Today I picked up six dozen .89c plastic eggs and a $2 Minions tote bag from Target. My husband is in charge of the candy (he has very picky tastes and keeping in mind the Dad Tax on sweets, he gets to pick). I've got to sneak out for a couple blind bags (Minecraft should fit and take care of Nedge, but I'm still looking for a small enough kitty for Oliver's egg) and grab a Ty Beanie for each boy. Dinner will probably be guac burgers, as it's both more ingredient-intensive (thus, special) and a crowd pleaser.
Growing up, we never had money for eggs or baskets (my parents were busy making sure we had food and a house with power). After church we would head over to Grandma's house. My cousins would usually be there, we'd have a big lunch, an egg hunt around the house, and an Easter basket for each kid. I vividly remember comparing Pokemon cards with my sisters and cousins while opening candy, and one year my sister got that holo Charizard. Sometimes Grandma would try to get us to dye eggs, but with so many little (and clumsy) kids around it soon became clear it wan't super practical. Nonetheless, we had tons of fun. It was like a mini-Christmas, in retrospect. I'll never forget the love and generosity my grandma showered us with.
Now there are so many videos for (and usually starring) kids opening surprise eggs of all sizes. Sometimes they're paper-mache. Sometimes they're covered in play-doh. Usually they're GIANT in all caps and there's a lot of excited screaming. I feel so guilty when I see moms posting their kids' overflowing, tastefully decorated Easter baskets that they've been working on for weeks and had to force themselves to stop adding to it. I can't even justify getting three $20 premade baskets from Meijer, because that $60 could be spent on so many other things like bills or food or gas. I'm not dissing those who can do it-- guys, that's AWESOME! I can't wait til I can cheerfully spoil my kids like that, and it's so much fun! You're doing a good job. :)
Those other moms who seem to be perpetually tight on both cash and time without a baby attached to you, we're doing a good job, too! :)
Kids just want to have fun. Last year we hid the same three-dozen plastic eggs four times across the yard, even though the last three times they were empty. They don't care what size the eggs are, if they are hand-dyed, if they are plastic or from free-range chickens, if the "basket" is handmade with their name on it or a shopping bag you found after frantically checking the house and then the car. They honestly probably don't care about the particulars of what's inside. They just want you to hide 'em, so they can find 'em. Whether you have dozens and dozens or one dozen over and over again, kids view an Easter Egg Hunt as a fun activity with their parents and a chance to show off their mad hunting skills for praise and maybe treats.
If you have the gumption to take the kids out, there's tons of places locally that will offer an egg hunt for kids on various days. If you're in the Kalamazoo area, check here for a decently long list.
No matter what your situation is or your plans for Easter are, enjoy this lovely time with your family, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!