What Are Some of Your #easter #basket Ideas?

Scavenger Hunt

Every year I put together a Scavenger Hunt for Easter. We start at the coffee table, and they get a prize and a clue egg. It might say something like, "Where food is cooked you'll find 5 eggs each and the next clue egg."

They run off to look in the stove, or microwave, but there may be 5 eggs each and the clue egg in the pots and pans area instead. The next clue might say something like, "Rub a dub dub there's 14 eggs in the _____ + a clue egg."

They run off to look in the tub.

I hid eggs in the oddest spots. There's a lot of thinking that's involved. At each spot I try and keep  same colored eggs.

Mica caught me once. I bounced up, and opened and shut the front door. I said, "Mica! You just missed the Easter Bunny. He bounced off down the street! Look he left a huge mess in the kitchen!" I didn't finish my Scavenger Hunt that year. He thought it was so neat he almost caught the Easter Bunny.

When he asked all about Santa Claus I had to come clean because he just had too many questions that year. I told him about the Easter Bunny too. He believed me about Santa, but was surprised there's no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. He didn't believe in a man, but believed in a bunny and fairy! Ha!

What do/did you give to your kids for Easter? 

Usually I try and give them some kind of building thing, like a Lego set and a movie.

Shirts:

I got these shirts (mostly on sale) at Earthbound Trading Company.

2 totally different styles for Isaak:

Mica's obsessed with all things space. The boy watches YouTube videos on scientists talking about space.

This shirt was from Earthbound Trading Company:

This shirt was from Kohl's:

They are getting shorts with them too. I didn't think I'd shoot a photo of those.

Snacks:

The boys eat non stop, so I thought I'd get them some snacks. Annie's makes bunny crackers, so it's perfect for Easter time!

Books or Movies:

I know I'll probably hear something negative about this, but they are getting books instead of movies this year. Mica asked for The Iron Trial and Isaak's all about the Horizon series. He has yet to read this one.

What's Easter without candy?

I wish their favorites were the same things. They'll both eat really anything, but they each gravitate to certain things more than others.

Mica likes jelly beans the most. Isaak likes Peeps a lot. Travis and I could go for anything chocolate, or Reese's. I picked up Jordan Almonds because we all like them.

Clean Up!

One of the clues will be about cleaning. The Easter Bunny really wants them to clean! We don't need a lot of supplies. This should help them.

Since Mica LOVES Quiz Bowl at school, he should get into these Quiz Master games by Goliath.

Isaak has this horrible habit of taking the erasers off the backs of pencils. I'm putting these erasers in some of their plastic eggs.

Other Easter Ideas for Older Kids:

-Money
-Silly Putty
-Slime
-Silly String
-Yo-Yos
-Fidget Toys
-Rubiks Cube
-Wallets or Purses
-Hats

I thought about getting Isaak a felting set, but that so wouldn't be Mica's thing. Of course there's unique things, for different kids.

Do you get excited for Easter?

Disclaimer: I got the Goliath games and erasers awhile back from the companies. I reviewed them already. If you'd like to get the erasers you can get them here. If you'd like to get the Quiz Master Games get them here and here. The rest of the stuff in this post I bought. All opinions are my own.

Easter Tips

I know Easter is in the past now, but I got behind in blogging.

Advice to Newbie Parents:

1. Don't go overboard with Easter. Then your kids expect that the Easter Bunny goes overboard.
   
   There was a year I went overboard because I won a lot of things. Now my kids expect it. Quite frankly I'm ready for Isaak to not believe in the Easter Bunny. Then I can sit the boys down, and explain that they won't get the same amount of things every year.
   
   Mica doesn't believe, but he was busy picking out Lego sets he wanted. I said, "Ummm no Mica! You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!"
   
   Instead of expensive Star Wars Lego sets they got these 3 in 1 build sets that makes a robot, robot dog, and a robot bird. They were in my price range. I thought they were cool because they there's three building options, and they have areas that light up!
   
   
   
   
   
2. Be prepared to ad lib.
   
   If you're caught in the Easter Bunny act like I was when Mica was about 4, or 5 I had to think fast. He got up well past his bedtime to go to the bathroom. I got up, ran to the door, and shut the glass door, leaving the wood door open. Then I said with enthusiasm, "Mica did you just see the Easter Bunny? The Easter Bunny dropped what he was doing, and hopped out the door because you were up!" Mica 1/2 awake woke up really quickly saying, "No I didn't see him!" He thought it was hilarious that he almost caught the Easter Bunny. It was so close that there were 1/2 bags of candy, and plastic eggs all over the kitchen. When he stopped believing in Santa, he still believed in the Easter Bunny because, well he caught him in the act. ;)
   
   We do a Scavenger Hunt every year.
   
   Somehow a clue egg got missed this year. Travis looked at me like it was all my fault. He looked at me like, What are you going to do about it? I yelled out from a different room, "Did you guys see that!?" They were like, "What?" I said, "The Easter Bunny was outside pointing at our mailbox. Go check it out!" There was the next clue in the mailbox. Isaak was standing outside looking up and down the street for the Easter Bunny. Ha!


3. Put stuff in the eggs that is not candy!
   
   Little kids think that finding pennies are like finding gold, I've included small erasers and pencil erasers for school in plastic eggs, costume jewelry for girls, mesh fidget toys, fun pattern socks, small Lego people, Annie's Bunny Crackers - different flavors, fruit snacks (although they are sugary too), nuts, seeds and the list goes on... Then fill the rest up with candy. 


4. Have breakfast made ahead of time!
   
   Kids get you up super early because they are excited to find their loot. I'm tired from staying up to hide eggs. It helps to have something ready to go. It's the one time of year I make Coffee Cake, and some type of egg dish ahead of time. Then I can enjoy Easter morning without slaving away in the kitchen. Other ideas: A Slow Cooker Oatmeal Dish, Breakfast Cookies (these are our favorite), No Cook Protein Bites ( I have pinned board of them), and a Quiche (you could make it crustless if you're gluten free).


5. Don't keep things quiet!
   
   We've always kept things kind of loud when the kids sleep. I vacuumed when they were itty bitty, we watch TV, and Travis grinds metal down in the garage. With Easter it sucks trying to hide eggs if it's oh so quiet. If you're getting eggs ready to hide, do laundry at the same time. Then they can't hear anything, but the washer going. 


6. Make them think!

Like I said earlier we do a Scavenger Hunt. It's not a family tradition. I started it, and my sister liked the idea, so she followed. Ha! The Easter Bunny starts at the coffee table always. He has a clue egg, and others hidden around it. The clue egg may say something like, "8 eggs and the next clue egg are hidden where Mom puts her computer bag to go to work." That was the trunk of the car. Another was, "12 eggs and the next clue egg are hidden where dishes are kept." They looked in the dishwasher at first, then the cupboard where they are kept. The hiding spots are getting harder as they get older. If they are really young - don't hide them at all, and help them with the clues. I did, "Rub a dub dub. 10 eggs are hidden in the ______." Then I just set eggs in the tub area. 

Do you have any tips for the Easter Bunny?

WW: Hummel Park Birthday Party {Linky}

Isaak had his friend birthday party this weekend at Hummel Park. It was super fun! The only downside is that I wasn't specific enough in letting people know it was at the Nature Center. We had some people get lost. We even put a sign up, but they somehow missed it's bright red lettering.

Isaak got to pick 3 things to do. He picked:

• A Scavenger Hunt
• Making S'mores 
• Archery

If that wasn't enough sugar we went back to sing Happy Birthday, and ate brownies.

It's fun watching kids shoot an arrow. They have their game face on. They get really serious, but most of the time miss altogether. A few kids couldn't stop smiling even though they missed every time. Isaak, Mica, my nephews Evan and Elijah have been to Hummel Day Camp different years. This wasn't their first time shooting. They mostly hit the target.

Isaak's game face:

Mica's game face:

My nephew Elijah is super competitive, so he really gets into shooting.

 My nephew Evan really wanted to get a bullseye, but it didn't happen.

At the end we waited, and waited for parents to come pick up their kids. Since we were just waiting and waiting, we decided to go pay the park birds a visit. This is really exciting for kids that live in the city. The boys gave all the turkey's a school title.

Meet Mr. Principle

Check out his feet. He looked the smartest with all his colors. He kept hiding in his office.

Meet Mr. Bus Driver

I guess they titled him bus driver because he was always on the move. Bus drivers are often males.

Meet Mrs. Cafeteria Cook

She just looked like a cook the boys said.

Meet one of the Students

There was a lot of them.

The boys enjoyed passing the time this way. 

If I had this party over again I'd be more specific about where it was at in the park. I just assumed people would go to the Nature Center because it's the main office at the park. Assuming isn't the best thing to do. I'd make the party for a 1/2 hour earlier than the party actually started. That's about how long we waited for different people to get there. I'd tack on an hour of us just hiking with the kids on our own. I know they would have enjoyed that. 

What's the most interesting party you've attended, or given?

 

Happy Belated Easter

I sincerely hope everyone had a great Easter. It was a good one at our house.

The Easter Bunny at our house makes a Scavenger Hunt every year. The starting point is always the coffee table. That's where they get their first clue.

Scavenger Hunt - The Clue Eggs are Glittery to Stand Out

1. Welcome to your 2016 Scavenger Hunt. There are 7 eggs each for you to find in, around, and underneath this coffee table. Find the clue egg to take you to to next hiding spot. I hope you have just as much fun finding the eggs, as I did hiding them. - The Easter Bunny 
2. Old Mother Hubbard hid 20 eggs in the _________ . Find 10 eggs each + the next clue egg. (cupboard) 
3. There are 7 eggs where Isaak puts dirty and clean clothes. There are 7 eggs + the next clue egg where Mica hardly ever puts dirty clothes. (hampers - all their dirty clothes were out of there)
4. Find 20 eggs - 10 eggs each low to the ground + the next clue egg. (floor)
5. 5 eggs + the next clue egg are hidden in what takes you to school in the mornings. Look in the front to find a special prize. (car)
6. This is your final clue egg. There are 10 eggs - 5 eggs each hidden in the spot where you get clean. Look for a fun prize. Happy Easter! (bathroom)

So I don't really have 1 pretty basket in 1 spot to photograph. It's more running around to find this and that all over the place. Eggs are hidden outdoors if it's not too cold, snowy, or rainy. None were hidden out there this year. It was wet. In most of the clue eggs there are dollar coins for the boys to split.

Mica said after the hunt, "Mom the tradition is for us to watch one of our new movies in the morning." I'm like, "Ok, so I can have time to work in the kitchen to get ready for the big family get together?!" He said, "Yep." Ha! I think they won that one. They watched their new movie Spaceballs, while I made food.

Source

They laughed and laughed. Travis kept sneaking off to see parts of the movie. He's never seen it.

I was only part successful in my food making. 

I was successful in making my Sweet Potato Puffs:

Sweet Potato Puffs

I was unsuccessful in making White Potato Puffs.

They didn't hold up at all. When baked they turned into pancakes. I didn't add eggs to them. Travis made me skip that. I wonder if that's why they didn't hold up. They still were GOOD tasting. They had powdered ranch dressing in them, and were topped with real bacon bits and chive onions from our garden. They ended up being served like Mashed Potatoes.

Off we went to my Aunt's house to have a big meal, and another egg hunt. This was Mica's last year for the hunt. Next year he gets to hide the eggs and prizes for the little kids.

Right now my youngest cousin, and oldest niece and nephew hide them.

A Few of the Egg Hiders

The big kids were let out after the little ones. Mica kept saying, "This is no fair the little kids are being looters. They took almost everything I saw before." Basically they cleared everything out, and he had to work to find his eggs and prizes. As it should be. It made me chuckle.

Mica and Isaak are Circled

Isaak Found the Golden Egg

It had the most money in it - $20

I got pictures of my kids, but nearly all of them were horrible. Isaak kept avoiding the camera. It was somewhat windy, so Mica's hair was in his face. The boys kept moving, and shoveling candy in their mouthes. 

It was a happy Easter though. What did you do for Easter?

Travis did bitch complain about the lack of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Eggs, so I went to the store to buy some on clearance. 

Colorado Springs

One thing we struggle with as a family is where to eat when we travel. There's only so much a family can store in little hotel refrigerators.

I have to say that this is the best trip we've had for eating out. It wasn't until the end of our trip I started to risk eating less healthy. I sure did pay for it.

In Colorado Springs I saw that they had a place in their main shopping strip called Heart of Jerusalem Cafe. I'm all for trying different types of food, so we went there.

I got a salad and coffee. OMG they both were good.

I wish they had a website I could link up to, but they don't have one.

After that we decided to go to a castle: Miramont Castle Museum.

I do have to say that Daddy and I were envisioning the castle to be different than it was. We thought it was going to be just an old castle to walk through. It was more just a castle shell, with a museum inside it.

It was one of Mica's favorite spots. He enjoyed it so much because they had a scavenger hunt for him to fill out. Let me tell you he wouldn't let us move on unless the prior question was answered. In fact one question got overlooked, and he had to got back down a floor to find the answer. Then it took us awhile to find something that was behind an open door. He was really into it.

So if you have a shop, gallery, or museum a scavenger hunt for kids to fill out may solve some problems for active children.

Here are some of the things they had in the museum:

In the end of the scavenger hunt a gentleman looked over Mica's answers to see if he had them all right or not. Then Mica and Isaak got to pick out 2 pieces of vintage candy. They were so excited.

Scappenger Hunt

Yesterday when I was making dinner Isaak wanted me to go on what he called a "Scappenger Hunt". Otherwise known as a Scavenger Hunt.

He said, "Mom I'm going to hide my toys like a scappenger hunt. Then you can find them!" He was all excited.

How dare I say, "No." I just said, "I will find your stuff in 5 minutes. You go hide your toys now."

It was stuff like this:

Taken from this blog post.

I finished my dinner duties and was off to find random toys. They were all in one spot; behind his bedroom door in a box. :)

Scavenger Hunt

Today I picked up cousin's Evan and Elijah to participate in a scavenger hunt at our house.

They had to follow clues to find their snack. I bought a special snack that they never get, raspberry and blackberry candy.

Each kid got a few turns to figure out clues. Flying Dr. Evil Porkchop from Toy Story 3 was on top of Mica and Isaak's slide, one of Daddy's belts was wrapped around the tree in our front yard, silly hats were on the steps, there was a glass jar inside the grill and the list went on. Each item had a clue in it or under it to lead them to the next item.

I think they all really enjoyed it. I thought it would only take them 15 min, but it took them an hour. Mica likes to run ahead of the pack. Evan kept saying, "Mica it's not your turn to be ahead of everyone!" The one that had the hardest time with the clues was Isaak. He's just not there yet, developmentally to figure riddles out.