Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Easter Egg Hunt

I make my own traditions with my children - and we celebrate in a way that gives us joy, and not as mores dictate.  Egg hunt during Easter time is one such occasion.  Yes, you got that right, Egg Hunt is our tradition. :)

Krish had his first egg hunt at home with me pointing out the eggs to him when he had barely learned to walk.  Then, we started taking him to the Breakfast and A Visit with Bunny event, organized by the City of Torrance.  This is something I highly recommend - I love this event.  Both Krish and Kevin enjoyed it every time we have been to it, though it is highly predictable.  We try to stick to it every year, but not all goes the way you plan.  This year too, we had to give it a miss - but it turned out to be a good thing.  Krish and Kevin, 8 and 4 now, are grown up enough to appreciate something more than just picking up eggs strewn around.  So I thought a real egg hunt with clues would be in perfect order.

The evening before Easter, we went to Dollar Tree and they picked up eggs and candies of their choice.  Yes, again, you got that right.  They knew I was going to organize the egg hunt with clues and stuff the next day.  Taking part, pooling ideas, making contributions together, the anticipation, then seeing it all come together the way you envisioned, or sometimes surpassing it even - all of that is so much more fun than a surprise that I always involve the kids every step of the way - except for the clues and the setting up of the hunt. 

In the night, I made the clues and placed them around the home while they excitedly moved from one room to another and shut themselves in at my behest to avoid seeing what I was doing.


The three of us went to bed - all three equally excited - eagerly awaiting the morning!


We were all jet lagged from our trip abroad the previous week - so our sleep cycles were completely disrupted.  Krish woke up first - he got ready and was reading, patiently waiting for Kevin to wake up.  When I woke up, he made me coffee - the adorable darling!


Then, when Kevin woke up, the first thing he did was to check if Daddy would join - Kevin is one that never leaves anybody out - but he was lost in sleep, made oblivious by a different time zone.


Then, with clean teeth and hot chocolate in tummy, the bunnies set out on their egg hunt!


Happy Easter!
My little bunnies,
Open the hamper,
Pick a basket each,
Pick up your clues,
And begin your hunt!
Bunnies, carrots, eggs,
And fun await you!






1. Clue For Krish

Bound by words,
Under lock and keys,
Find us two eggs,
One for you
And one for your little brother!

When we were teens, my brother and I used to play a mock Crystal Maze - we would hide marbles, write up clues, and send the other seeking.  "Under lock and key" was one of the clues I used then.  I am glad to be sharing with these two little brothers what I shared with my brother.


Krish correctly found the box among his books, underneath his journal that has a lock with his keys beside it.




2. Clue For Kevin

By the globe that spins,
Roll two mats,
Snuggled inside which
Are two carrots,
One for you
And one for your big brother!

With Krish's help, Kevin also had no trouble cracking his clue!




3. Clue For Krish

In the house on the cliff,
Guarded by Hedwig
And the Pink Big Mouse,
Find us two bunnies,
One for you
And one for your little brother!

Krish had built the house for his pet with popsicle sticks and hot glue; and the owl, - I referred this as Hedwig to bring in Krish's Harry Potter fascination into this - and the mouse were crafted by Kevin.  So it was not difficult at all for them to make the connection.






4. Clue For Kevin

Nestled among pine cones,
Inside two acorns,
Lay two eggs,
One for you
And one for your big brother!

This pine collection is Krish's.  Again, Kevin and Krish make the connection in no time.
 




5. Clue For Krish

Cute little dogs,
Black and white,
One named Krish,
Another named Kevin,
Guard a basket,
Carrying two eggs,
One for you
And one for your little brother!

I had made these stuffed dogs - again, all familiar to them.







6. Clue For Kevin

Look in the refrigerator,
Look in the oven,
Look for us,
Two little eggs,
One for you
And one for your big brother!

After checking the real ones, they made a beeline for their pretend ones!





It was an egg hunt to remember and cherish!


Yes, we make our own traditions, our own moments, our own happy memories!
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