Roberts Family Chronicles: Easter, Pigtails, and Mimi...

April started with Holy Week. I bought A Sense of the Resurrection: An Easter Experience for Families. It had awesome ideas for activities to do with the kids that lead up to Jesus' death and resurrection. Each activity engages the senses and makes memories that point us to Jesus.

Washing Feet

You FEEL Jesus, the Servant King

Last Supper: Making bread together

You eat and TASTE Jesus' body broken for you

This was Benjamin's favorite

Final product - He was so proud!

Talking about Peter's denial before the rooster crows

You HEAR and remember to stand with and speak about Jesus

"Jesus died for my sins"

You FEEL Jesus' sacrifice for you. His intimate sacrifice, His touch and care for you.

We also did the resurrection eggs (the toddler version)

Every day Benjamin would wake up and say "I want to do the eggs!" He searched for the eggs and then we would walk through the items discussing the events during the Holy Week:

Bread - Jesus ate with his friends

Cross - Jesus died on the cross for our sins

Cloth - They covered Him in cloth and put His body in a tomb

Stone - They rolled a stone over the opening

Empty Egg - HE IS RISEN!

M&M "That's the sweet surprise of Easter"

Our church does an amazing event called Resurrection Journey where kids can have a walk-through experience of Jesus' last week on earth. Our good friend Brad was Jesus - thankfully Benjamin didn't seem to notice : )

Final activity: Resurrection Rolls

Marshmallow is Jesus' body that you roll in spices (cinnamon/sugar)

then you roll Him up in a cloth (croissant)

Bake for about 15m and...

EMPTY TOMB!

The marshmallow dissolves and leaves a tasty illustration of the resurrection : )

Easter Sunday with Michele and Josh

(Those baby twins will be here any day...)

April 1st - We got baby chicks and ducks

In just a month these chicks have turn into chickens!

The ducks are in another place)

The coop area beside the garage is almost finished for the ducks and chickens

Benjamin: "Hi ducks. I have ducks at my house."

Pure sweetness

No shoes?

No problem

My little farmer girl

Spring is in full bloom

Sweet girl giving me flowers

Stopping to smell the flowers on our walk

Sliding with mommy at the park

Daddy time!

Kite flying - perfect for a windy day

Benjamin is now climbing up the rope ladder at Overton Park without help

Date Night Gak making and play at the Gardners

Bows and bumblebees

Birthday buddies born the same day : )

Who needs to go to the park when your neighbor is getting a tree cut down?

**Free entertainment**

I have decided everything is cuter in pigtails!!

yep...

Ok i'll stop..

"Mommy, I want to be a superhero today"

Driving to Nashville for my AOTA conference

(American Occupational Therapy Association)

I stayed with my childhood friend, Katie Emery

We had some good laughs reminiscing about the old days

Most of my weekend looked like this...I got to geek-out for a weekend

I came home with a notebook full of new ideas/assessments/products to use with my patients

UTHSC Alumni reception

Got to have lunch with this lovely lady - always encouraging!

Girls from work...and professor photo bomb : )

April is OT month and I wanted to give my co-worker and friend Angela, a HUGE shout out! She is the best COTA ever! Over the past 6 months she has taught me so much. She is such an inspiration to me as she cares deeply for our patients and does everything in her power to help them regain independence from putting on compression stockings to learning the electric slide.

I believe every OT needs an "Angela" : )

While I was in Nashville my mom came to Memphis to visit and spend time with the kids.

My mom was a huge help (as always). She is so good at finding ways to love on our family. Whether it's watching the kids, doing the dishes, buying shoes, grocery shopping, or going to a movie together.

Thanks Mimi!