Phil lied. At least that’s how we've been feeling where we live! Our yards are swampy and the sky has been a soggy gray most of the time but, as each daffodil peeks its head out of the dirt, we know we’re getting that much closer to spring warmth and...wait, what is that giant golden orb in the sky?! If you’ve been stuck inside on a dreary day more often than not this spring then it’s time to break out the craft supplies or don those aprons and head to the kitchen for a few tasty treats that will have you humming along with the birds in the trees. Give these ideas a try and before you know it you’ll be basking in the warm spring sun.
Spring Nests
These make great classroom treats for your little one or place holders for your Easter dinner.
Ingredients
· 1 bag miniature marshmallows
· 1/4 cup butter
· 4 cups chow mein noodles
Directions
1. Butter a 12 cup muffin tin.
2. Combine marshmallows and butter over medium heat in a saucepan; stir until the butter and marshmallows have melted. Stir in the chow mein noodles, coat well. Butter your fingers and press the mixture into the bottom and sides of the prepared muffin tin. Refrigerate until firm.
3. Remove from muffin tin and fill with about 3-4 jelly beans or Cadbury Mini Eggs each.
Other Delicious Easter Treats:
Easter Egg Cake Pops - who needs a mass-produced tootsie pop when you could make one of these little beauties?
Resurrection Rolls – this is a craft project and Easter lesson all rolled into one!
Easter Basket Cupcakes and much more – this site will keep you busy for weeks with all of their fun treat ideas
Healthy Homemade Cream Eggs – love Cadbury eggs but hate giving your kids “food” with a 100 item ingredient list? Once you try these chocolate eggs you’ll be saying Cadbury who?
Crazy Hair Day
(modified from a craft found at Disney’s Family Fun Website)
Materials
· One 9- or 12-ounce plastic cup, flower pot or pail (if there are no drainage holes, use a sharp object to punch holes in the bottom)
· 1 to 1 1/4 cups of potting soil
· 1 tablespoon of grass seeds (we used wheat grass seeds, also called hard winter wheat berries)
· Decorations, such as office dot stickers, markers, and ribbon (for safety, it should measure less than 6 inches long)
Instructions
1. Let your children decorate their own cup, pot or pail with stickers and markers (we used Crayola paint but it is washable and began to run when we watered the grass).
2. Fill the cup halfway with soil. Divide the remaining soil in two. Have your child measure the seeds and stir them into one of these halves. Tip: To speed germination, you can first soak the seeds in water overnight.
3. Spoon the seed-filled soil into the cup, then top it with the remaining soil (this final layer should be only about 1/8 inch deep as the sprouting grass will begin to push the dirt out of the pot). Water the soil well.
4. Finally, leave the plant in a warm, sunny spot to sprout. Water as necessary to keep the soil about as wet as a damp sponge.
For more fun Easter/Spring projects check out these sites:
· What could be more cheery than this May Day Flower Basket? Alpha Mom gives you printables so you can't go wrong!
· Easter Bunny Jingle Feet and using up those egg cartons after you dye your eggs…Disney’s site has lots of fun ideas to share.
· Easter Coloring Pages will keep them busy while you wait for those Easter treats to cool.
· From Easter cards to bunny ears, Kaboose has some unique and engaging crafts for your kids.
· For even more printable coloring pages and Easter crafts, check out Enchanted Learning
Bio: Kim Kremer is a Worship Pastor’s wife and full-time mom to four crazy and beautiful kids. Toss in a part-time job, housework, a blog (www.fishbowlliving.com ) and what passes for a social life these days and she’s still wondering how she fits 32 hours into a 24 hour day.
