What’s in Our Easter Baskets this Year

This is a compensated post written on behalf of Meijer. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Easter is this weekend!

What?!

I know. That’s what I thought too.

Sure the fact that we were waving palms around in church last Sunday should have been a pretty big clue, but it just didn’t sink in. I feels like it’s sneaking up on us this year, being tricky by landing on the first Sunday of April. It would be easier if it didn’t jump around. Let’s just pick a date and go with that, OK calender guy?

So, I headed out to Meijer in a panic that all the chocolate bunnies would be gone. Turns out there were plenty to choose from. I picked up some peanut butter filled ones for the boys. You know, that makes them healthy, right? I threw the usual plastic eggs and ridiculous amounts of candy in my shopping cart too.

We sort of accidentally ate a whole bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter eggs already. First it was just one each. Then the boys came home from school and wanted another one. Then another. Then Dave and I had to have some too, because you can’t just stand there and watch other people eat them. By today it was like, “Forget it!” and we just split what was left between the four of us. Easter only comes once a year after all.

Reading month just ended, and we’ve had a kind of literary awakening amongst the small people of this house. They both had this miraculous epiphany that, “Mom, I kind of like reading.” To encourage that, they’re both getting books in their Easter baskets. Wade is getting Dr. Seuss, who is his favorite author of the moment, based mostly on the idea of eating green eggs. For David, I found a children’s novel that’s set in the world of Minecraft. I guess you could call it Minecraft fan fiction. I know. It’s crazy, but who cares as long as he’s reading?

We’re at that stage right now where everything has to be equal, because they’re keeping score. I mean, if one of them even gets one more Hershey’s Kiss than the other, I’ll hear about it. So even though David is ten, and I have no idea if he really wants a plush bunny, he’s getting one. These cute, floppy-eared bunnies also happen to be free at Meijer if you purchase three American Greeting cards. The boys are both getting a little Lego figure and a few other little trinkets as well.

I should probably explain the lambs. For our family it’s very important that Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus. We, of course, go to church that morning, but I always like to include something in the Easter baskets as well that’s a reminder to the boys of why Easter is important. So I found these little lambs at Meijer. Since my boys are not fans of pink, I switched out the original pink bows with brown and attached a little card I made with the verse, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ ” (John 1:29)

We keep Easter pretty simple. My kids have enough stuff already, and they’ll get more from their grandparents. How many M&Ms do your really need? OK, actually you can’t ever have enough M&Ms, but you know what I mean. Anyway, Meijer has a ton of stuff to fill Easter baskets, and lots of different baskets to choose from too. I always use these plastic buckets, because once Easter is over they double as sand buckets at the beach all summer.

You’re sure to find something for all your kids at Meijer too.