Filling Easter eggs and baskets

It's soon Easter time and I have heard numerous parents/grandparents/teachers say, "I don't know what to put in _____ Easter eggs/basket!" With the rise against not wanting your child to inhale a ton of candy it can make occasions like Easter and Halloween difficult a time to get more creative. Some are even asking, "Do I want to do an Easter basket?"

That is the question I found myself asking last year after Christopher was born. He was almost 3 months old around Easter time so I knew that he would have no recollection of what we did/didn't do. We decided to buy him a jumperoo and deem that his Easter present since it was an item we were already going to buy for him, why not knock out two things at once? This year was no different, Easter was coming and I again contemplated Easter basket or no Easter basket...

My main reasoning for questioning this tradition is that I struggle with overshadowing the real reason for our family celebrating Easter. I don't want Easter (or Christmas) to become about getting gifts, taking pictures with the Easter bunny/Santa or for us to get caught up in all the other fun traditions. These holidays are a chance to get to celebrate the amazing gift of life that we were given through our Savior being born into human form and then paying the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE HOLIDAYS and everything that goes with them!!!!! It's a great time to get together with family and friends, decorate the house, do crafts, etc. and since these are some of my favorite things to do, I enjoy every moment. (Tim may even say I go a bit overboard!) This is why we decided that there is definitely room, at least for our family, to do both things. It is our job in the joys of the traditions, games, candy and family time to incorporate the story of our Savior and make it the biggest part of either holiday.

For this year I decided brainstorm, and use the wonderful resource of the internet, to compile a list of what could be used to fill your Easter eggs and baskets. I know it is a little late this year as most probably already have both of these things done, but just in case, here's a little help!

* Easter egg ideas:

1. Stickers
2. Small stuffed animals 
3. Coins, or dollar bills if you are feeling extra generous :)
4. Cars (Hot Wheels/Wheelies/Thomas the Train, etc.)
5. Character Band-Aids
6. Treats (Teddy Grahams, Fruit Snacks, Goldfish, Raisins, Animal Crackers, Cheerios, Puffs, Mini M&M's, Nuts, etc.)
7. Temporary Tattoos
8. Chapstick/Lip gloss
9. Party size Play-Dough
10. Mini cookie cutters to use with Play-Dough
11. Puzzle pieces (after finding all the eggs, put the puzzle together!)
12. Mini Erasers
13. Coupon for new book, bowling, movie, date night with Dad/Mom, etc.
14. Finger Puppets
15. Hair Barrette/Bows
16. Jewelry
17. Mini Animals (You can usually find a set or two of these on clearance at Michaels)
18. Barbie Outfits
19. Silly Putty
20. Legos
21. Socks (I always find the cutest character socks in the dollar bin at Target)
22. Water capsules...stick them in water and watch them grow
23. Coloring page/maze, folded up
24. Magnets (Have cheap packs of letter/number magnets at Wal-Mart)
25. Cool Shoelaces
26. Dice
27. Fisher Price Little People
28. Balloons/Punching balloons, not blown up of course
29. Mini bottle of bubbles
30. Stampers
31. Mini Paints
32. Squirt Toys for bath tub
33. Bath tablets that change the water color
34. Packet of seeds that you will plant/water together
35. Inflatable ball
36. Mini slinky (looking for minis is a great idea, or just look in the party favor section for some smaller items)
37. Put a piece of paper with number on it that goes to corresponding prize - great way to include bigger prizes that don't fit in eggs
38.  Bouncy Balls
39. Mini Water balls to play with in summer

* Easter basket ideas:

1.  Book (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5)
2. Toothbrush/Toothpaste
3. Kite
4. CD
5. DVD
6. Toy
7. Sidewalk Chalk
8. Bubbles
9. Bucket/Shovel
10. Playdough (Make your own!)
11. Gardening Tools
12. Jump Rope
13. Crayons/Coloring Book
14. Puzzles
15. Pinwheel
16. Lacing Beads
17. Art/Crafts Supplies
18. Puppets
19. Game
20. Lunchbox
21. Small Backpack
22. Chalkboard Mats
23. Bathtub Toys
24. Outfit/T-Shirt
25. Foam Stickers/Shapes
26. Bubble Bath
27. Summer Shoes (Keens or Crocs)
28. Mini Pillow Pets
29. Small Instruments (Tambourine, Maraca, Egg Shaker)
30. Disposable Camera
31. Swimsuit/ Beach Towel
32. Sunglasses
33. Brain Quest
34. Small Cars
35. Water Bottle
36. Stuffed Peeps (These are adorable, wished we lived closer to a BRU!)

* Easter egg hunt ideas:

•  Have each child find a different color egg (ensures that each child gets the same amount of eggs and easy to put age appropriate items in if you have children with a large age difference).
• Fill eggs with "Bunny Bucks" or "Bunny Money" and have an Easter store. The children can spend the money they got in the egg hunt at the store.
• Do an Easter egg scavenger hunt (hide clues in the eggs to lead to each child's Easter basket). Can put a clue only in the eggs or a clue and a treat.
• Do an Easter egg hunt at night with flashlights (inside or outside).

Some of my favorite Easter memories as a child were going to this huge Easter egg hunt that took place on our Legion field. There were TONS of eggs (and people) and of course lots of candy and prizes. Each year you would hope to find an egg that had a number in so you could take it to the stand and see what big prize your number matched. I also loved getting to prance around in the beautiful Easter dress that my Aunt Reesie had made for me, sue me I was/am a girly girl at times :)

Another great memory was the Easter cantata at our church. I loved feeling like I was at a play and watching to see if there would be any live animals there (one year the man playing Jesus got to ride in on a donkey!). It was so different from any other church service and revealed the story of Jesus's death and resurrection in such a real way. Let me end by saying I understand, and respect, that everyone's beliefs/ways of celebrating are different so I'm hoping you find fun things to do with your family in a style you are comfortable with and enjoy!!

A few days early but have a Happy Easter everyone :)