I think I went a little overboard for Easter.

[twinklebug]

I have nothing to add other than to say I am a bit stunned by this thread. I have never heard of presents for Easter before. My kids do get an Easter basket with some candy, and we color eggs, but that's it. No one gets any presents.

I'm with you.

My kids get a basket with candy, perhaps something like sidewalk chalk or playdough to offset & reduce the quantity of sugar and replace it with a bit of colorful fun. We also dye eggs ... which is an interesting event each and every time

I don't want gift-getting expectations set upon Easter the way they have been for Christmas. Now, that said, DD (16) asked for a gift card in her basket this year. Not a bad idea ($ is better than candy) but I think it's an indication that she's outgrown the whole basket thing and if I do anything it should be a card with just a few $, not anything more than I would have put into her share of the candy.

 

[AllesonWonderland]

I like this idea.....we have 1 (15 y.o.), 3 (12 y.o.'s) and 1 (8 y.o.) Any more ideas about how to go about doing this?

I just made a word document with lots of clues, printed it and cut them out to put in the eggs. Some clue examples are:
What do your fish eat?
Where is extra toilet paper?
Where do the clothes get dried?
Where are _____’s socks?
What makes your milk chocolaty?
What holds your jewelry?
Where do the dishes get clean?
Where are envelopes?
What keeps you warm when you go outside?
What holds cat toys?
Where are more carrots?
What do you carry homework in?
What keeps you dry when it rains?
Where do the dirty clothes go in the main floor bathroom?
Where are lots of pony tail holders?

The list goes on and on! You could have them all work together off a single first clue, or have a starter clue/egg in each of their baskets then let them search separately. There doesn't have to be a big prize at all...maybe the first egg is found where they left their Easter baskets the night before and the last location is where they will find their basket/candy/etc. Have fun!

 

[starrzone]

I have nothing to add other than to say I am a bit stunned by this thread. I have never heard of presents for Easter before. My kids do get an Easter basket with some candy, and we color eggs, but that's it. No one gets any presents.

I agree with this. The ONLY time I can recall getting a "big" gift of any sort as a child was when I got a kids' watch when I was 8 or so. I needed one and I know I would have gotten one anyway. Easter just happened to come along and that's why I got it then.

*Discliamer: I am not saying that gift-giving is wrong or right, just saying that I can't remember getting any (other than the watch) for Easter as a child. I suppose that doesn't mean that I didn't, though!

 

[ilovejack02]

I agree with this. The ONLY time I can recall getting a "big" gift of any sort as a child was when I got a kids' watch when I was 8 or so. I needed one and I know I would have gotten one anyway. Easter just happened to come along and that's why I got it then.

*Discliamer: I am not saying that gift-giving is wrong or right, just saying that I can't remember getting any (other than the watch) for Easter as a child. I suppose that doesn't mean that I didn't, though!

Easter is just kinda of an excuse, in Louisiana it is starting to get hot, so swimsuits, summer clothes, outdoor toys , sandboxes , swingsets, bikes whatever... kids would get them anyway but since it is Easter time, the bunny just brings it . I can't say anything for the video game that might get thrown in there except that he wanted it lol and I got it. I only buy a video games 3 or 4 times a year, Easter, Christmas, end of school and bday. The rest of the year he better save his $.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

I went overboard too and my DD is only 14 months!!

She got:
crayola beginnings markers (both colors because I couldn't decide and the bath ones)
I too shopped the TRU sale and she got a lawn mower and ride on
Also a ton of disney movies from the TRU sale (I'm embarrassed to say how many exactly)
books
orgnaic yogurt melts (her version of candy)
bath books
some bath toys
a wooden peg stacker type thing

 

[Mary•Poppins]

My middle son has weight issues so I buy some candy ... but try VERY hard to limit the amount of candy in their baskets. For DS (10), he still loves legos ... so he has a lego set, Star Wars book, one dollar coins in eggs, candy and some odds and ends.

For my 2 teenagers ... the are LOST fans (so am I). So, I ordered them 2 lost t-shirts that are pretty cool and ... I found this site that prints of DARMA labels for food. They are getting some "DARMA" candy, chips and nuts. They also have one egg that lets them know we will pay for their ski locker this upcoming winter. I really think they will like their basket this year.

 

[drcmk]

I may get flamed for this, but I have a question for those of you that give huge amounts of gifts. Is Easter a religious holiday for you at all, or is it just secular? Just curious....

Well, since you asked . . . neither religious nor gift-giving for us. I grew up with Christian traditions and Easter doesn't feel like a gift-giving occasion to me. We usually dye some eggs and hide some plastic eggs that have candy, loose change, hair accessories, chapstick, other tiny stuff in them. Other family members exchange gifts in a Christmas-like way among the children but we don't participate in that. That said, we do not celebrate the religious aspect of the holiday either. It's nice to have a few days off from school and work at Easter time.

 

[cinderellascastle29]

My middle son has weight issues so I buy some candy ... but try VERY hard to limit the amount of candy in their baskets. For DS (10), he still loves legos ... so he has a lego set, Star Wars book, one dollar coins in eggs, candy and some odds and ends.

For my 2 teenagers ... the are LOST fans (so am I). So, I ordered them 2 lost t-shirts that are pretty cool and ... I found this site that prints of DARMA labels for food. They are getting some "DARMA" candy, chips and nuts. They also have one egg that lets them know we will pay for their ski locker this upcoming winter. I really think they will like their basket this year.

I have to know where you got the lost shirts/labels! My DBf is a huge Lost fan and would LOVE this!

 

[Amandaj0831]

The girls are each getting a leapster game and candy with a few dollar store items probably bubbles and a play dough set. I bought all this awhile ago(on sale) and was holding onto it until the next holiday. We got presents for Easter as kids and now so do my kids and yes it is a religious holiday for us.

 

[starann]

DH said no presents for Easter......so I picked up some candy. I do have some small things (color books, small Lego set from clearence at Target at Xmas) that will go in there.

We usually do a plasic egg hunt in the housewith coins (the dogs would eat and candy!).

I did, however, see that TRU had FP toys b1g1, and that includes the Batman Imaginex, which the boys are REALLY into, so I may go and see what they have......and save it for a rainy day, since DH did say no presents!

 

[Mary•Poppins]

I have to know where you got the lost shirts/labels! My DBf is a huge Lost fan and would LOVE this!

Here is the site for the labels:

http://maxpictures.com/weblog/2007/04/10/lost-labels-for-your-dharma-initiative-needs/

Here is the one for the shirts .... I have sons, but there are pretty cool LOST girl shirts on this site. You have to really search this site ... there are more shirts but they are under different categories. I received the shirts and they are nice shirts ... not cheap ones.

http://shop.cafepress.com/losttv

Enjoy fellow LOST fan ...

 

[cinderellascastle29]

Here is the site for the labels:

http://maxpictures.com/weblog/2007/04/10/lost-labels-for-your-dharma-initiative-needs/

Here is the one for the shirts .... I have sons, but there are pretty cool LOST girl shirts on this site. You have to really search this site ... there are more shirts but they are under different categories. I received the shirts and they are nice shirts ... not cheap ones.

http://shop.cafepress.com/losttv

Enjoy fellow LOST fan ...

Thank you so so much!

 

[maggiew]

Those labels are so cute. I am going to do those for DD. I think the Hershey bar labels. And maybe the mac and cheese. I don't think anything else would seem appropriate for an Easter basket. (Not that mac & cheese is appropriate! but at least she eats that.)

I would love to get her a shirt, but I don't think I would get it in time.

Maggie

 

[kinntj]

My girls are getting these in their baskets:

pink/purple plush bunny
chocolate bunny
pull string vibrate bunny
bunny sidewalk chalk (the bunny loves to self promote)
butterfly memo pad each
2 books each
2 Crayola princess coloring cards with markers for travel
assorted candy they love: tape gum, ring pops, etc.

that's it.

We mostly focus on religion, but give the kids some bunny too. They will get baskets until they are on their own.

 

[Minnie]

I'm in my 30s and I still get Easter presents from my parents

So far DS will be getting:

Nintendo DSi
Nintendo DS game & guide
I-pod charger
I-tunes gift cart
Candy

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

I saw this post and just had to chime in! I am 24 and do not have my own children but I have a 3 year old nephew and a 2 month old niece. Over the past month I have picked up little things here and there for them both. Well, I went to put it all together the other night and boy oh boy did I go overboard. I had to go out today and get a bigger basket for the oldest. Now, the youngest will not be such a problem but she is getting a can of formula as opposed to candy since she is only 2 months old So I may of went overboard but I loved every moment of it!

 

[pintamino]

Not quite the same problem. But my oldest DD just turned 18 and my DH suggested that we not do a basket for her this year. I personally couldn't have her not get a basket yet her younger sister get one. She is still in HS.

Anyway, I usually have their "baskets" be a tote bag or something like that. And inside I put brushes, misc. makeup, tank top, nail clippers, etc. with a chocolate bunny and a little other chocolate.

So, maybe some people think I would be going overboard for DD18.

Maggie

Oh, I think that would be so sad if her sister got one and she didn't, especially if she's still in high school! I'm 19 and in college, but my parents still buy my gifts for holidays (and I come home for the holidays)... this year I know I'm getting a wristlet that I picked out at the outlet with my mom, plus chocolate. Just little fun stuff. And after my first year in a "real" job, I was thinking about picking up some Easter-y stuff for my parents too as a surprise...

I know I'll never forget my family holiday traditions like Easter baskets.

 

[kerry34]

Oh, I think that would be so sad if her sister got one and she didn't, especially if she's still in high school! I'm 19 and in college, but my parents still buy my gifts for holidays (and I come home for the holidays)... this year I know I'm getting a wristlet that I picked out at the outlet with my mom, plus chocolate. Just little fun stuff. And after my first year in a "real" job, I was thinking about picking up some Easter-y stuff for my parents too as a surprise...

I know I'll never forget my family holiday traditions like Easter baskets.

Oh I totally agree. My oldest is going to be 18 this year and I feel like as long as they are living here the bunny will be bringing baskets. We don't go to crazy at easter, I probably spend around 30.00 for each kid. We have five kids so it definately gets expensive. My kids will be getting in their baskets:

3 older kids:

chocolate bunny
10 dollar disney card for our next trip
10 dollar movie gift card
peeps
reeses cups
jelly beans
ring dings
small bags of frito lay snacks

2 younger kids

all the same except disney trading pins instead of movie cards

I know the ring dings and chips seem like a strange thing, but it is a bit of a treat for them because they can put them aside and eat them when they want. I dont buy them otherwise and if I do, they have to get them right away or they will be gone. The first time I did it, it was kind of a filler for the basket because the baskets I got were too big and they kind of looked empty....they got more excited about those snacks than anything, so now its
a bit of tradition.

 

[rluey29]

We go all out for the holidays so, yes, overboard here we go!! I do it because I like to see their excited faces and they appreciate it. I also don't buy alot through the year.

DS(almost)10 will be getting:
swim trunks
flip flops
goggles
Boy's Book of Survival
Holographic Space book
Holographic Dinosaur book
bakugan
a dark chocolate bunny
eggs filled with money
very little candy
and whatever else I find that will fit...

DS(almost)3 will get:
swim trunks
flip flops
swim wings
wooden Melissa & Doug puzzles
new wallet
Sid the Science Kid movie
bakugan
eggs with money
candy
and whatever else...

I will continue to do baskets for my kids and future grandkids until I am old and gray. It gives me enjoyment and I only get one life to do it!!

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'm starting to think my ds's school goes overboard for Easter -- he has a half day today and tomorrow off -- and no, Spring Break isn't for three weeks!

Maria