When we woke up this morning....we found these....

   Amazing that just a few "Magic" beans could produce something so beautiful! I love that Sophia stopped in the middle of her Easter egg hunt this morning to run and check to see what the magic beans had produced outside over night.  We had read the story of the Resurrection so many times this week....and the magic and mystery behind this "growth" seem to parallel so well with the mystery of the Resurrection.   I thought it was perfect for an Easter morning surprise.  

Both of the kids had so much fun finding their eggs and their surprises inside.  It is so fun to watch their expressions and their little fingers trying to pry open each egg.  I wanted to capture it all on camera...but it all goes by so fast.  

I was able to get just a few pictures before Church....J's allergies are really bad again...so he was pretty tuckered and not too thrilled about posing....but once we got him up and exploring outside after Church... I was able to get a few more poses.  

Joseph played with his Easter basket intently for an hour this morning after Church.  Taking things in and out....and of course lining up some new little cars.

Miss Sophia was a tricky one today.  She wasn't too thrilled to pose for pictures before Church because I wouldn't let her button her sweater with the buttons going through the wrong holes.  (She apparently thought it looked better that way!!!)  And after having a minor tantrum in the Church parking lot over a miniature snow white headband that would not velcro properly to the miniature doll's head.... I thought any hope of pictures was lost.  But I did get a few smiles from her after Church (which by the way....she was an angel throughout the entire Mass...no surprise, though....she is always EXCELLENT in Church.....J is a different story, but making progress!! :)) 

Note to self:     I need to remember to make sure I have darker backgrounds behind Sophia when I am taking pictures of her....she is sooo fair and my pictures don't do those beautiful blonde ringlets justice!!  Here, she posed for a few before anxiously heading back in to play with her new miniature snow white.

J was able to get in a good nap before our family arrived for Easter dinner and "BAD THAD's" (J's nickname for Thad) b-day.  

Dinner was pork tenderloin (Whew....Daddy handled that one on the grill) roasted potatoes, asparagus tarte, salad, Nouna's bread, rolls, and OF COURSE... cookies, cupcakes and cake!!!

And to end on a sweet note...

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter...relaxing and refreshing...