Easter is just around the corner and spring comes with it! We had some teasing spring weather the other week, but it seems that winter isn’t quite over.  It snowed and sleeted yesterday and there is supposed to be a bit of snow tomorrow. Hard to believe we are halfway through March. My “baby’s” birthday party was on Saturday, how long can I call him my baby? He was 3 on Friday…that’s still a baby isn’t it? 😉  I made him a dinosaur cake. Aren’t birthdays great!? I was going for a “spring” theme, but instead we enjoyed a fire in the fireplace and hot coffee. I did have tulips on the table! A little bit of spring indoors.

I thought I’d do a post on some fun Easter activities before the holiday arrives…just in case anyone actually wants to DO these things…hee! I really love Easter, I love the Lenten season also, the expectation and waiting for Easter Sunday. I hope you also experience the true celebration of Easter and understand ultimate sacrifice and love.

Here are some of our favorite Easter activities. We enjoy bunnies and eggs and candy as well 🙂  I made these last year for Jacob’s kindergarten class party, aren’t they cute?

Rice Krispie treats shaped like nests with peeps on top, everyone will love this adorable treat!

Last year the boys and I made these delicious Resurrection Rolls, a great way to learn the real meaning of Easter. They are really yummy too!

We also made this resurrection “garden”. The kids loved making the garden and planting the grass seed. Then we got to watch the grass grow throughout Easter and the spring season. It was a visual reminder of why our family celebrates Easter.

I could not find our picture with the grass grown, but here is a link to one online.  Use potting soil and grass seed, add a small pot for the tomb. Mist the soil a couple times a day.

This week we had a little Easter/spring party with some homeschooling friends – my sister and her kids and our friend Anne and her kids. We have a craft day once a month and if there’s a holiday it often turns into a little party.

This time we made little pipe cleaner critters and ate nests with eggs and popcorn, along with some fun spring decorations. The kids liked the little critters even more than I expected…mine have been walking around with them on their fingers since then :).

Here is the link for instructions to make the critters.

For our treat I served coconut nests with jelly bean eggs. I personally love these!  Yum yum! You can change these up to suit your tastes, M&Ms or candy bird eggs could be used for the eggs. I used Nutella for the filling (because I look for every opportunity to use Nutella) but substituted melted chocolate for one child with a nut allergy.

I hope you see something here that you or your family might enjoy. Enjoy the lovely spring weather (whenever it might arrive!) and the beautiful season of Easter. Blessings to you!

Coconut Nests

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 large egg white

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 cups sweetened coconut

Nutella

candy “eggs”

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat. In a bowl stir together the condensed milk, egg white, vanilla and salt. Add coconut and mix well. Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of coconut mixture and shape into nest shapes. Use moistened hands to prevent sticking. Place on baking sheet and press the center with your thumb.

Bake for 17-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Remove from oven and press down the center again if needed. Let cool on sheet for 5 minutes or until the nests are set. Remove to cooling rack and cool completely. Place a small dollop of Nutella in the center of each nest and decorate with 3 egg candies.

Adapted from Two Peas and a Pod.