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Always ‘eggcited’ for Easter, our family has our favorite traditions during the spring holiday that usually involves Easter Sunday Mass, an Easter brunch, followed by an Easter egg hunt. Last year, a lot of businesses were shut down and Easter events were cancelled due to covid. We had easter brunch at home and had an easter egg hunt in the backyard. Last year Jonah’s amazing 4th grade teacher surprised her students with easter goodies dropped off outside their homes. This year is also a little different for our family as we are staying in a vacation rental while our new home is being built, so much of how we are living feels temporary. Although we are not in our own home, I think we can still make the holiday just as special with easter baskets I put together for the kids every year, cooking a hearty brunch at home, ordering some of our favorite pastries from Baked!, and still having an Easter egg hunt!

Easter Baskets

I love putting these together for the boys every year and will probably continue to do until they are in college! Can’t go wrong with a simple basket or this cute wire basket that can be used again and utilized in the home throughout the year to store things. I like to fill their baskets with the usual goodies: a chocolate bunny – Kinder makes an awesome version of a chocolate bunny, cotton candy, chocolate eggs, little spring gifts such as garden seeds and garden tools, and a small toy like legos, puzzles, and books. This year, I curated a monocromatic easter basket with all things blue. I especially love the peeps hand sanitizer this year.

Easter Outfits

Easter style for kids and mom for Easter and spring photos!

My go-to for the kids’ festive and everyday attire, Cat & Jack always comes through! Baron wore this to his preschool picture day and he looked so adorable. Baron’s shirt has a bowtie appropriate for a 5-year-old boss, while Jonah’s shirt is big-kid appropriate without the cutsie bowtie, but still looking cool. Both have a really fun spring floral print in light blue.

For spring dresses for us moms, I’m loving the Halia Dress from Heartloom, (shown above in Yellow) worn with sandals or sneakers for a more casual look.

Another spring dress favorite is this lightweight Resa midi dress with side slit and smocked top, worn with pumps or sandals.

Also comes in blush! Would look cute styled with a cream or white bootie:

 

Brunch Menu

Ham and Cheese Quiche and Quiche Florentine, Morning Buns from Baked!, and Mimosas

Adorable Easter Spring Minis from Krispe Kreme for the kids!

 

What are some of your favorite Easter holiday traditions?

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One of my favorite Easter traditions is putting together baskets for the boys. Our boys will receive these modest sized Easter baskets, and while they definitely dream about it being filled with candy, I include only a few of their favorite candy treats, while incorporating fun little personalized gifts too.

Jonah & Baron’s Easter Basket Details: Easter Baskets: Magnolia Hearth & Hand for Target | Monogram Basket Charms: Spritz for Target  | Chocolate Bunny: Peeps | Cotton Candy Cones: Maud Borup | Garden Gloves: Kid Made Modern| Kinder Easter Eggs: you can find these at just about any grocery store near the checkout lines!

 

Easter baskets can be as simple or as eggstragavant as you wish to make them.

Here are a few ideas for Easter gifts or basket fillers for kids, all under $20:

  1. Tamagotchi – I had one from the 90s! The updated versions are a hit and still affordable. $12
  2. Peter Rabbit books – a classic! Gift set includes 4 books that can be divided among siblings and family members. $16
  3. Dinosaur Eggs – great value for 60 pieces. $13
  4. Hatchimal Puzzle  $7.99
  5. Garden Tools – for your little helpers in the garden, $19, and another version $8
  6. Mad Libs  – Diary of a Wimpy Kid version! Great for older kids to build a richer vocabulary to master grammar. $9

What are your favorite things to put in your kids’ Easter baskets?

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As a child, Easter season was always a special holiday growing up. Coming from a Catholic background, it was always a sacred day but there was also the fun anticipation of the easter bunny leaving special treats and the excitement of egg hunts.

With kids and a little family of my own now, I’ve enjoyed starting our own new Easter traditions and continuing old ones. I’ve loved putting together an easter basket for Jonah over the years, and recently for Baron.  I probably have more fun putting them together than my kids actually do opening them. I like to keep the baskets simple, carefully choosing age-specific gifts and special treats, and it’s a tradition I always look forward to continuing now that I’m a mother.

Whether you incorporate religion into your Easter or not, here are a few ideas for making Easter special and fun for your favorite kiddos:

  • Decorate an Easter Tree: We started this tradition at our Issaquah home on a tree outside our front yard.  Jonah always enjoyed hanging egg ornaments from the bare branches. You don’t have to use an outdoor tree. A faux brand inside your home with a few plastic eggs strung on for ornaments adds instant spring style to any space.
  • Cook a big Easter Brunch:  I like to go all out and make a hearty breakfast with the usual pancakes, eggs and bacon, while adding some special dishes such as quiche, fruit tarts, special pastries and fun drinks. I love dishware so Easter is always a fun occasion to bust out the pretty plates and special cups.
  • Create a Fun Tablescape: Add fresh blooms or faux floral stems, add fun spring themed plates, napkins and cups to make your Easter meal more fun and out of the ordinary.
  • Egg Hunt: On the weekends prior to Easter Sunday, we always loved attending a private egg hunt hosted by a local farm where kids have free range to roam the fields or gardens adorned with colorful eggs.  You can create the same spring magic at home by scattering plastic eggs filled with treats around your yard or garden for kids to find and discover at their own pace. Hiding the Golden Egg is always exciting to see who finds it! The golden egg is usually filled with lucky money.  This year on Easter Eve, we’ll be going to an Easter egg hunt at a vineyard and winery – I can’t wait!  Then on Easter Sunday, we’ll have an egg hunt in the backyard for the boys.
  • Easter Crafts: Egg coloring or egg decorating, there are tons of kits out there that are easy to use and minimal on the mess!
  • Easter Baskets: I love leaving out the kids easter baskets by the door step or by the fireplace scattered with eggs to show the easter bunny came to visit.  Some fun and small gift ideas to add to baskets:

* A golden egg

* Flower seeds and garden shovels

* A new book

* Stickers

* Bubbles

* Sidewalk chalk or crayons/drawing pad

* Their favorite candy and chocolate eggs

* A small toy

* A spring accessory or outfit for church or spring occasions

  • Religious Ideas: Attend Easter Sunday Mass, read a religious or spiritual Easter book with your children, tell the story of Easter through Resurrection Eggs

I hope everyone has a joyous Easter weekend! What are some of your favorite Easter activities or traditions?