Our Family Easter....a Tradition is born

This year we started a family tradition from Noel Pipers Book "Treasuring God in our Traditions". We made various key characters from the Easter Story and then we acted out the happenings on the specific days during Holy Week, Easter Weekend and then the following days until we did Jesus ascension.  Stephie LOVED it and really caught on.  She even took her "special people" to Grandpa Steve and Ms Claudette's house on Easter Sunday to tell the story to everyone...one proud Momma here!!

 Stephie has Jesus, Daddy has the disciples and people who will hold palm branches.  Notice my fabulous donkey (haha) and palm branches on the table.  I had SO much fun making this!! If you google Noel Pipers she has pictures online...I obviously went a bit overboard :)

 Stephie is SUPER into Dora right now and each episode has a "three stage" map. Dora has three destinations during the episode....we make two seperate "three stage" maps depicting Jesus journey....
Map one:

• Palm Sunday
• Last Supper (stephie loved the foot washing)
• Cross

Map two:

• Empty tomb
• Dinner with friends
• Goes to heaven

This was SOOOOO much fun! Next year we will start our Easter celebrations by observing Lent and also will incorporate several Jewish traditions including Passover with a traditional passover meal.....super excited!

 Palm branches and the spectacular donkey (he was actually quite pitiful but I tried!)

 Our glorious angel....Stephie didn't get him until he came to announce "Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive" at the empty tomb.

Ahhhh, my heart is joyful as I watch Stephie understand and love the amazing Easter story.....