Easter 2011

I am so ready for our kids to be old enough to really start traditions this year! Most of the traditions we have are things I grew up doing with my parents that I have really wanted to carry on.

One thing is an Easter egg tree! I know a lot of people do this but seriously, if I ever drove past my mom's house and didn't see an Easter egg tree in the month of April, I would be so disappointed! Seeing an Easter egg tree brings back such awesome memories of egg hunts with the Taylors (our favorite neighbors ever) and Easter baskets and sunrise services and Easter dramas and the list goes on and on!

I know our kids are only two years old and six months old, but Brianna can definitely understand plenty of things. I try to do something special almost every day since we're just at home. So a couple of Mondays ago, our "special" thing was to make our own Easter egg tree!


Never mind the fact that it's on an ugly ole' Crepe Myrtle that looks deathly ill (I think that is how it's supposed to look though). It was fun and it's cheerful and I love seeing it every time I pull into the driveway!! I bought those plastic eggs probably four years ago when everything was 75% off after Easter. So start buying up that kind of stuff now, people with little babies!

Then, yesterday, we spent part of the afternoon dying Easter eggs! Now, like I said, Bri is only two years old. She doesn't exactly get the whole concept of putting hard-boiled eggs into cups of dye, waiting for them to set, putting stickers on, coloring them, waiting for them to dry, etc etc. Can you imagine even trying to get her to sit still for all of that? Uh, no. That's why this year we did - Tie Dye Eggs!! (Just typing that made me realize - this is #18 on my 101 in 1001 list! Wahoo!)

I do realize it's now only about seven hours until Easter, but for all you procrastinators, here is the fastest way ever to dye Easter eggs!! Perfect for two-year olds and people with ADD. Kidding.

Step 1: Boil as many eggs as you want to dye. I always do more than I think we'll need because inevitably a couple will break during the boiling process.

Step 2: Place several of the eggs in a colander in the kitchen sink. Splash them with white vinegar. I used about 1/4 cup of vinegar for every five eggs.

Step 3: Drip yellow food coloring on the eggs. Gently agitate the colander for a few seconds to help the color spread. Let the color set on the eggs for 30 seconds.

Step 4: Repeat step 3 with up to two shades (any more and the colors will get muddy), allowing each color to set for 30 seconds.

Step 5: After the last color has set, give the eggs a light rinse with water and let them drain for a minute or two. Air-dry them on paper towels.

The more you rinse them, the lighter the shades will become. So pretty!

I'm so glad to be able to start this so early with my kids (rather, "kid" since Hunter was completely oblivious...) and I can't wait until next year. Next year we will have a three year old and 18-month old so I bet they'll both want to be involved! That should be fun... interesting... crazy... hectic... SO WORTH IT!!