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| Egg hunts: not just for children any more. |
Who doesn't love Easter egg hunts? As a kid, I hid, and re-hid our eggs, and begged siblings to return the favor. I just liked looking for eggs. When I had children of my own, hiding eggs for my kids made me happy. Even as late as last Easter, I was still hiding eggs on Easter morning for my then 17-year-old.
This was my first Easter without my kids at our house. Should I have an egg hunt this year? My husband is diabetic, and limits his exposure to sugar. I really don't need tons of candy. (I WANT tons of candy, but I don't NEED it.) What to do? What to do?
I bought each of us a special candy bar as a token Easter candy gift, but something was missing. I realized I didn't have to fill plastic eggs with candy; I could improvise.
So the day AFTER Easter, I went shopping. After Easter is over and done? Why not? Any time is a good time to hunt for eggs, if you ask me. You might want to try this to put a smile on YOUR partner's face!
For 44 cents, I bought a dozen plastic eggs. (Gotta love post-holiday sales!) When I got them home, I cut twelve strips of paper, and on each one, I wrote something my husband would appreciate; you know, things like: "5 minute massage," "let me tell you five things I love about you," and things like that. Use your imagination and have fun with it.
When Chuck gets home from work, he is pretty exhausted, so I wanted to make sure my egg hunt idea wouldn't be perceived as "one more thing to get done." I tried to keep things low-key and relaxing, and my goal was to show him how much I appreciate everything he does for me.
When Chuck gets home from work, he is pretty exhausted, so I wanted to make sure my egg hunt idea wouldn't be perceived as "one more thing to get done." I tried to keep things low-key and relaxing, and my goal was to show him how much I appreciate everything he does for me.
One of the unusual things I wrote on a note has been a long-running joke between us: I asked him to read me a chapter from his favorite book.
Chuck has had the book from childhood, Trooper, US Army Dog by Helen Orr Watson. It was published in 1943. He can talk about that book for HOURS. (Okay, maybe not hours, but for longer than perhaps anyone else might want to discuss it.) I could tell from the time we met, he has had hopes I'd scoop up Trooper, and read it cover to cover so we could discuss the finer points of this fine piece of literature. So, during his egg hunt, I gave him a chance to expose me to his favorite book. You should have seen his eyes light up. It made me happy to make him so happy.
Chuck has had the book from childhood, Trooper, US Army Dog by Helen Orr Watson. It was published in 1943. He can talk about that book for HOURS. (Okay, maybe not hours, but for longer than perhaps anyone else might want to discuss it.) I could tell from the time we met, he has had hopes I'd scoop up Trooper, and read it cover to cover so we could discuss the finer points of this fine piece of literature. So, during his egg hunt, I gave him a chance to expose me to his favorite book. You should have seen his eyes light up. It made me happy to make him so happy.
What are you waiting for? Grab some eggs, write out a few tasks you KNOW will make your partner smile, and have some fun tonight. It doesn't have to be Easter to look for eggs, especially if it makes you feel like kids again. Chuck had so much fun, he said he would do an egg hunt for me sometime. Oh, GOODY!
I did something similar for a boyfriend for Valentine's Day. I wrote gifts like a batch of his favorite cookies, Saturday breakfast, foot massage, etc. I hid them throughout his house. I don't think he found the last one until April! I like creative gifts. I hope you enjoy the book as much as Chuck likes it. I'll admit I've never read it either.
ReplyDeleteGreat Denises think alike! Cute idea for Valentine's Day!
DeleteThis sounds like fun and I am not even a fan of egg hunts. A treasure hunter, I am not. Just might try it sometime for a bit of fun.
ReplyDeleteYou guys would have fun, Stella. Surprises keep the spark alive.
DeleteI used to hide eggs for my kids when they were little even long after Easter as you mention. This year, we had no eggs as everyone is off of sugar, but I'm tempted to have an Easter Egg hunt when we have the whole family together. You have me inspired. Could be a fun surprise some morning in July. I've been looking for a great book about dogs for people who can't eat sugar and who hate vegetables. Maybe, Trooper is the book for the job! Too funny.
ReplyDeleteI think your family will LOVE hunting eggs, any time! Yeah, Trooper will fit the bill (fill the bill?) nicely for that special niche. ;-)
DeleteEgg hunts - 'tis the season. We've gone multigenerational around here now that the kids are adults with kids. We avoided the sugar and turned it into a scavenger hunt.
ReplyDeleteEgg hunts - 'tis the season. We've gone multigenerational around here now that the kids are adults with kids. We avoided the sugar and turned it into a scavenger hunt.
ReplyDeleteI loved your scavenger hunt idea, and I think it's wonderful you began to find yourself during it. :-) Thanks, Whitney!
DeleteWhat a fun idea! I think I'll do it with my grown-up daughter!
ReplyDeleteShe will love it! I would.
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DeleteA favorite story comes from when my husband (then my fiance) and I were in college. My parents hosted Easter dinner for his family and ours. "I am so sorry," Mom announced, after dinner. "I forgot to buy candy for the plastic eggs. So I had to put something else inside--money. I hope you don't think that's tacky."
ReplyDeleteTacky? We looked at one another with growing glee. We were broke college students. Money is the answer to everything!
"You'll have to look really hard," Mom went on. "Because when I ran out of coins and ones and fives, I had to use larger bills. There are some eggs with twenties."
I never saw a group of people hunt so fast for eggs.
Oh, Laura, that is fantastic! How FUN. We only ever had money in the special foil wrapped egg.
DeleteLaura Hile--your story is awesome!
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I am trying to remember if I've ever been on an egg hunt. I don't think so. I have hidden eggs for kids because I worked in daycare for a decade, but it never occurred to me to do such a thing for my husband. I've obviously missed it this year (and is plastic eggs an American thing? We were strictly about chocolate). However, I'm thinking about it for a future time. Thanks for a brilliant idea!
Plastic eggs were considered safer than the colored chicken eggs. Ever since my kids were babies we've hidden plastic filled eggs. I hope you get to hunt eggs soon!
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