Jackson enjoying a taste of meringue after making easter cookies.
Before church photos.
With the kids at home team doing the Resurrection Eggs story of Easter.
Strawberry picking!!!
Enjoying our hard work!
What a BUSY few days we've had doing all sorts of Easter activities and enjoying new things with the kids! No photos of egg hunting although they've done two so far. The one at church scheduled for today was rained out--which is fine with me because I'm tired already!
Yesterday we went to a local u-pick farm for strawberries and rhubarb. The kids did really well finding the RED ones and not squashing them too badly! Then we really enjoyed the "fruits" of our labor with a homemade strawberry and rhubarb pie! So delicious and it reminds me so much of growing up in Indiana where rhubarb is a perennial and not an annual like it is in Texas (actually learned this yesterday from the owner of the u-pick farm!). I also made a peaches and cream one because I had some half and half to use up, although they were frozen peaches and not fresh.
The kids dyed a few eggs--honestly, Andrew did the majority of the work since the 2 little kids were a bit heavy handed trying to dunk the eggs in the dye.
Last night before bed we made some Easter cookies (actually meringue cookies) from a recipe someone emailed me. I think I'd like to do this next year as the story was lost on the 2 little kids, and I didn't have much patience left (more like NO patience left) at the end of such a long day. But it's really a great learning tool and the cookies were really yummy! Sydney actually wanted to get more involved with acting out the story of the resurrection and pretend she was one of the women who was going to the tomb (actually opening the oven this morning and seeing the sort of hollow cookies). Here's the recipe so you know what I'm talking about:
Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter
• 1cup whole pecans
• 1tsp vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
This morning the kids enjoyed hunting for eggs in the house and getting a few candy treats from their baskets before breakfast.
Jennifer
