What...No Candy?

Getting a little jump on today's post...guess that morning Butter Pecan flavored coffee gave me just the boost I needed for the morning! I better keep that pot filled today because it certainly was a long night. Anyway, as promised yesterday, I'm sharing with you my Easter egg fillers. I like to put non-candy things in my eggs...What? No Candy? You may ask yourself if I'm off my rocker...got screws loose...one crayon short of a full box...Bless her heart, she has left the farm!!! Ok, so here's the deal...I'm not a no-sugar nature nugget who never gives her children sugar and deprives other children from the joy of a good ol'fashioned sugar rush but, from October to December my children are LOADED down with candy. Between birthdays, parties, festivals, and stocking hanging, we have LOTS of candy. I put it in a big box in the top of my closet and my children BEG me daily for candy. I really just think that (maybe) there are other parents out there like me that love the fun little egg hunts and favors but dread the massive amount of gooey, delicious, ant bait that their sweet little dirty faced, sticky fingered kids will bring home. And the funny thing is...as much as we dread it...we are guilty of filling those eggs with the same stuff, right? 

I mean...those eggs are so small...what else can you fit in them? And sometimes you have to fill SO many that it could get expensive to fill them with anything else, right? WRONG! Think outside the drugstore candy aisle and more toward the dollar stores...or even think a year in advance (again, back to my "I'll need it one day" mentality). Last year, Walmart had some little stretchy rubber bunnies on the seasonal aisle $1.97 for 16 bunnies...I thought that was a pretty good deal so I bought a pack and filled some of my eggs with them...they were a huge hit! After Easter, I found them at 75% off...I'm not one to pass up a deal like that, so I bought 4 packs!  

The dollar stores usually have a party aisle with little toys for birthday party goodie bags...it's like a goldmine for occasions like this. I pick up stickers, bouncy balls, silly bandz, necklaces, and little things that will fit inside those little plastic treasure eggs. Here's the loot for this year...

If I've learned anything through motherhood (and even remembering my childhood) its that the simplest things can mean so much more to a kid (and these won't give them a belly ache or rot their teeth)! But the cool thing about my kids is that it doesn't matter if there is actually anything IN those eggs or not...they just love the hunt! For weeks after Easter, we are still hiding and hunting eggs in the house or the front yard...empty...and still just as fun :)

Easter 2012

Sometimes things are better empty anyway!!!

Matthew 28

King James Version (KJV)

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

³ His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

⁴ And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
¹⁰ Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

¹¹ Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

¹² And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

¹³ Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

¹⁴ And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

¹⁵ So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, 
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.