Our Simple Easter

 "Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake."

My family is not particularly religious, though we do place value in spirituality and respect for the spirituality of others. Despite our heatheny ways, we do celebrate the major religious holidays, because we were raised in homes where that was done, even though religion was never really emphasized in our childhoods.

So yeah, while we don't go to Sunday services or anything, we do try to make Easter a family affair. Some years we travel to Chicago to visit Husband's family, but often we stay home because gas is hella expensive for such a short visit. 

This year we're staying home and celebrating one of our typical, low-key Easters. On Saturday afternoon (Husband has to work at 2:00) we'll color eggs as a family. That night we'll hide the kids' Easter baskets and let Spazz find hers (and probably 'dactyl's, too) in the morning. We'll let Spazz have a few pieces of candy while I make a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and fresh fruit, and then we'll pull on some comfy jeans or shorts (depending on the temps) and head out for an egg hunt. And then Husband will go to work.

Spazzy hunting eggs on our low-key Easter two years ago. As you can see, we don't get too fancy-like. :)

It's nothing fancy, but it's become somewhat of a tradition. We don't get all dolled up or fix a huge dinner. We just make the day about spending time together and letting our kids have fun.

The kids' baskets are going to be low-key, too. As you know, I've committed myself to a pretty major purging project, so we don't want to bring a ton of crap into the house. I hate cellophane basket grass, so I usually line the baskets with tissue paper that I already have or use nothing at all. We keep the candy to a minimum.

In the past, we've been guilty of stuffing Spazz's basket with any and every little trinket we could find that she might like. Not so much this year. We're spending no more than $20 per basket, and that's only because we're making the gifts do double-duty as wants and needs. Spazz is getting some Starburst jelly beans that I got for free after coupon at Walgreen's, a $15 Amazon gift card for her Kindle, and a few hair accessories. 'dactyl is getting some onesies and socks that he needs, a box of teething biscuits, and possibly a hat of some kind.

Nothing fancy. Nothing that will create clutter. Nothing over the top. That's our simple, happy Easter.

How does your family celebrate Easter? Do you put on your Sunday best and start the day in a church service, or do you find yourself up to your elbows in ham at 8:00 a.m.?