Creating Easter Traditions

Here’s how we make Easter special:

On the night before Easter we dye hard-boiled eggs.  We don’t get fancy with them, and I barely let the children touch them because Kyle is allergic to eggs and Brady will just break them.  So far they’re okay with that.

Brady’s godfather, Uncle Chris, is very religious and enjoys recognizing religious holidays for Brady and his big brother.  This year he sent “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” and “Little Bunny Follows His Nose” and we read them last night before bed.

In the morning, the Easter bunny has been here and hidden the eggs, along with their plastic counterparts, in the backyard.  Once all the eggs are collected, the kids can raid the Easter basket.

We have also taken them to church in the past.  Alas, not this year.  The closest we got was spotting some friends from church at the Dodger game yesterday.  That counts, doesn’t it?

And now every year I make chicken gumbo – we have to throw shrimp in there to satisfy Stewart and make it closer to a proper Cajun meal.  I can’t remember how this started, something about creating a new tradition because nobody ever invites us to Easter dinner, and now it doesn’t matter because every year on Easter we make gumbo.

And on every holiday when we are not back in Connecticut with my extended family, I call my mom or my Aunt Kathy and they pass me around the gathering.  It’s harder and harder to have a conversation, though, with my crazy screaming kids who will only talk on the phone when they are in the mood.  I hope everyone back there knows how much I love and miss them.

Happy Easter!