Easter Goodness

Easter was a big deal growing up.

At least, that's what I remember.

Easter egg dying. Sunrise church services against our will. Egg and pancake breakfasts my mom was often involved in organizing. Easter outfits. (I'm going to see if I can't dig up one of these old photos because my recollection is there are some winners. No offense, Mom, I'm sure that was the style...) Having to don a winter coat and mud boots over pretty Spring-y Easter outfits. Baskets with goodies. Always predictable. A hollow chocolate bunny (which became the source of competition among siblings...who would have theirs the longest). Underwear (why, I have no idea). A new book. There was, of course, an Easter egg hunt -- sometimes inside, sometimes out. It is Maine, after all. And, Easter could be gorgeous and warm or blustery and snowy. And, I always remember us sorting jelly beans. Dad loves licorice so we'd give him all the black jelly beans. (Now, I am the recipient of black jelly beans. Genetic love for licorice, to blame.)

That's how I remember it.

Now, of course, we have our own family traditions. Many the same. Like mud boots and Easter dresses, for example. :)

It's certainly a favorite holiday around here...here are just a few of the reasons:

Because decorating eggs brings out the kid in all of us.

Because we need to be reminded about the importance of surprise.

Because of the wonderfulness of discovering a brightly colored egg in the very dead garden....

Because baby fingers on eggs are about the most precious thing ever...

Because my eldest loves to have sisters with matching dresses...(I'm guessing this might be the last year of that!)

Because there is really nothing cuter than the cute guy you love with his girls in Easter dresses.

Because pretty dresses and white tights don't matter when you spot an egg in the dirt.

Because this almost 2 year old caught on to the whole Easter egg hunting thing in a minute...complete with gasps of excitement upon spotting an egg...followed by an enthusiastic "my got it"...followed by calling out while in motion "eggs, where are you?"

Because an egg hunt brings out the intense focus in a near 2 year old...

...and a wonderful, but sometimes a little sassy-of-late 7 year old.

Because sisters in yellow dresses find such great delight in the simple findings in their baskets.

Because white tights and party shoes -- big and small - are the cutest thing ever, really.

Because a cute dress and hat can make even the grumpiest church goer seem cute.

April Planner

April is here. It started with a big snow storm...I wonder how it will end? Time will tell. In the meantime, I've got a busy month planned...

• Plant easter grass. Yea, I was supposed to do that last month. Didn't get to it. Is there still time?
• Attend the Maine Fiddler's Concert. This concert (now in its 11th year) takes place at The Chocolate Church Arts Center in Bath, Maine and is, in part, a fundraiser for Maine Fiddle Camp. It is a ball...and always makes me want to re-engage in learning to play my fiddle.
• A Psyanky date with my husband. I know, sounds kinky, huh? Not to worry, Maine-ly Home remains a family-friendly blogsite. But, I've been dying to give this wonderful craft another try since my friend Jeanne graciously taught me last April. And, my husband has agreed to do it with me.
• Visit some baby lambs. I must take my lamb-lovin' toddler to see some baby lambs. Oh, how I can't wait!
• Find some forsythia for a little spring forcin'. 
• Make a birthday crown for my baby who is turning 2!?! 
• Start thinking about a yard sale for MayFair Weekend.
• Find some new mud boots. Cause it's clear it's going to be a very muddy season. Maybe the muddiest yet.

What's on your planner?

Signs of Spring Continued

As I mentioned the other day, it feels ever so important (and, today, this very foggy, wet day is no exception) to capture and share signs of Spring. This is a shot I captured the other day. Yea, I'm thinking it's going to be a messy Spring.

Oh, hello April!

Okay, how did that happen? It was just March...and, today I turned on my computer and realized it was April 4th.

The good news? We missed April Fools. In our house, we have discovered that with young children who learn of April Fools, the bad jokes and pranks continue well beyond the 1st. It's a nightmare, really.

I think the problem is that on Friday, April 1st, in the wee hours of the night I got a text message.

It read: School cancelled.

Snow day.

Yup. Just when we thought we were in the clear, a Nor'easter (that's what we New Englanders call a nasty storm with wind and wet stuff that comes at us from the Northeast) blanketed this great state with a whole bunch more of that white fluffy stuff.

Only this time, it wasn't so light and fluffy. Heavy and wet. So heavy and wet that it through those just waking up branches for a loop, or rather a tumble. Power outages were widespread. No foolin'.

I must admit I was rather grumpy about the whole thing the minute I heard that text beep on my phone. I had an ambitious day planned - one that wouldn't come to fruition with two girls in tow.

But, when I looked out my window and saw that beautiful blanket on what can be a pretty ugly time of year, I found a better attitude. Mostly. We played in the snow. Contemplated snow bunnies. Baked. Painted. And, then welcomed in a busy, sunny weekend.

April: John Updike's take

In keeping with tradition at Maine-ly Home, here's John Updike's take on April. Have you gotten your copy of A Child's Calendar? It really is such a wonderful book with a monthly poem by Updike and beautiful illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

April
It's Spring! Farewell
To chills and colds!
The blushing, girlish
World unfolds

Each flower, leaf,
And blade of turf--
Small love-notes sent
From air to earth.

The sky's a hear
Of prancing sheep,
The birds and fields
Abandon sleep,

And jonquils, tulips,
Daffodils
Bloom bright upon
The wide-eyed hills.

All things renew.
All things begin.
At church, they bring
The lilies in.