knew that Kristina enjoys Junie B. Jones books!

A Barbie card game...a game Kristina has already proved to quickly master.

And the hit of the day (in addition to chocolate):  Lego set!

Springtime is in full-force here in Southern California (maybe a little too springy....the temp today was in the high 80's and we actually had to turn the air conditioning on!), the flowers are in full bloom and it was time for our yearly Easter Egg Hunt.  Just like last year, we had 8 kiddos running around the yards of 4 families collecting a basket full+ of candy-filled eggs.  The big difference?  The kids are getting older, taller, and FASTER!  Having 130 eggs in one yard used to take 10 minutes for the girls to find.  But now, 2-3 minutes after the official "On your mark.  Get set. GO!" is announced ~ we're already moving onto the next house!



Memories of 2012:  These were the girls (Left to Right: Kira, Andrea, Gaby, Kristina and Jasmine) just 2 years ago during the Easter Egg Hunt of 2012.  The first Hunt was in 2010.
 

 2014:  And here are the girls with their younger siblings!  (Left to Right: Diego [2], Daniela [3], Andrea [6], Gaby [6, almost 7], Jasmine [6, almost 7], Kristina [7], Kira [7], and John [3]).

 



Big basket in anticipation to collecting lots of eggs!

Action shot ~ Yard #1!

Still on the run...

Action shot, Yard #2!

Yard #3



Even when Kristina had a wardrobe malfunction (lost a shoe), the hunt continued!

Yard #4

Checking out all the nooks and crannies, low and high.

I remember when Kristina couldn't reach the branch of this tree!

Whew!  That was a fun workout!


A few hours after the Egg Hunt, we headed to mass.   I really, really wanted to make it to the 9am Children's Mass but this year, I couldn't get up early enough.  The Easter Bunny had a very, very late night last night with last-minute preparations, so instead -- we went to the 5:30pm mass.  I have to say, I was so very proud of our little girl.  She really was good sitting still for the most part.  (Hmmm, maybe tired from all the action earlier in the day?)  I couldn't resist and did take some photos of what Poppy calls "Precious Moments".

During the homily, Kristina asked if she could say the prayers that were in her head.

This shot nearly brought me to tears.  Years before Kristina came into our lives, I would pray in front of the Holy Family. And now my daughter is!

I always make sure I have a few pennies for the fountain.

Kristina is telling me that her two wishes are: 1) for the kids in the world to find a mommy and daddy (part of our nightly prayers), and 2) wishing for Uncle Bryce to feel better soon.
I simply love my little girl.

Showing me where they landed...

Our Easter "selfie" with Our Lady of Guadalupe (my patron saint) looking over us!

One last prayer...which ended in song - a Kristina original.

Then we headed to Grampa and Nana Deary's house to hang out with them and Uncle Bryce and Michelle.  It was a very enjoyable evening with lots of great company, laughter...and chocolate.  Can never have too much of either of these!

Nana and Kristina

A Peeps cupcake with a surprise filling.  Yes...Kristina ate coconut for the first time!

Kristina and Michelle.  I affectionately call Michelle the "Kid Whisperer."  Michelle can get Kristina to eat, or at the very least TRY, any type of food!

Kristina with Michelle and Uncle Bryce

Kristina lovin' her Grampa!

And as I close this long, overdue blog entry (several others are just awaiting photos to be uploaded), I ask you to take a moment and say a prayer.  Jon's brother, Bryce, is going in for surgery Tuesday.  I hate cancer.  I loathe it.  But as spring brings new beginnings, I pray the surgeons use their God-given talents to enhance Bryce's life so that he may enjoy many more years watching his sons and niece grow up to be awesome ~ just like him!