Monday, April 5, 2010

Easter, Standing, and Tooth!

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Yesterday was Easter and I'm not going to lie, it was not the best Easter ever. Mr. Mustard had to work and I was home by myself with the kids. I had planned to go to a church in our new neighborhood in the morning, but Paprika slept in late and I was worried she was coming down with something, so I didn't want to get her up- and of course, I wasn't going to take her to a new church (or any church for that matter) and have her around other kids if she was feeling sick.

We had planned on doing an egg hunt and baskets before Mr. Mustard went to work- but then Paprika slept in late, and again...I didn't want to wake her, so we skipped that.

By the time she woke up, she was feeling fine...but church was done and Mr. Mustard was at work. Paprika wanted to know if the Easter bunny had left her eggs to find in the backyard. I had to tell her that the Easter Bunny wasn't coming until Wednesday (Mr. Mustard's day off)- because I didn't want to do the egg hunt and baskets without him there.

I felt like the worst mommy ever. I know, I know...she won't know the difference between Easter Sunday and this Wednesday, but still I felt pretty bad about it.

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Ginger was being fussy, and she's into everything...and I was just feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes it's just a lot to handle with family so far away. I did get to talk with my mom's side of the family in Indiana on the phone- they had a big Easter lunch, and it was so great and refreshing to chat with them.

Everyone in my neighborhood was having their extended families over for Easter, and I could smell their barbeques going in the backyard, and hear them laughing...and there I was wiping butts and averting disaster by myself all day long. I am embarrassed to say, I was feeling very sorry for myself.

So, it was basically a big ole' pity party until I thought about what Easter is really all about and why we even celebrate it in the first place...and how much pain and suffering Jesus went through on the cross- for each and every one of us. And so, you know...that kind of put things in perspective. ;-)

I also thought about how much I have to be grateful for and how incredibly wonderful it was that I got to spend the day with Paprika and Ginger...how lucky I am to have them and to have the life I have. I also thought about the promise of the afterlife and how I hope to see Vivian and Annemarie in Heaven.

Pity party ended.

It doesn't really matter how alone we are or how alone we feel- the real message of Easter is that none of us are alone, and we are all loved and cherished by our Heavenly Father.

Needless to say, next year I will be planning better and won't be spending Easter (or any holiday for that matter) alone again if I can help it.

Mr. Mustard got home late, and we treated ourselves to take-out...Thai food- which was very un-Easter-like. But by the time he got home, that was all that was available, and I was not in the mood to cook! :-)

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It turns out, Ginger was fussy for good reason. This morning I saw that the tiniest bud of a tooth had popped through her bottom gum- her very first tooth. I guess that money I've been saving for her dental implants can be put to use elsewhere... ;-)

Today she also went from being a kneeling baby to an almost-exclusively standing baby. Standing is now her favorite thing to do. She gets frustrated because she wants to walk- but she can't yet! I am fine with her just standing. A tooth and standing up...all in one day. A pretty big day, if you ask me!

3 comments:

waikikimum said...

Erika, your babies are just gorgeous and it's ok to have a pity party. The best bit is that you can come out of it and see the wonderful family you have. I hope you enjoy "your"easter on Wednesday with your loved ones.Kathy Perth western Australia

Sheri said...

You have such beautiful girls. Don't worry, it doesn't matter what day you do easter for them, they will not know the difference. You are such a positive person and you always find the good in everything. One of the reasons I love reading your blog!

Sarah said...

Erika- you are so gorgeous!
would be wonderful to not be oceans apart, otherwise I would have come to spend Easter Sunday with you :-)

Miss Ginger is growing up oh so fast!!!

Thank goodness for having the faith that we'll see our precious twins in heaven, hey?!

I'm sure the girls loved "easter" when the Easter bunny arrived...no matter what the day was xx