Easter Week: Christ's Life Leading to the Atonement and Resurrection

     This year we have decided to focus on the real meaning of Easter the whole week leading up to Easter.  Our Bishop really encouraged us to teach our families and ponder ourselves about Jesus Christ, the Atonement and the Resurrection.
     We decided we would find an egg (or 2 since we have 2 kids that might fight over it) each night before bed.  In the eggs we would find a symbol, a scripture and an activity we could do if we had time.  This (Monday night) will be our first night doing it (in the future we would probably start on Sunday, but I didn't get things in order in time).
    We also plan on doing other fun Easter activities such as Easter Baskets and Egg hunts, but we really wanted our Children to know why Easter is such a special day.
    Here is an outline (which is very much subject to change) for anyone that is interested:

FOR FHE: We might watch He Is Risen! Video and begin with an overview of the week.

MONDAY: Jesus walked from Bethany to Jerusalem. He rode into the city on a donkey, as a verse in the Old Testament said He would. People recognized Him as their King, shouting, “Hosanna,” and laying down palm leaves in front of the donkey to keep dust from getting on the Savior. Jesus visited the temple and then returned to Bethany.

Mark 11:1–11.   (EGG: palm leaf (a paper cutout since we didn't have one), ACTIVITY: Video The Lord's Trimphal Entry into Jerusalem, Have a parade and wave homemade palm leaves)

TUESDAY:  Jesus saw people buying and selling things in the temple. Because He wanted the temple to be a “house of prayer,” He made them leave. Then He healed people who were lame or blind. The jealous priests were angry with Him.

See Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19.  (EGG: Soap & Temple Picture, ACTIVITY: Video:

Jesus Cleanses the Temple, wash hands with the soap and clean up room)

 

WEDNESDAY: Jesus’s disciples got ready for the Passover meal. During the meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. Then, to help them remember Him, He gave them the sacrament for the first time. See Matthew 26:17-29 (EGG: piece of bread & sacrament cup, ACTIVITY: Video: The Last Supper, Wash Feet and eat Bread & drink Grape Juice on the floor)

THURSDAY: Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to suffer for our sins and to pray to God. People came with swords and arrested Him. The disciples ran away in fear.

See Matthew 26:36-56 (EGG: Band-Aide, ACTIVITY: Video The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane, make red dyed eggs to represent Blood of Christ)

FRIDAY: Jesus was judged of men in an unfair trial.  He was condemned to die on the cross. The soldiers placed a crown of thorns on his head, whipped him and scorned him.  Jesus was crucified.

See Matthew 26:57-59, Matthew 27:27-37.  (EGG: Nails & Thorns, ACTIVITY: Video: Jesus is Scourged and Crucified, press nail gently on palm of hand, feel thorns, carry heavy board/object on back)

 

SATURDAY: Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. A large stone was put in front of the door. The wicked priests asked Pilate to have guards stand outside the tomb to make sure no one went inside.  An angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone.

See  Luke 23:55-56, Matthew 27:57–66. (EGG:spices, ACTIVITY: Video: Jesus is Laid in a Tomb (Only watch first 2 minutes),  Make Resurrection Cookies and do the activity along with the cookie recipe)

 

EASTER SUNDAY: Jesus was resurrected! He had risen from the tomb. Jesus told His disciples to teach and baptize others and promised to always be with them.

See Matthew 28. (EMPTY EGG, ACTIVITY: Video: Jesus is Resurrected,Talk more about Resurrection, Make Resurrection Rolls for Breakfast/dessert, Eat Resurrection Cookies, have Passover Meal for dinner)

RESOURCES:

http://beinglds.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter%20Countdown (an outline of the week)

https://www.lds.org/friend/2011/04/easter-week?lang=eng (has the scriptures)

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/?lang=eng (All the videos)

http://eatatallies.com/2011/04/resurrection-rolls/ (Resurrection Rolls)

http://strongarmor.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-story-cookies.html (Resurrection Cookies)

Here are some other fun Easter Activities:

http://beinglds.blogspot.com/p/easter-crafts-about-christ.html   

Hopefully we remember to take a few pictures and show them to everyone!

Fun and Fast February 2013

February flew right past us!  Here are some fun things that we enjoyed throughout the month:
Avery's preschool went to the Aerospace museum for a field trip.  Avery loves preschool and has had to miss a few days because he has been sick and he absolutely hates it.  He is getting very good at writing his name and cutting paper.  He loves numbers and show-and-tell.

Lily at the museum (all the ones of Avery had other kids in it)

We went skiing a couple of times as a family and with Brian's sister Candace.

Lily skiing with mommy

Lily Skiing some more

At the end of the month we decided to finally do something with all the snow that has been in our yard!  We haven't even really built a snowman because it has been too cold and not very good snowman snow.  We built a nice ice fort just Curious George did recently on his show.  Avery really wanted a roof on it but we didn't think it would be very safe.  The next day spring decided to hit and so our fort did not really stay around much.  We guess for future reference, if we want spring to come, just build something in the snow!  We did have about 2 feet at one point in the last month and a half!

In the snow fort with Mommy

In the snow fort with Daddy

Though this was actually in March, we finally did something without all the snow!  As soon as Avery saw that the snow was melting he said, "We can go dirt biking now!."  So we went to the park the other day and let Avery ride around on his electric dirt bike he got for Christmas.  Lily also rode around on her electric jeep.  Avery must have grown in the last month or two because he can reach the ground a whole lot better.   He was also able to get the hang of it alot better since he was on the wide and open grass.  He did work up to driving on the path that goes around our park and he does go pretty fast!  He looked all official with his dirtbike helmet on and everything.  We are loving the warmer weather right now!