The Easter Story with Playmobil

Just like last year, the boys reenacted the Way of the Cross with some of their Playmobil toys.

~ On Good Friday ~ 

~ On Holy Saturday ~

I woke up to find that Jesus was now in the "tomb"  (aka: The Stone Table from their Narnia toys) and guarded by Roman Soldiers

~ Easter Morning ~ 

After the children went to bed, and I was setting up all the Easter decorations, I moved the Playmobil toys to the top of the piano keyboard (not knowing that the boys had their own plans) so I could set up the Easter Books, Alleluia letters and Resurrection set.  That did not discourage the boys from setting up their own Resurrection scene on Easter morning! 

In spite of the fact that they are made from plastic, I just love Playmobil!

On Good Friday

Photo Source - I'm nearly positive this beautiful picture was taken at the Carmel in NE.

Prayer to Jesus Christ Crucified

My good and dear Jesus,
I kneel before You,
asking You most earnestly
to engrave upon my heart
a deep and lively faith, hope, and charity,
with true repentance for my sins,
and a firm resolve to make amends.
As I reflect upon Your five wounds,
and dwell upon them
with deep compassion and grief,
I recall, good Jesus,
the words the Prophet David spoke
long ago concerning Yourself:
``They pierced My hands and My feet;
they have numbered all My bones.''


From the Archives:
Love's Wordless Response: Weep, Adore, Comfort
The Divine Mercy Novena Begins Today

A Simple Craft for Holy Week and Easter

A couple years ago we did an easy little activity that I found in The Fifty Days of Easter for the Christian Family.  We are doing it again this year!

A Caterpillar/Cocoon/Butterfly Project

Palm Sunday: Create a Caterpillar. There are many easy ways to do so: Egg Carton Caterpillar (like ours pictured in this post, from 2008), Construction Paper Caterpillar, Pom Pom Caterpillar, out of pipe cleaner, craft foam and Hershey Kisses, like we did for "K" Week, etc.  Display the caterpillar in a place that the children will see it throughout Holy Week.

Good Friday: Have the children place the caterpillar in a paper bag cocoon.

Holy Saturday: After the children go to bed, depose of the caterpillar and replace it with a beautifully decorated butterfly.

Easter Morning: The children will open the cocoon to find the butterfly, which is a symbol of the Resurrection! This can then lead to a discussion about Jesus who rose from the dead, and in the future butterflies will remind them of our Resurrected Lord!

"The beautiful butterfly, with the power of flight, emerging from the apparently lifeless cocoon: what could be a more perfect symbol of the Resurrection?" ~ Fisheaters

A Lenten Tea on Good Friday

Before I start posting more about our Easter, I wanted to share a couple more things from Holy Week... For a very late (and light) dinner on Good Friday (after Stations, The Veneration of the Cross, and my boys first baseball game of the season), my children were so excited to try another Liturgical Tea.

Here is what was included in the menu:

~ The King's Crown ~

The "Scoops" made by Tostitos worked out wonderfully, and were very easy.

"And Pilate asked Him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' And He answered him, 'You have said so.'" Mark 15: 2

~ Out of Envy ~

The Guacamole was so yummy on the chips!

"[H]e perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up." Mark 15: 10

~ The Purple Cloak ~

I knew there was a reason I really wanted to buy that box of Fruit Leather from Costco a couple weeks ago, but since I didn't I choose some Purplish Blueberry Applesauce from our local market.

"And they clothed Him in a purple cloak . . . ." Mark 15: 17

~ The Crown of Thorns ~

". . . and, plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him." Mark 15: 17

~ Golgotha Eggs ~

I did a horrible job drawing skulls on the eggs, and then to make them worse the ink ran! Twinkle Toes was scared of them!

"And they brought Him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull)" Mark 15: 22

~ The Seamless Garment ~

My children all loved these, and they were very simple to make using Alice's suggestions.

"But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.'" John 19: 23-24

~ The Two Robbers ~

I also forgot to purchase Basil, so we substituted with Spinach.

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on His right and one on His left." Mark 15: 27

~ Vinegar to Drink ~

"And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying 'Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take Him down.'" Mark 15: 36

~ The Roman Centurion ~

I opted to cut 50 tomatoes in half, since I only bought one pint, to represent the 100 Roman Centurion.

"And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that He thus breathed His last, he said, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.'" Mark 15: 39

~ Laid in the Tomb ~

I thought about using some of the Hot Cross Buns I had made in the morning, but instead baked a batch of muffins and inserted strawberry into the middle. They almost tasted too delicious after a day of Fasting.

"And he brought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb."

If you'd like, you can visit Cottage Blessings for the Bible readings, recipes and shopping list!

Our family really enjoyed Alice's teas this Lent, and I am sure I will be serving them again in the future.

Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 10

Hot Cross Buns

Good Friday of the Lord's Passion

Love's Wordless Response: Weep, Adore and Comfort

"My despised Jesus, nail my heart to the cross that it may always remain there to love You and never leave You again. I love You more than myself; I am sorry for ever having offended You. Never permit me to offend You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will." ~ St. Alphonsus Liguori

No Greater Love

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul I pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five wounds, pondering over them within me, having in mind the words which David Thy prophet said of Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones.

Resurrection Eggs

This year, in addition to our Lenten Calendar and Jesus Tree, I've decided to add one more activity as we countdown the days to Easter: Resurrection Eggs.

Resurrection eggs are yet another great way to tell our children the story of the passion and resurrection of Jesus, using 12 colorful eggs filled, symbolic objects, and passages from the Bible.

I am still trying to decide whether or not I want to use the eggs to countdown the 12 days leading up to Easter (beginning Wednesday), or if I just want to pull them all out on Good Friday... Decisions, decisions... =)

Anyhow, I purchased these eggs (and this book to go along with them after seeing Erin's recommendation), but, especially after looking at the ones I purchased, they could be made so easily at home!!

Sure enough, I ran across these directions online, but decided to modify them to match our eggs and the book, Benjamin's Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, which we will be reading, and possibly make a few more sets so each of my children can have their own. (If not this year, maybe next?!)

Update:  I would no longer recommend this book, due to revisions in the newest editions.  I'll post more later, but for now you can read more in the comment section of this post.

Homemade Resurrection Eggs

You will need 12 plastic eggs that can be opened and filled. The eggs can either be kept in an Egg Carton, or you could use a basket labeling each egg with a number. You can also include the corresponding Bible verse/verses in each egg, which adds to the significance of the symbolism.


Egg 1: Place a small toy donkey inside the first egg which represents the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem just before His death and resurrection. Suggested Reading: Matthew 21:1-9

Egg 2: Place three dimes to symbolize the "30 pieces of silver" that Judas received to betray Jesus. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:14-16

Egg 3: Place a small cup or goblet to symbolize the Last Supper. Another option would be to use a small piece if cracker. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:17-19

Egg 4: Place praying hands inside this egg reminding us of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. You could make these out of Sculpey clay, cut them out of foam or felt, or even print out an picture. Suggested Reading: Mark 14:32-42

Egg 5: Place a strip of leather to represent the scourging at the pillar. Suggested Reading: John 19:1-15

Egg 6: Place a thorn to symbolize the "crown of thorns" that Jesus wore. A rose bush may be a good source. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:29-31

Egg 7: Nail, to represent the nails used to crucify Our Lord. Suggested Reading: John 19:16-22

Egg 8: Place a die or a couple of dice to symbolize the "lots that were cast" for Jesus' clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:23-25

Egg 9: Place a spear (Playmobil would be perfect!) to represent the spear which the Roman soldiers used to pierce Jesus' side."lots that were cast" for Jesus' clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:31-37

Egg 10: Place a small piece of white/linen cloth to symbolize the cloth with which Joseph of Arimathea wrapped the body of Jesus after He died on the cross. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:57-61

Egg 11: Place a rock to symbolize the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:1-3

Egg 12: EASTER MORNING! This egg will be empty to symbolize the tomb that was empty, that Jesus was risen from the dead! Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:5-8

Our Holy Week and Easter

We had an absolutely wonderful weekend! Our plans had to be slightly modified in places, but isn't that always the case? I always seem to plan slightly more than I can physically accomplish! Anyhow, I thought I would share some of the highlights from the past week.

On Thursday night, we met up with some of my family for dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant.

(Left: Twinkle Toes & Chiquita -- Right: Rascal, my youngest brother & Captain)

After dinner, since the Mass of the Lord's Supper didn't begin until 7pm, we decided that it would be best for me to take our 3 youngest home and put them to bed, while hubby and our oldest boys went to church. It was a good thing too, since they didn't get home till well past 9pm! One of these years it will work out for us ALL to attend all of the Easter Triduum, but once again this was not the year.

For breakfast on Good Friday we had the traditional Hot Cross Buns, followed by our Story time reading/craft and Stations of the cross. Hubby was home, so he read to the kids while I filled Easter eggs with way too much candy. This was NOT an easy thing to do on Good Friday, let me tell you!


We then headed to Church. I really wish I would have taken a few pictures at church, but I always feel funny taking pictures inside...

As usual it was very touching. It always brings tears to my eyes when the Priest enters in silence, and then prostrates himself before the altar. I also just love seeing the children venerate the cross. Even Father couldn't help smiling when Twinkle Toes got on her little tip toes to kiss the cross herself. It was so sweet & precious.

Afterwards, when we came outside I couldn't help seeing all the beautiful blossoms, and get a bit excited that Easter was so near!

Aunt Mary & Chiquita

When we got home, the kids placed our Caterpillar into his cocoon, and finished their Lenten activities.

We all had a lovely Holy Saturday. The weather was absolutely beautiful--after much rain-- so the kids were able to play outside!

Then, my twin sisters, my youngest brother, and my cousin Juliana all came over to help us prepare for Easter! The kids were SO EXCITED! And I was very happy to have help with all the crafts so I could work on preparing clothing, baskets and food for Easter!

We started with coloring eggs. Thankfully, I had remembered to have them pre-cooked and ready to go!

After we were done coloring eggs, we got started on the candy kit. I was disappointed that I wasn't able to find any cross molds, like Dawn used... But the kit I ended up buying had a Spring theme, which worked out too. However, it was much more work than it had appeared, especially trying to make multi-colored candies. The boys quickly gave up and went outside to play with their uncle. Thankfully JoAnn didn't mind, and she stuck with it!

The girls had fun watching, or so I thought!! As I downloaded my pictures to the computer for this post--this is what I found:

They were having more fun than I was aware of... And so was my sister!

I came in to help for a little while, but quickly gave up on making colored candy, and stuck with solid colors. Now THAT was very easy!

The kids were very excited to show Grandma the eggs when she came back to pick up our helpers!

After dinner, I came back to the computer to find a comment that walked me through watching EWTN LIVE online!!! I tried it out, and sure enough the Easter Vigil Mass at the Basilica in DC was just beginning! I couldn't believe it!! Here, all along, I didn't think we could ever watch EWTN without a TV! Thank you so much Elizabeth!!! We all were amazed, and then gathered around the computer to watch the Mass! It was beautiful!

We then headed back to the kitchen to make our Resurrection cookies. I especially loved the kids reactions to smelling and tasting the vinegar! Twinkle Toes exclaimed, "Ooohhhh! Pooor Jesus!!!" after recovering from the taste.

They did however love tasting the sugar, and everything else! :p

There wasn't enough time in the day to make our Easter Candle together, so after the kids were in bed, I quickly decorated our candle. I then got busy filling Easter baskets, making and then replacing the caterpillar with a butterfly, and setting the table--till hubby finally sent me to bed!

And finally, Easter Sunday arrived!!!

The kids got dressed for Mass, and then had a quick peek at their Easter baskets as we headed out the door. Thank you again to my dear sweet cousin Juliana who once again sent the girls a couple beautiful dresses to wear!! They fit perfectly, and looked so darling!!!!

Mass was beautiful, and Father Carmello's sermon was wonderful!

On the way home hubby & I headed straight to our favorite coffee drive-thru!! My mocha with chocolate macadamia nut flavoring and whipped cream was just heavenly!

Once home, our dear friend Joan and I got busy making breakfast while the kids dove into their Easter baskets!

It took Chiquita a few minutes to wake up from the drive home, but only a few.

Snuggles LOVED his first Easter!

It rained on and off all day, so the kids had an indoor Easter Egg hunt this year, after shouting "Viva Christo Rey!!"

After a short nap for everyone! :) We headed to Rascal's godparents home for dinner. It was a full house with over 40 people--and more than half children!--but we all had a wonderful time! Kristin is quite the hostess, and the tables looked beautiful!

And here is one last picture of Snuggles with his daddy!! He was a very happy baby all day long!

A Blessed and Happy Easter to you all
for the 50 days and beyond!!