An Egg-cellent Evening with Neighbors

Who doesn't love an Easter Egg Hunt?  You might not if you are the one who gets stuck doing all the planning, preparation, and work for a huge hunting party. The good news is that egg hunts don't have to be elaborate or complicated. This simple neighborhood egg hunt with a little prep work and group effort was a fun way to spend quality time with our friends and neighbors.

We were recently invited to hunt eggs in our neighbors' yard. The four childen jumped on the trampoline in the backyard while the parents hid stuffed eggs in the front yard.  The trampoline worked well, because the children were occupied and the adults had more time to ourselves. That's what I call a win-win. 

Is this not the cutest Easter bunny wreath? My neighbor Judith bought this in downtown South Boston at Distinct Impressions. I have got to get back by there soon. They have the cutest things! 

 

Judith loves Easter and goes all out. She is as sentimental as I am, if not more so. This Peter Cottontail plastic doll (pictured below) has a wonderful story attached to it.  When Judith was a child, her father took her to a store called G. C. Murphy in her hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. Judith was allowed to pick out any gift that she wanted for Easter, and she chose this Peter Cottontail doll. Every Easter, she pulls the doll out of a plastic bin where he lives the remainder of the year, and for a month or two, he has a very special place in her home. The story, the memory, the doll, and its owner are precious.

 

 

This rag mop tailed bunny below is another cutie, pictured in an antique wooden high chair.

 

Where was I? Oh, the egg hunt! Our hosts filled the eggs up with goodies before we arrived and divided the eggs into equal parts in baskets for the adults to hide. We then lined the children up for a photo op. I was so glad that Carrington decided to wear his SWAT gear. We never know when he may be needed for an egg hunt threat, and one really can't be too prepared. I love that kid!

 

...then they were off!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kids and Their Cache

 In keeping with tradition, following the hunt, the children examined and compared their findings.

 Prior to the egg hunt, gold coins were purchased from the bank for each child and placed in an egg with the respective child's name on the outside. Each child looked for the egg with his or her own name to find the gold coin inside. There were also a few silver dollars hidden in the eggs. 

 Courtland found the lucky buckeye! 

 I mentioned that Judith loves Easter and is very sentimental, right? When she was an elementary school teacher, she had her students decorate this mini tree every year.  Since she is now a full time mom, she has the neighborhood children decorate the tree. I think it's so sweet that she has kept this tradition from her classroom days alive. 

 We love our neighbors - young and young at heart. We are so thankful to have good friends and neighbors to share these special times with. If you have something special that you do with your neighbors, or have ideas for neighborhood activities, please feel free to pass those ideas on to me. I am always looking for fresh ideas. Feel free to pass along tips and ideas for egg hunting, as well. I am always amazed and inspired by what great ideas others come up with.