Showing posts with label Easter eggs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter eggs. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

How to Terrify A Child

How to terrify a 2 year old in one easy step: Approach a large white bunny. 

Pay no attention to the friendly smile and spring-themed vest. 

Abject terror! Cling to Mommy with all your might.
The Easter Bunny is tolerable when positioned on Mommy's hip away from said creature. The 5-year-old sister gets a little more brave ... just a little.
Watch very carefully to make sure the Easter Bunny does not abscond with your sister or your Mommy.

After we left the area, Brooke was much more brave. (Talk is cheap, little girl!)

Talk about the Easter Bunny non-stop until the next activity:
Kinley: "Do you think it's the real Easter bunny when it's wearing shoes?"
Brooke: "Easter Bunny no talk to me!"
Me:  "Did you like the Easter Bunny?"
Brooke: "Yes!"
Me: "Really??!!!"

I happened to find a photo of Jill with the Easter bunny from 1991. She would have been between her 5th and 6th birthdays, just like Kinley today. 
Jill - 1991 (about Kinley's current age!)
The photo was in a promotional book from Crayola that we must have gotten when the Easter Bunny visited Elroy's in Stafford. Do you think Kinley looks just a tad like Jill?
Brent would have been a little older than Brooke in this photo from 1991.  (I'm sure he'll be thrilled I found it ... and shared it!)

The little kids who turned out to be Uncle Brent and Mommy seem  more comfortable with the big old bunny than Kinley and Brooke. But who really needs the Easter bunny to bring eggs when you can make them yourself? We don't need a big old rabbit to get ready for Easter. We just need Mommy and Grandma! 
These plastic egg wrappers were some of my favorite egg-decorating accessories back when Jill & Brent were little. We always decorated eggs and added them to our Easter egg tree. The egg wrappers are snuggled around eggs, dipped in boiling water and are instantly beautiful. 
They worked back in the "olden days," too! Here are Jill & Brent with our Easter tree.
However easy the plastic wrappers are, it's just not Easter without the smell of vinegar in the colored water and dye on little kids' clothing!
"I do it!" was a common refrain.
When Jill & Brent were little, we blew out of the innards of the eggs so they could be saved each year. Jill did that, too, though she's not a saver and the eggs will likely not last past the holiday.
Brooke's reactions of joy are just as big as her reactions of terror!
A spring day is also good for a trip to the playground.
You have to work on your muscle strength to get ready for those grueling egg hunts coming up later in the week!
It seems climbing playground equipment is not nearly as terrifying as meeting the Easter bunny ...
... even when your sister is rocking the "boat."
We were glad to get in on some pre-Easter fun!

Friday, March 25, 2016

Easter Then and Now

"In my Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it.
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade."

Easter 1963: We either didn't have new bonnets or we didn't wear them in the after-church shot at my Grandma/pa Neelly's house.

But it does show our Easter finery. My mom made our Easter dresses every year. Usually, she used the same pattern for my two sisters and me, and we each got a different color of the same fabric.
Brother Kent didn't get a matching tie for his first Easter back in 1967. We usually didn't wear hats except at Easter. I certainly can recall the choking grip of the elasticized band around my chubby neck. We may have begged to leave them off for the photo.

However, my memories didn't keep me from making my daughter wear an Easter bonnet (at least until she was old enough to protest!)
(Easter 1988)

The tradition for frilly dresses, white patent leather shoes and ruffled socks continued. I've always loved this photo. Brother and sister love and cleaned up kids ... what's not to like?

When our kids were little, we started an Easter egg tree tradition. We blew out eggs and decorated them. I've been storing them in egg cartons ever since, and each year, I enjoy remembering the fun we had decorating eggs. I got some of them out this year, though I didn't decorate the Easter egg tree, since we won't have guests for Easter.
 
When we stopped by Topeka last weekend, I got to watch as Kinley decorated her own blown-out Easter eggs. Strategically, the Easter egg dyeing was planned during Brooke's naptime. Brooke and fragile Easter eggs don't mix. Brooke and food dye don't mix. Maybe next year!
Kinley was fascinated, watching the food dye dissolve in the water.
Coloring eggs is serious business.
Even though Brooke was not invited to the egg decorating party, she did get to meet the bunnies and chicks at Orscheln's. 
Brooke will be glad to inform anyone that bunnies go "Hop, hop, hop!" She also does a good baby chick imitation. 
I hope the Easter bunny hops to your house this weekend! Happy Easter!

***
I debated about posting this lighthearted Easter message today on Good Friday, the most solemn day of the Christian year. However, even on this day of betrayal and sacrifice, we look forward to the Good News. For a more introspective look at Good Friday, check out these previous blog posts: