Colorful Eggs and Kids

We colored eggs tonight.

In addition to the eggs, we colored kids, the tablecloth, and the back porch too.  We are over-achievers like that!

With the kids being older now, I expected some very serious egg dying to happen.  They have more endurance for such things now.  I was prepared.  I purchased 3 egg dye kits, and 72 eggs. 

It was excited to use my new, red stock pot that I received as a Christmas gift from The Referee and the kids.  I had every intention of making pots of stew, chili, and homemade soup throughout the winter, but that just did not happen.  Boiling 72 eggs at the same time, in my big, red pot was awesome though.

I set up the egg coloring event on the back porch this evening.  The kids colored eggs until it was too dark to see them.  We had a blast.  I had enough eggs and enough dye that everyone got their fill.  I just love all the colorful pictures that come out of egg coloring.  

 

The funniest part was when the oldest child (Jersey #1) was the first to spill a cup of dye on the table.  Her little sister (Jersey #4) could not wait to tattle on her.

The saddest part was when Jersey #2 wrote on an egg with the wax crayon and read to me what it said.  The kids were writing their names on eggs.  A couple kids wrote "Mom Rocks" or something nice about me.  

Jersey #2 very carefully wrote "Dad come back" on an egg.

It is heartbreaking to realize the pains the children are suffering, now that they are growing up in a broken home.  I only knew about such heartaches from stories The Referee told about his own childhood.  I never wanted that for my children.  I wish there was a way I could protect them from experiencing such heartbreak.  I wish I could shield them from this wrong way of life.

Every family activity and tradition is affected, and will be tainted with brokenness for the rest of their lives.  It is so sad.  

I received an incredible blessing from my two oldest daughters.  While I was bathing the younger 3 kids, Jersey #1 and Jersey #2 took the initiative to clean up the egg dye mess themselves.  I did not ask them to clean up, and had every intention of doing it myself after the kids were bathed.  What an act of service!  I was so proud of them, and so blessed by them.  What great kids!