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Easter 2009 - This is the first year we have begun our own Leoni holiday traditions. Not only have we combined our cherished traditions from growing up, but also added some to take the emphasis off the furry over-sized creature and put it back on the 'reason for the season'.
We figured explaining the crucifixition to a 2-year old would lend to some traumatizing nightmares. So instead we focused on other ways to show her how Jesus loves us. We symbolized this by having a foot washing ceremony as He did with his disciples. Evelyn was so into it that she asked if we could wash Dora's feet too. And if you are wondering, yes we did.
That evening after the bedtime mad rush Bobby and I shared a Seder meal together -a Jewish tradition, yet pondered over the Last Supper and the hope we have beyond that meal alone.
The next day's agenda included coloring/decorating Easter eggs. We explained that the bunny is going to take the eggs, hide them and possibly replace them with a gift in her basket. Evelyn's eyes widened. She gasped, "YOU KNOW WHAT?! I THINK HE IS GOING TO PUT A VIDEO IN MY BASKET....Yup, a Dora video, the one with her in a yellow dress."
Needless to say I was scrambling my fluffy tail the next day looking for that stinkin' Dora DVD. She's no dummy - she knew EXACTLY who she was talking to.
Saturday we celebrated with Bobby's parents in Geneva. Evelyn was given her own flowers to plant/water and her own rain barrel to paint. Which she wanted us NOT to be a part of. "Um, mom, dad, I don't want you to come outside with us. You stay in here. K?"....Rejected so early on? I knew this was supposed to happen when they got into high school, but age 2?!?!
When preparing the house for the arrival of the Easter bunny on Saturday night I let Evelyn lead the way. "First thing we gotta do is put the Eater baskets here, and give him a toothbrush, and carrots and water, and a toy...yup, here's a puzzle for him to play with and a video, oh, also here is a Dora video for him to watch." It was all put out in perfect order by our divine lil' hostess.
The cameras were rolling at 6:30am when Evelyn's door opened. She looked at me and ran to the bathroom. I'm guessing all the excitement probably led to a leaky bladder. Bathroom door opens and with full speed she runs into the living room. Her hair wild. Bobby said "Look sweetie, I think the Easter Bunny put something in your basket." To which she replied, "No, mom did." Okay then. Less than 5 minutes later we were all sitting together as a family watching the yellow dressed Dora video in complete awe. Glad after all our thought and planning she was able to comprehend and soak up the deeper meaning of the season! ;-) Dora. And oh yeah....she did say "Jesus is Alive" when I picked her up from Sunday school - so I guess she did get it! Off to brunch with all the cousins!
Happy Easter!
