I don't know why, but I am dreading putting the baskets together this year.
Do you do Easter baskets?
Got any creative ideas for filling them?
Blessings,
Christine

We do them, but this year I'm at a loss. Each of our kids have baskets that we've reused every year since they were babies. My son's is actually a basket we received as a baby gift, so it because his Easter basket the next year (and for 19 more years, with a couple of exceptions). This year all those baskets are packed away, so I'll have to find something else. A couple of years I have bought other containers for them when I just couldn't handle pulling out the baskets and filling them (like the year my dad died 4 days before Easter). I considered buying the pre-made baskets, but one of my girls told me she really likes the idea of me filling them myself. She said it's not just what I put in them, but the fact that I take the time to do it and think about what each of them would like. So I'm busted there and can't take the easy way out. Since this is our first year here, even tho' we aren't in our own house yet, I'd like it to be a special time for everyone. But to be honest I have no clue how to make that happen! In the past we have filled their baskets with small notepads, CDs, books, hobby supplies, in addition to their favorite candy. But this year I really don't know what we'll do. I guess I should start thinking about that more since time is getting away from me.

We have put a new swimsuit, pool toys like splash balls or a beach towel in their baskets(plastic buckets). They would each have to have a new one for summer anyway so I kill two birds with one stone. We've also given footballs, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk--all kinds of summery things. So far all I have in mind is candy.

We always hide their buckets in the house and they wake up to a sticky note on their bedroom door with an Easter related question on it. When they answer the question correctly, they turn the paper over for directions (ie go to the fridge) where they'll find another note and so on. They really enjoy this. We've done this since they were young as a way to put the first focus of that day on Jesus.
HTH,
Christie

My dilemma this year is for older kids! I was thinking to give them a CD or some make-up with some candy, but with more than a few kids - yikes - that's a lot more expensive than jelly beans!
They still will get a bottle of bubbles, though - a long-standing tradition.
Any other ideas?
Christine