Easter Lessons 2012, Carnation

Adding the food coloring.  The kids decided to add all colors this year, making the water black for our sin.

I can't figure out why it didn't work this year.  It was either because we used gel food coloring (but that should dissolve just as well in the water) or because the stem of the carnation was too thin.  Next year I will try again with a bigger carnation.  Not happy that it didn't work this year!

Easter Lessons 2012, Washing Feet

Easter Lessons 2012, Scavenger Hunt

Something green.

A rock.

Two sticks (chopsticks!).

Something black.

Something red.

Something white.

Easter Lessons 2012, Bread Making

Abby adding flour.

Isaac mixing. 

Daddy showing them how to flour their hands for kneading.

Kneading demonstration.

Abby kneading.

Isaac kneading.

A video clip of the bread makers.  

The package, warm and ready for the neighbors.

Ready to deliver.

Teaching the True Meaning of Easter

Over the past few years, I have really enjoyed gathering and building some great tools for teaching my children the true meaning of Easter.  I wanted to compile on this post my whole tool chest so that it's all in one place.

To start off with, I found the most exciting directions for how to lead a Passover Seder for Christian families in Thriving Family magazine.  Thankfully, they also have an online version I can share with you. Traditionally, Jewish families celebrate a Seder during their Passover celebrations to tell the story of how God freed the Jews from Egyptian slavery.  For Christians, there are many ways that the rituals of the Seder also illustrate the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Here is a link that will help you learn how we hosted our first Passover Seder.

Here are the links to the other Easter teaching tools I have used:

Resurrection Cookies Recipe

Preparing for Easter, Part 1 (includes activities for the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before Easter)

Preparing for Easter, Part 2 (includes activities for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Easter, as well as Easter Sunday)

I hope I'm posting this early enough this year for some other parents who had expressed interest to gather the materials and do some of these simple daily lessons with the kids.  My kids loved them.

Coaster Faces

By popular demand...(Adel's)...I am including an extra post zooming in on the series of shots I took of the two guys and the kids on the last roller coaster ride.  There really is very little in life that is as funny as watching faces on a roller coaster.

And, for good measure, Adel wanted me to include this picture of myself.  Being the blog-writer/editor, I tend to keep myself out of photos as much as possible, especially when they are unflattering.  But Adel said this picture sums up my Legoland experience so well:

Holding the Minnie Mouse hat in my right hand, it appears that I am yelling to the Legoland patrons, "Disneyland rocks!"  No offense, Legoland.

Legoland California, Part 2

Adrian and Adel took the kids on the "Fun Town Police and Fire Academy" ride where you compete to be the first at the fire to put it out.

We told the kids if they didn't win, we would have to go home.  (Don't worry, they're used to our sarcasm by now).

Hop out of the truck to fight the fire.

Then race back to the truck.

 Camille and Abby on the airplanes.

Most of the rides were carnival-type with a Lego twist.

The kids next to a life-sized Darth Vader made of Legos.  There is an entire Star Wars section in their Mini Land.

And then a character Lego Darth Vader.

Adel is demonstrating for his brothers his technique on the "Pharaoh's Curse" blaster ride.

I love how these brothers have fun when they're together.

Slides

90% of the rides were geared toward smaller kids.  Our kids had a great time on everything, although it was a little slow for the grown ups (we are so spoiled by our Disneyland experience).

Finally put the kids in the stocks were they belong.

There were two decent roller coasters in the park that our whole group enjoyed several times.  We went on "The Dragon" coaster at least 3 times.  The kids loved it.  

Adrian and Adel took the kids on a second ride on the "Lego Technic Coaster," the biggest one in the park.

Adel and Adrian posing (again) for the camera on the drop.

I like how brave little Abby has her arms up like Uncle Adrian in this pic.

Allen, Adrian, and Adel tried to pose for the pictures on every ride that did photos.  Here is their best shot of being completely straight-faced on the big drop of the "Lego Technic Coaster."  We laughed a lot at our stupid attempts to pose for ride photos that day.

Abby and Mommy on Legoland's equivalent of the teacups.  Our last ride.

There were many Lego construction areas.  This one we had done in Dallas, where you build and race cars.

Final assessment for our Lubbock cousins (and anyone else) who are thinking about making the trip out here for this:

• The park is only open from 10am-5pm (at least at this time of year) and we did not do everything so there is plenty to do.
• For that reason, it may be worth the value of getting the 2-day pass if you're really serious about doing it all (and don't want to feel rushed).
• Most of the rides are geared for smaller kids but the roller coasters are fun for all.  
• There were several movie experiences and Lego building areas we did not do.
• Since the ticket prices are comparable to Disneyland, we expected Disney-quality details and experience and were a little disappointed.  
• Definitely a better deal with a coupon (we got a half-price military discount), and on a school day (most of the rides were not worth a long wait).
• Even though it does not live up to Disney standards, it was still a fantastic day for a Lego-obsessed boy (and his sister who loves rides of every kind).