Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday Mass is awesome. However, I found that Joshua seemed to miss what was happening and how truly awesome it was. So the following Monday I set about trying to bring it to his level. He loves painting and getting messy so I put the two together!a) I had him pick his favorite color of construction paper and two colors of washable paint.
b) Then I had him cut strips of yarn about 1 inch long. I say about because he is four so I even took the 2 inch long ones.
c)Then starts the part he really loved! I had him open his hand and used a paint brush to paint the inside of his hand. This uses less paint and it tickles so gets them giggling and who doesn't love that sound!
d) Then I had him put that painted hand on paper.
e) Then I had him make a fist and painted the side of his hand with his other favorite color and had him place it on top of the hand. I explained during this procedure how the hand was going to be the donkey Jesus rode into town triumphantly and the side of his hand represented Jesus.
f) Then I had him cut the palm branches that we got at church into about 3 inch pieces. I gave him flannel to cut up as well. All the while I am telling him the story of Palm Sunday. We cut and glued together and viola!
After this craft he could tell me the entire story! He understood that Jesus was treated like a superhero when he rode into Jerusalem just a week before Good Friday! It was awesome!
Easter Season
Easter Day I love having sweets. Since during Lent we all drastically reduce our sugar intake what better way to celebrate the sweetness of life with the Resurrected Christ then by tasting sweet foods!
So I turned my Grandmother's monkey bread recipe(that I only allow myself to make once a year due to the dastardly effects it has on one's waistline) into a Crown of Thorns!
The easiest way to make this is buy about 6 tins of biscuits. Roll them in melted butter, then cinnamon and sugar(the kids love this part!) Then drop them into a bundt pan. Cook for the biscuits recommended cooking time and temperature. Check for doneness with a single toothpick. While it cools have it turned upside down on a cooling rack. When it is out of the pan, put on a plate and then put a toothpick in each ball around the outside. And you have a Crown of Thorns that has a taste that reminds you the story does not end there!
Secondly, I made a funfetti Easter cake. They sell these mixes and colored icings and sparkles at Aldi's(And any other grocery story, we just shop at Aldi's). Joshua loves all the colors and they remind us of the beautiful joy of Christ, so much variety in life of beautiful people, situations and Jesus' love. Bright colors remind me of that and I try to use them to remind my kiddos.
Then there is the beautiful Easter meal but others in my family had the expertise to cover that area. And it was a gorgeous meal.
Resurrection Stations and Stations of the Cross Cards These are perfect for little hands to hold while doing the stations and if you print them off on card stock will last the season.
Resurrection rolls are a great way to make a picture for the kids of Jesus' Resurrection. Joshua also loves the mess that they make which is very limited but brings him such great joy! While we are doing the stations we can smell them baking and it is just another reminder of the sweetness of life buried in Jesus to come to life in Him.
Happy Easter Season!
