Easter 2011

(don't miss the prev post where I talk about general kid development)

We decided to have the kids do their Easter hunts Saturday morning instead of Sunday so we're not rushed for church, etc. Thursday night is our night out so after dinner Greg and I shopped for Eric's first Easter Basket. We got a plastic bucket that we can reuse for toys, paper grass (to be reused next year), a dark chocolate bunny (hollow), a set of machine toys (he's getting into Bob the Builder), and various candies to round out the basket (several kinds of chocolate eggs, chocolate coins, jelly beans). Friday night we dyed the last couple dozen eggs and the kids will get to put stickers on them on Saturday before they're repurposed for egg salad sandwiches and deviled eggs.

Friday night Greg and I hid small eggs for Kyle in obvious places (with goldfish, chocolate goldfish, M&Ms, raisins, and cheerios in them), hid 6 larger eggs for Eric in less obvious places, and his his easter basket. We created picture clues for him to follow by taking pictures of places in the house and circling the hiding place (since he's only 3.5). The first clue went into one of the eggs (the first one he found, actually).

Eric was excited enough going to bed Friday night that I wasn't sure he would sleep even until 6, but he slept until at least 6:30. Kyle, however, woke at 6:15 crying because his teeth hurt. We were able to settle him, get dressed, and make coffee before Eric woke up and the hunt was on.

Eric started with the picture hunt (he "got it" after about 3 pictures -- we hid 7) and once he'd opened his basket we started Kyle on his hunt. This consisted of us mostly pointing out eggs to him and then opening them for him. It took him awhile to get through all of them but he really enjoyed the M&Ms. Eric required clues to help him find his big eggs, but I think he liked finding them.

The majority of the candy went into a jar for periodic consumption, but he's been playing almost nonstop with his machines and valiantly defending them from Kyle, who is also very interested in the new bright yellow toys.

Pics will be uploaded in order (last at the top) and narrated. This might take me much of the day.