Meaningful Easter Baskets

This was going to be a post about how we started the seven days of creation today with God making light, however I didn't have black paint like I thought I did and the smalls have been fighting a cough so instead I will touch on something else that is on my heart.

Easter isn't for over a month, it seems to be late this year.  But I'm already thinking about the kids and their Easter Baskets.

One of the things I decided to do this year was attempt to give more meaningful gifts.  This doesn't mean I'm avoiding toys all together but I'm looking for high quality, interactive toys, not that new baby alive dolly that grows teeth - gag.

And I feel that this extends to the Easter Basket as much as anything.

My children do not need another cheap stuffed animal, mass quantities of sugar, or poorly constructed, meaningless toys.  And maybe that sounds harsh but I just think there is so  much more to the Easter season and so much more I could give my children.

So what am I going to put in their baskets?  I'm not sure.  So I did the only logical thing, I googled "meaningful easter baskets"

And oh the results that popped up...

There were such suggestions as "go to your local Christian store and pick up things" okay, but what things?  and "get a chocolate cross instead of a chocolate bunny"

Um.... yeah.  Not exactly the "meaningful" I was looking for....

 So I've been thinking...

I think for my oldest I'd like to find a Bible that is at his level - he will be 9 in may and LOVES to read.  I would love to give him a Bible that speaks to him and is easy for him to understand.

My five year old is a pre-reader but loves books.  I think both and he and little sister would benefit from books as well.

Little Sister is in love with Larry Boy - a new movie may be in order.

But am I hitting on the meaningful?  I am teaching of Christ and the real reason that we celebrate the season or falling back in to the commercialism trap?  I'm not too sure...

P is for Pirate - arrrrrrrrr!

In our house P is for pirate which is not what we "p" things for so I "created" my own curriculum for the week.

We made pirate hats out of newspapers.  We found other pieces of paper to be too small.  The simple directions can be found here.

We made pirate maps - including me.  Mine lead the children around our home to a "buried" treasure of golden (chocolate) coins.

But our favorite part was the books....

This was such a cute book, especially if the daddy in your house gets up and goes to an office every day....

 
This is such a cute book about becoming a pirate and why it might not always be fun.....


And if you have a toddler in the home I love that "That's Not My...." series (p.s. they're really great books for church too for keeping little one's fingers busy)....

"What I Am"

What I am:

1. I am a good cook. I really am. I like playing with recipes

I am not however a great baker - I tend to over/under cook things.

2. I am a an artist. For those who don't know I love to create and run my own photography business.

I am not a musician thought. Cannot carry a tune in a bucket folks.

3. I am a reader. I love books, magazines, you name it, if I can read it, I love it.

I am not someone who *needs* the latest technology the minute it comes out. True story, our TV is older than our oldest son (he'll be 9 in May)

4. I am a goer - I am pretty much on the go from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. Too much stuff not to be.

I am not a napper. As much as I would love to be if I lay down I cannot nap. It just doesn't happen peeps.

5. I am a sweet/salty type of girl. I love that sea salt and chocolate are in right now - yum-o!

I am not a peeps person. What are those things and why do people eat them? I just don't get it.

Those are five of my "what I am" (and what I am not). What are you?