Easter Eve

After most of my family headed home on Easter Eve, Steve and I set up the kitchen so that the kids could color Easter eggs.  In the past, we have always done this right before bath-time so that the kids could be stripped down and put in the tub after the exciting event.  I decided that we had just enough time to do it before dinner this year, so we called into the kitchen and everyone took their place at the counter. 

(I would like to note that this is the first year that everyone has been able to participate; we have almost always had someone in the highchair or bouncy seat merely observing because they were too young to enjoy the festivities themselves).

The girls look tired because they skipped their naps while my family was here ...

Jack was really intrigued with the whole process.

Carefully pulling the eggs out of the dye ... without breaking any of the eggs.

Jack got to try putting the eggs in by himself.  He was actually pretty patient.

The girls are trained professionals now ...

The finished products:

Over the years, we have really perfected the whole process.  We like using the glass punch bowl cups (they belonged to my Grandma) to fill with a bit of vinegar and water.  We simply use the color tablets (that I pick-up on clearance after the Easter the year before and pack away with the Easter decorations).  We lay an old towel down on the counter -- one that can be bleached afterwards, and bring up the long drywall bench from the basement for the kids to stand on.  Once the eggs are pulled out of the dye, we place them on a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet until they are dry.

Maybe when the kids are a little older, we may experiment with some other fancier dyes/colors, but for now, these are perfect. 

I just love traditions ...