We dyed Easter eggs with the cousins this morning and plan to do an outdoor Easter egg hunt this afternoon. Excitement is running high!

What are your family’s Easter traditions?

I have so much to be thankful for. It’s nice to have a holiday to remind me of just how many blessings I have in my life. Among them, my kids, who are mostly healthy; my family and friends; food and home; and the little things like good coffee, riveting books, rich wine and a beautiful sunset.

What are you most thankful for?

Last night, my kids brought me pizza and a bouquet of beautiful flowers (roses and “sunflowers,” which are really some other kind of flower, but they know I love both) in one of my favorite color combinations — sunny yellow, sunrise pink, pale peach and snowy white. Today they surprised me with homemade cards (though Rachel purchased one for me over a week ago), a dock for my iPod (awesome!!), some flavored coffee and tons of hugs and kisses.

I got a nap in after church, which was heavenly; lounged around and watched “Jon & Kate, Plus Eight,” which I had never seen; and read more of the book I’m currently into, “Mistress of the Art of Death,” while I was served refreshments. Of course, I cleaned, did some dishes, laundry and cooked the pizzas in between all this, but still, being able to relax so much is a luxury, as all you busy moms know.

It was a really nice day. I feel very spoiled.

And very sorry that the day is now over. =P

How was your Mother’s Day?

Yes, the whole concept behind Valentine’s Day is enough to make me want to rebel. Why should someone else designate a day when we’re supposed to tell the people in our lives we love them? Shouldn’t we be doing that every day? Well, yes, but the fact is, we don’t. Celebrating Valentine’s Day reminds us of the reasons we love and gives us the perfect excuse to show it when we perhaps otherwise wouldn’t.

Two of my favorite Valentine’s memories come from my dad. When I was about eight or nine, he gave me a necklace for Valentine’s Day. I was awed and overwhelmed. It made me feel so loved. The Valentine’s Day that fell during my junior year of high school was packed with gifts, cards and flowers from a variety of guys I knew. Despite that though, the only gift I really remember getting that year was a single red rose from my dad. That stood out the most, by far.

My mom, not a lovey-dovey, touchy-feely person whatsoever, would go to extra lengths on Valentine’s Day. One year she baked sugar cookies and painstakingly decorated them in intricate patterns and colors with our names on them. Though she isn’t one to say “I love you” out loud, those cookies had the message emblazoned all over them.

So I say, celebrate Valentine’s Day, and celebrate it with fervor. Let all the stops out. It’s never a bad thing to tell someone how much he or she means to you.

How will you show your kids today that you love them?