New Outfits From Granny

It is fun to get new clothes.  Granny & PawPaw bought these outfits and sandals for the kids, in their Easter baskets.  This is what the kid wore to church Easter morning.  I had to capture  photo quickly, while the clothes were still clean and new-looking, because that doesn't last long around here...

On the Hunt

The kids enjoyed a couple different egg hunts this year.

The first was at a park, with our homeschool co-op.  The ladies who organized that event did and awesome job hiding a zillion eggs all over the park.  Each kid was told to collect 20 eggs (to make sure everyone got some).  Our kids had a blast. 

Jersey #5 did not reach 20 eggs before he decided to stop and check out what was inside those eggs.  He was too curious about the contents of the eggs, to care about reaching the maximum limit.

Jersey #3 made me proud.  He found 3 boys from his previous co-op classes, and they decided to hunt together.  As soon as the announcement was made that they could begin, the four boys ran off toward the eggs.  Jersey #3 found the first egg, picked it up, and immediately handed it over to his friend.  That friend's Mom happened to be watching.  She approached me to tell me what my son had done, and how impressed she was with him.  She says usually the kids are thinking about collecting the eggs for themselves.  She was amazed that Jersey #3 gave up his first egg for his friend.  He has such a kind heart.  What a kid!

We also enjoyed an egg hunt in our own backyard on Sunday afternoon.  I used the eggs that the kids' gathered at the co-op egg hunt, and filled them with jelly beans.  Our puppies were so curious about the new "toys" in the backyard, that they started to hunt them even before the kids could get outside.  The puppies would steal and egg, eat the candy out of it, and then replace the egg in a new location.  They were easy to spot because the egg was open.  Silly puppies.  It added a new element of competition to the egg hunt to have to race against the puppies as well as the siblings.

We add an element of education to our "prize egg."  

All of the eggs are filled with candy, except 1.  The prize egg is the empty egg.  Inside the empty egg is written, "Empty.  He is risen!"  As Christians, that is the whole point of our Easter celebration:  the tomb is empty!  God is SO powerful, HE conquered death.  This is the exact thing I want my children to learn and realize.  Incorporating an empty egg into our egg hunt, helps even the youngest of children understand the concept of empty.  They will build on this to an understanding of why it is so important that Jesus did not stay dead.  He rose from the dead, and we have an opportunity to spend forever in heaven with Him!    

Jersey #3 found the empty egg this year.  He was so excited!

Baskets

It is possible that we have gone a little over-board with baskets this Easter season.

Baskets, baskets everywhere!

Cellophane wrapped baskets just catch the eye.  They are just so bright and colorful.


Granny & PawPaw made baskets for the kids this year...

This is exactly how awesome Easter baskets were for me when I was a kid.  My Mom loved the idea of the cellophane wrapped baskets in the store, but she was certain she could fix up her own with much more goodies, for the same price.  Each year, she built us big, beautiful baskets.  My Mom is a practical gal, so our baskets included practical gifts like clothes, shoes, and even socks and underwear.  I loved this tradition from my childhood, and set out to repeat it for my own children.

Usually, my Mom fixes up gifts for the kids at Easter time, but does not make baskets for them.  She did not want to take away that fun of making baskets, from my sisters and me.  This year, she ended up making cellophane baskets, due to the very large stuffed bunnies.  PawPaw found those bunnies on clearance after Easter last year, and picked them up for his grandbabies. 

My parents also got each kid a new outfit and summer sandals.  Little do my parents know, but it was a HUGE blessing and a relief to me that they fixed up these big baskets for the kids.  I was not sure what I was going to be able to do for the kids, due to the change in our family dynamic, and finances this year.  I was planning to use her baskets as the kids' main baskets, and just add a few little things from me.  My Mom has had these baskets ready for over a month, and had no idea they would fill such a need.  

Our AWANA club runs a fruit basket fundraiser in the Spring.  We bought some of those baskets and gave them out to some of the folks who have really gone out of their way to help our family in these recent times of crisis.  It was so much fun to help assemble and to deliver those fruit baskets.  It gave me another idea...

Jersey #1, Jersey #2, and I assembled mini fruit baskets to give to some of the elderly, widowed folks in our church congregation.  Since they live alone, that big basket of fruit from the AWANA fundraiser would just be too much for one person.  We re-purposed the baskets I bought to hold candy for Titus' funeral reception, and filled them with fruit, a couple dyed eggs, and a few pieces of candy.

Then, we wrapped them in cellophane paper and tied a ribbon around them.  They turned out real nice.

I am mighty pleased with the baskets I was able to make for the kids this year...

They are super practical.  The kids keep growing.  Jersey #2 is growing so well and so fast, that she is starting to bust right out of her clothes.  She has been able to wear quite a few hand-me-downs from her sister, and friends, but she was starting to need a few items of clothing, particularly pajamas.  Jersey #1 had outgrown her swimsuit and jean shorts.  Jersey #5 outgrew his shoes.  Originally, I made a plan to buy one of these needed items each payday.  Then, I had the brilliant idea to put these items in Easter baskets.  

One day while driving in the car, I started up a conversation with the kids about who needed what.  I went through a list of items that would be desired for the upcoming summer months.  Who has a swimsuit that fits?  Who has bike helmets that fit properly?  Who has working scooters?  (I knew all the kids had working bicycles, because those were their Christmas presents from Granny & PawPaw).  Who has outgrown their tennis shoes?  (I also knew that Granny had gotten each kid a new pair of sandals in her baskets, so that was covered).  I also asked what other items they kids thought they needed.  I was informed of the need for pajamas, jean shorts, and hair ties.  

I used this list of lacking items to help me pick and choose gifts for the kids for their Easter baskets.  I set a budget, and kept my eye out for sales.  I am very pleased with myself for the things I was able to get the kids.  They will be thrilled to have such beautiful baskets this year, and our summer will go so much smoother as everyone will have the clothes and supplies for the activities we have planned (which is basically lots of time at the parks and swimming pools).  

I did add some chocolate to the baskets.  A chocolate bunny, Peeps, and the Reese's chocolate peanut butter eggs (our family's favorite Easter candy).  

I have been spacing out the Easter fun all week and weekend.  I let the kids open their baskets from Granny & PawPaw this evening.  I am saving the baskets I made them for tomorrow.  I think I am as excited as they will be!  I just love practical gifts, especially when I stick to my budget and find great sales.

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!