Happy Easter!

What a big day we had today. The Easter Bunny showed up really early this morning, as in before 8:00, and Dennis was delighted with the goodies in his basket: blue Peeps, green M&Ms, a tube of Fisher Price Little People Easter characters (Michael and a rabbit), a chocolate bunny ("hot chockey rabbit"), and eggs containing Cheetos and goldfish crackers all nestled in a bed of edible banana-flavored yellow Easter grass (yuck).

After the basket-opening party in Dennis' room, we got dressed and ready and went to church. He led us straight to the nursery and went right in and commenced playing without a second glance at us. They tell us he was very good and he was returned to us wearing a purple star sticker that said "Way to Go!". I think he actually learned something in nursery this morning. This afternoon in the car he was singing "Yes, Jesus", but that's all he said. After a few refrains of this, I decided he must have learned the song 'Jesus Loves Me' this morning. So I sang it for him and he joined in. Very cute.

We did a small egg hunt here at the house after lunch (David cooked a wonderful Easter lunch for us) and then went to the hospital to see Uncle Denny, who is finally in a room that allows visitors of the very young variety. Dennis climbed all over the hospital room, happy to see his uncle again, and even more delighted to discover that the Easter bunny had also left him a prize here (Reese's eggs and a bunny car). After our hospital visit, we went to see the Dennis relatives in Birmingham and Dennis learned to say "Jake" and "Nate" after giving each of them a dozen hugs. He also learned "Alan" and gave him several high fives. Rodney and Bradley competed in teaching Dennis their names, and since they are identical twins, it was funny to watch him looking over at Rodney while Bradley was trying to convince him to say his name (we had just left Rodney after he did the same). Dennis looked back and forth at the two of them and just stared, and then shook his head. By this time he was too tired to comprehend it!

Back to Clanton and another egg hunt in Gran's garden, then off to Pizza Hut with them for supper. He's been asking for pizza for almost 3 weeks, so I'm glad he got to finally have some. It was delicious and that was one tired little boy we brought home and tucked into bed! What a wonderful day we had, seeing so much family, and what a wonderful reason to celebrate. He is risen! He is risen, indeed!!