Easter x3

Last year, Eli had just turned one and Easter wasn't a big deal.  He was too little for egg hunts and didn't show much interest in his basket.  This year, however, he was obsessed.  Thanks to countless renditions of "Little Bunny Foo Foo" he was already pretty enamored with bunnies.  Throw in some candy in brightly colored eggs and a trip to Maimai's house and you've got a real winner.

 Easter #1
Our first Easter celebration (read: egg hunt) was with some neighbors the week before and was just a warm up for the main event.  Once Eli learned that egg hunting was a zero-sum game he became pretty aggressive and had to be forcibly removed  from the field when he had gathered his quota.  Then he wouldn't rest until each egg had been opened and the candy consumed.

Easter #2
We headed to the homestead for celebration number two, which conveniently coincided with Cabinoference.  We soaked in a day of good food, family, the great outdoors, and listening to our inspired church leaders.
 

Eli (and I) loved hanging out with his grandparents, Uncle Austin and dad.

Eli showed great enthusiasm for ping pong, the result of which was that Zach and I never got a game in.  I would've won, don't worry.

Finally napping

Riding the 4wheeler with Bompa made a HUGE impression on Eli.  Remember the pink monkey?  That phrase has now been replaced with "Bompa.  RIDE.  Fast!  WHOAAA!"

After Cabinoference we got to spend Easter with the Judkins where we once again enjoyed good food and family and another egg hunt.

Eli with Grampa

Eli wanted desperately to hold Calvin on his lap, but once Calvin was there he insisted he was too big and heavy.  That didn't stop him from constantly giving him loves all day though.  I can't blame him- Calvin is one adorable baby.

Pantless egg hunt.  That's how we roll.

I love these kids so much.  I'm so grateful that Eli has so many awesome cousins to be his heroes.  As soon as we get in the car, without fail, he asks if we're going to visit Jaxenwod.  No?  Maxinollee?  No?  Awwwww....

A big thank you to Randy for doing the mini shoot below.  I know its cliche, but I can't believe how big he's getting!  And so, so handsome.  Or maybe that's just me.

Easter #3
It was a hard adjustment to come home after 5 days in Utah.  It took all of Eli's stuffed animals giving him a big group hug to get over it.

Luckily we had one last Late Easter Brunch and egg hunt with some friends to take his mind off missing his cousins.  Unfortunately it cemented in Eli's mind that this egg hunt thing is a new frequent occurrence that should continue into the indefinite future.

I thought packing away all of the Easter eggs and decorations would help, but it turns out that's impossible.  There is ALWAYS another egg lurking in the back of some toy dump truck just waiting to spark another round of begging.  (Sigh)  Until next year Easter.