Easte*r

I have always loved E*aster - for the celebration of Christ's resurrection, but it also feels like the beginning of spring, especially when we have a late Ea*ster like this year. But of course, E*aster has new meaning for me in recent years. Z*oe was born the Wednesday before E*aster in 2007 - the night before M*aundy T*hursday, and we were discharged on G*ood F*riday, if you know your days surrounding E*aster. This year, Z*oe's birthday fell on Ea*ster. We celebrated by attending Grandma Kath*y and Grandpa St*eve's church also with D*ave's mom in the morning and having E*aster dinner and a very small celebration with the party planned for the following S*unday.

I decided that I am glad E*aster is a floating holiday and won't fall on her birthday every year - its a lot of candy and pomp and circumstance, but it is also special and we enjoyed it. I resisted the urge to buy matching E*aster dresses for my girls and went for individualism instead for two reasons - because it was Zo*e's birthday also and because they both had adorable dresses that I wanted to see them wear again.
Z*oe was so excited for her birthday - she had been asking about it for weeks and we had explained first that her birthday was in A*pril and then we started saying it was on A*pril 4. So when someone at my parent's church asked Z*oe about her birthday on E*aster, she said, "I will be 3 on A*pril 4th!" When we reminded her that it was A*pril 4, she just smiled and said, "Oh yeah. Its my birthday today!" Earlier in the morning, Da*ve brought her into the bathroom right after she woke up as I was in the shower and I sang "Happy Birthday" to her. I wish I could have captured the look on her face in more places than just my memory - I had forgotten how magical birthdays are when you are a child. Z*oe received a few gifts that day, and she was quite excited.
Grandma K*athy has been very into making her own cards (she made many V*alentines this year complete with paper doilies) and she made Z an adorable birthday card.
Grandma K and Grandpa S also gave her a horn and tassles for her bike with training wheels - she loves it!

Z got a waterproof baby for the bathtub from Grandma J*udy - Z firmly believes there is no such thing as too many babies at least for her, and she loves being able to take one in the tub every night.

And we can't forget PJs - something Z is very into these days. She would wear them all day if she could - maybe some of you can relate!

We ended our day with attending our own church's E*aster service for the first time - we meet in the evening and we have often gone elsewhere E*aster morning instead. It was lovely and unique as only H*ouse of M*ercy can do. All in all it was a great birthday and the best part for Z*oe was realizing she would be celebrating again soon!