A Very Sweaty Easter

Since our third child joined our family we have made the conscious choice to spend most holidays at home, just the five of us. There are many factors in this decision, not the least of which is the hassle and expense of getting five people anywhere besides our house. But it's also about starting traditions of our own. Even if they are pretty generic (turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, tree, lights, stories and gifts at Christmas, and egg hunts on Easter), they will grow and evolve as our kids get older and they will become our own. And I very much look forward to that. We still love spending time with our extended family and will always set aside quality time for them, but I think that the Hatch Family Nuclear Holiday has become the rule and group gatherings the exception. These are my four favorite people in the world, and I can't think of anyone with whom I'd rather celebrate.

For those of you unfamiliar with life in the desert, springtime here is hot. Very hot. By the time Easter rolled around this year we were already limiting our outside time to mornings and evenings and had our AC running full throttle. I don't mean to belabor the point throughout the annals of my blog, but I really doubt that God intended the Sonoran Dessert for human habitation when he placed it on this earth. That's why javelinas live here.

Despite the high temps, we had a lovely Easter. To kick off the festivities Ryan took Layla to a special Easter High Tea at the Ritz Carlton (swanky, I know). They wore their Sunday best and were treated to finger sandwiches, plenty of fancy-schmancy tea cakes and chocolates, a parade around the grounds, and a special visit from the Easter Bunny himself! I hope that one day my children realize just how lucky they are and how few kids get a chance to experience once what they often take for granted.

On Easter morning the kids came downstairs to find little notes from the Easter Bunny. They each had a set of clues to follow to find their baskets. Apparently the Bunny did a fine job, because it was almost impossible to get them fed, dressed and out the door to church. I think the only reason they finally acquiesced was that Ryan explained that the Easter Bunny wouldn't come back and hide eggs for them to find if they didn't leave. Well played, Daddy, well played.

After church they had a great time hunting for eggs and bingeing on candy. We had a nice family dinner, played a few games, and relaxed together. No one worked too hard (not even me!) and everyone had fun. Now that's a perfect holiday!

Ryan and Layla off to High Tea

Weston and his Yoda Easter basket

Layla found her loot

Dylan digging right into her new Elmo book

Best. Kids. Ever.

Happy Family! If you look closely you'll see that I forgot to put on my heels that were by the door and ended up wearing my ratty flip flops to church. Oops :)

There had better be something really good inside these eggs, 'cause it's hot out here!

Layla was so sweet and left the easier eggs for the smaller kids.

That's one of my all-time favorite Weston faces.

It took her a few minutes, but once we opened up and egg and showed her the candy inside she went looking for more.

Taking a break in the shade

They were not too pleased about posing for this picture.

Dylan keeping cool with some candy and her Elmo phone.