Our Easter Tradition

*Whew* This has been a crazy weekend. Crazy and good. It was filled with lots of friends and french toast and food poisoning (all is well now, promise) and egg hunts and family and church and more egg hunts and more family. We really did have a lot of fun.

Still, now after everything has settled, the kids have gone to bed early, I have a headache, and I hope to be snuggled under my own covers soon.

But I did want to share one small tradition that, though hastily implemented amid all this weekend's excitement, we've decided to start in our little family.

See, we don't do Easter baskets. It's not really because we dislike them. There's nothing wrong with an Easter basket or two. But the kids already have plenty of opportunities to collect candy around this time of year (and basically every other holiday). So we knew they didn't need more of that.

As far as non-candy trinkets and gifts, Patrick and I had to decide how we wanted to handle it. We have a few goals; first, we want to be sure that the real reason for the holiday is very clear. On Easter we celebrate Christ's resurrection and all that it means for everyone on Earth.

Second, we want Easter to feel like a special, fun, exciting, joyful time. Attending church and family get-togethers are great ways to do this. Egg hunts accomplish the same thing. So when it comes to Easter morning, little gift baskets could certainly add more fun and excitement, but we didn't think they were really necessary. After all, our kids have plenty and our apartment is small. We are on a small budget, and we don't want to risk commercializing Easter. Those are reasons enough to keep things simple, I think.

Finally we decided; every Easter, each child would receive a new Sunday outfit and a book. We lay them out the night before so, just like on Christmas morning, there is an element of surprise when they wake up.

I have to say, so far it's been a hit. Honestly, looking for cute clothes and picking out the perfect books was probably more fun for Patrick and me than it was for the kids.

Along with the books pictured (how awesome that we found Owen a self-titled book!!), we also got this other Richard Scarry book for all the kids. Patrick and I both have a lot of childhood memories getting lost in Richard Scarry's fantastic stories and fun illustrations. (And, of course, finding Goldbug.)

Luckily for us, our kids seem to love the stories, too.

We love reading and hope to instill the love of reading in our children. I think highlighting books as a gift might be one step in that direction.

As for the outfits, I think they turned out pretty well...

I should have gotten a better picture of her shoes--they have lace on the sides and are very pretty. So grateful I have a little girl to dress up!

First time wearing a full length tie (though he's definitely rocked a bow tie before). I think we'll be reminding him to tuck in his shirt, though, for at least eight more years. When do boys get the hang of that?

First time (okay, maybe second or third) wearing actual church clothes to church. What can I say; I assume babies like to be comfortable!

Oh, and please ignore the fact that Owen doesn't have shoes. I mean, do babies really need shoes? I am in the camp that says NO. Not until they start crawling/walking/running on surfaces that might cause damage to their soft little baby toes. Aaaaaand I'm kind of a slacker mommy in the baby style department anyways. Life is much simpler that way. :-)

And we all know I need a little more simplicity in my life.

So Happy Easter, one and all! It is such a bright, happy, joyful holiday. It is filled with hope, with new beginnings. Let us all remember who made this hope and all new beginnings possible.