Have You Seen the Rabbit?

So, as I am sure all of you are very aware there are 3 weeks left until Easter. Can I just tell you that I really dislike it when Easter ends up in March - it is like JC doesn't realize it is still friggin cold here in Seattle during that time.

In my youth Easter was one of my most favorite holidays but mostly because it was definitely one Sunday I didn't have to attend church since we always spent the weekend with my grandparents - strange, no? Lots of people only go to church on major holidays and generally we avoided church then, because, it was much like a mall at Christmas filled with lots of people roaming aimlessly. The truth is, we split the holidays with my grandparents and since they would come to Seattle for Christmas we would go to them for Easter, fair trade I suppose.

Anyhow, I think I like Easter more than Christmas, which if you really think about it is sick but really who doesn't think JC's resurrection isn't cause for celebration - oh, that's right every other religion besides Christianity. I do not want to get too deep into all of this since I have my opinions and you have yours but this is my favorite holiday for all the wrong reasons but much like Christmas I don't think I am alone.

On Easter Sunday after breakfast my father would take us for a drive to see if we could see where the Easter Bunny was and if he was soon on a path to our house. This is one of my fondest memories growing up - a tradition I continued long after discovering the real Santa Clause. "He went that way", "Faster, Dad, faster!", or the one line that always came out of Dad's mouth as soon as both my brother and I were not looking ahead "Did you see his tail? He turned at that street up ahead." I am not sure why I continued but it was fun to take a drive and see where the Bunny had been that morning and always fun to come back to Grandma's to a yard littered with treats, eggs and baskets.

This year I am feeling rushed and feeling a little pressure since Kyan is finally entering into new territory where he might actually remember this Easter when he is older - so I have spent this weekend collecting, ordering and purchasing all the fine items for both Kyan and Aspen's baskets and thought I might share some of my finds with all of you. If you don't want to hear about this STOP READING NOW.

If you are like me, you like a good deal and really who doesn't? And by good deals often I am just refering to it as a good deal because it is clever not because of price - although clever and cheap is always a plus. Sure you can always find excellent deals at Wal-mart and Target for just about all of your holiday needs, but honestly what fun would that be?

For baskets, personally I recommend Wal-mart for large baskets and Target for the cute baskets, not that I have been to either store this weekend (sarcastic smile).

For filler why not step out on limb - one far, far away from the candy aisle - certainly your child will have plenty of treats from the rest of your family. For baskets this year I happened upon a few items I know my children will cherish - the items I have found are neither something they need nor something they even know they want yet will be something they use everyday.

First, the towel. I know, ya'll are thinking that I am crazy but think about it for one second, does your kid actually care if they were a Reindeer or Snowman in the middle of summer? I know mine wouldn't but they would love to play with each one at bath time each evening. So, the kids at my house will be a pair of Reindeer until the fibers disintegrate. For only $6 you can have them monogrammed.

Next, to continue the theme why not offer them some entertainment in the tub?

Or perhaps, you have been searching high and low for a descent nap mat for daycare or all day Kindergarten why not check this one out? (Not totally cheap but it looks like a pretty neat package - I wish we needed it).

Or maybe you feel the need to warn others about your child's Tantrum Yoga - this is purely for your enjoyment, of course, as the toddler or child often discards clothing by a simple toss to the loot pile, unless you are Kyan in which case you put every article of clothing you received on the very moment you open it, over the clothes you currently have on.

To finish off the basket and to incorporate something traditionally Easter- I threw in a mini Charlie whom happened to be half off (the advertised price online) in the actual store. It is quite possibly the softest stuffed animal I have ever touched.

So, what ideas have you run across in your recent endeavors? The Rabbit at this house loves to hear what other Rabbits have in their hats!