Ostern Sonntag

"Look Mom, I found one!!"  As you can see, Elle was up before any of us and decided to get all dressed up for Easter:).  Britta is in the background still in pajamas (like Mommy & Daddy)!!

On the search for more eggs!

Frohe Ostern!  The girls were relieved that the Easter Bunny found our home!!  Elle was concerned that since we recently moved, the Easter Bunny would go to our old home to deliver & hide Easter goodies this morning and not to our new home. She was delighted when she discovered that not only did the Easter Bunny know where her new home was but that he also knew many of her interests (i.e. bubble machine, ball, items for her kitchen, etc.) AND even knew her favorite color (all of Elle’s eggs were colored pink and Britta’s were purple:).  After the girls found all of their eggs and played with some of their new toys, we were off to church. 

Today, was the first Sunday the girls did not need me to accompany them up to the children’s sermon.  It was so adorable watching them walk up to the front together.  Then, Matt and I were so proud (and shocked) to hear Elle answer some of the Pastor’s questions.  He asked the children (mainly all of who were adolescents), “does anyone know what happened this past Friday to Jesus?”  Elle said, “he died on the cross.”  And later he asked, “what makes Easter so special, what happened to Jesus after 3 days?”  Elle said, “he rose for us!!!”  We have recently been reading children’s books re: Easter but not all of the books have been religious (i.e. Dora’s Easter Eggs) but I was so proud, as Elle’s mother, that the stories we have read about the true meaning of Easter had been absorbed and understood (as much as a 3-year old can understand) by Elle.  She felt so good about herself as people were coming up to her after church, complementing her on her participation- it was pretty cute to watch:).  I am sure that Britta will do her best to try and get in her two cents the next children’s sermon!

And once again, this morning, I saw just how “serious” Germans celebrate Ostern.  One of our neighbors, in his mid 40’s, was climbing a tree trying to reach a huge department store bag that the “Easter Bunny” had placed in one the trees in his backyard.  It was quite the site!  The same family later came over and gave the girls two HUGE chocolate Easter Bunnies.  Again, our new neighbors are great; the girls have been getting Easter treats for the past week!!  So again, Happy Easter my dear family & friends!!  I am going to bed now but Easter celebrations are still going strong in the USA- enjoy!!  Let us all celebrate that Jesus Christ has Risen!     

The last egg to be found...

Britta insisting on peeling her own egg...I imagine she ate a little shell:)

Peeling eggs is not uncommon to Elle... she LOVES eggs and eats one or two a week...

Britta sitting all by herself admiring and checking out all of the goodies in her basket... purposefully situating herself away from Elle, probably afraid that Elle would take some of her goodies:)

Elle and my activity this afternoon during quiet time.