Easter 2016

Happy Easter, everybody!  Each holiday that passes gets more and more exciting because Emmy is more aware and can participate.  Easter was great this year with our little bunny at home.

We've never had Emmy do the whole picture with Santa Claus thing because we always thought she was too small.  As Easter was approaching, Cory found out that the Bass Pro pyramid was going to be doing free pictures with the Easter Bunny.  We figured, since it was free, we would check it out. 

There was a good sized crowd in line when we got there, but we waited patiently.  Emmy was in a happy, bubbly mood and occasionally giggled at the other kids getting their picture taken.  We slowly made our way to the front of the line.  When it was our turn, we set Emmy down to walk over to E.B. (my abbreviation for the Easter Bunny).  She immediately froze and stared at him.  We called her over a few time.  No response.  Cory then picked her up and set her down in E.B.'s lap.  The exact moment that Cory's hands left Emmy's body, to paraphrase Moses, "a cry went out throughout all the land of Egypt (Bass Pro Pyramid), such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more." In other words, Emmy was wailing like a banshee.  The sound of absolute terror rang through the air.  Click. Flash.  Photo taken.  "Aww" emanating from the crowd.  I am laughing.  Cory runs to Emmy and lifts her up.  I kid you not, the second that she was out of EB's lap and into Cory's arms, Emmy went silent, and looked around as if nothing had just happened.  We had evidence, though. 

As much as I don't want Emmy to be sad, I also was kind of glad that we now had an immortalized classic memory.  Also, she was totally fine so quickly.  Later, Cory and I dug up some old photos of us as toddlers taking staged photos.  It explained so much.

On Sunday, we celebrated Easter by going to church in the morning.  Every Sunday it is important to attend church and remember the promises we have made, but you can't help but feel something extra on Easter Sunday.  The Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, gives us reason to hope, and has made it possible for us to overcome our weaknesses and be together as a family for eternity.  That knowledge is not only a passive blessing in our lives, but motivates our actions and refines our behavior.  I am so grateful for my little family. 

Once we got home, we had our Easter egg hunt!  It was Emmy's first time, and she did so well!  In the morning before church, she had already started to notice some of them.  It was fun to help point her in the right direction.

Of course, Emmy is just the stinkin' cutest thing on the planet.  Cory did such a great job putting her little outfit together, as usual.  Her dress and pink bow got so many compliments.  Happy Easter 2016 from the Gilmores!