3 posts tagged “easter”

I managed to pull it off once again.  Baskets brimming with goodies and toys from the Easter Bunny (and smaller baskets from Daddy and me), plastic eggs filled with necklaces or sweets and scavenger hunt clues hidden around the house, pastel dresses all ready for dinner at Grandma's house... all without breaking a sweat!  Well... almost.  It nearly fell apart as I was sneaking a basket into Brianna's room while she was sleeping. 

You see, when I was growing up we always woke up to find our Easter baskets at the foot of our beds.  It always seemed extra magical to think that the Easter Bunny could just pop in and out of our rooms without waking us up.  I wanted my girls to enjoy the same feeling.  I've pulled it off before with small gifts from Santa, Brianna's birthday bike, and last year's Easter basket, but it's getting harder.

This time, Brianna woke up and looked right at the basket, but I held my hand near her face (pretending to just guide her head back to the pillow), and told her to go back to sleep.  I thought I was in for it.  She asked me when the Easter Bunny was coming and I said I didn't know, but she had to go back to sleep or he wouldn't come for sure.  She said OK, but I was convinced she would figure it out.  I left the room but hovered by the door to see if she sat up in bed or not.  Thankfully, she fell asleep and I was in the clear. 

** Mental note: No more plastic wrap on the Easter Bunny's basket -- too noisy! 

Unfortunately, Mike and I got a rude awakening at 6:30 when she came into our room to tell us that the Easter Bunny had come, and could she open her basket, and when can she hunt for eggs, and when will her sisters get up.....  Crap. 

After many attempts to get her to go back to sleep, we had to agree to get up around 7:30.  The twins were starting to stir anyway.

The twins were given packages with a small stool, a doll, and some sweets from the Easter Bunny.  I have to admit, I liked the dolls but I really liked the stools... they make great Time-Out stools (Ainsley tested hers out right away!).  In her basket from Mike and me, Brianna was given some pretty earrings since she had been asking when she could take her first ones out and wear new ones.  She refuses to try them on.  Nothing we say can convince her that it will not hurt to change her earrings. 

 

We tried to re-create last year's adorable shot of Kaitlyn, Brianna and Ainsley.  The twins were having none of it.  Serious diva moment.  We should have known better than to think that the twins would have just posed nicely for the camera. 

Brianna, on the other hand, smiled beautifully for us!  How did I luck out with such a gorgeous daughter??  You can still see the evidence of her collision with the corner of the wall a couple of weeks ago.

The girls were pleased to see that Great-Grandpa Leo had a surprise for them.... but the twins were not so into sharing. 

Brianna has enjoyed playing Grandma's piano since she was the twins' age... now Ainsley and Kaitlyn have discovered the fun that can be had!  The solo has become a trio! 

This photo was taken at my Mom's on Easter Sunday.  The twins are so facinated by Brianna.  She plays with them all the time -- it is so good to see a loving relationship grow between them, and it shows in this picture!  No matter how hard we tried, we just could not get the twins to look away from Brianna for this picture. 

(Kaitlyn on left, Ainsley on right) 

I planned a fun Easter morning for Brianna this year.  When I was a kid, "The Easter Bunny" left my basket of goodies on the end of my bed, so it was there when I woke up.  Thinking back, I liked the idea that the Bunny had a different method of delivery from Santa, so I thought I would use the same one with Brianna.  We talked about how the Bunny gets into the house, how he also knows if kids are bad or good, and what he leaves as gifts for good kids.  I decided to do more than just the same old egg hunt (last year I had to pretty much tell her where they all were), so I set up a scavenger hunt with clues to follow.  This tradition will also prevent 3 girls fighting in the future over who found more eggs and who got none. 

It started with her waking up and finding a backpack and treats from the Bunny and a basket on her bed.  The basket had one egg in it full of Skittles or M&M's (bought ready made from Wal-Mart... Oh, how I love Wal-Mart), and a message from the Bunny.   Brianna had to figure out which room had the next egg by the clue left for her on the message, and it also gave her a hint as to where the egg and next clue were hidden.  Super easy for an older kid, but, for a 3 1/2 year old, it was a good challenge.

 The clues took her all over the house (there were 7 eggs in all) and this photo shows Brianna listening to a clue found in the playroom downstairs.

  The final -- and largest -- egg found at the end.  The final clue gave a hint as to where the Grand Prize (a chocolate bunny) would be found...

    .... On her BED?!?  But how did it get here?  It wasn't here before!  The Bunny MUST be magic!  Seeing the surprise on her face made the simple game, and a little effort, worth it!  I will definitely do this again.

Happy Easter all!