We aren't doing easter baskets this year either. I usually save the plastic eggs and the grass and buy a bucket, but my dh threw my grass and eggs away. So I am not buying them new. This year I bought from Amazon the sword set for my 6ds, someone posted for $3.90, and for my 4dd I bought her the Princess phone from Amazon for like $6.80. (Thanks to whoever posted those!) I will get them maybe a chocolate bunny each. We are having an egg hunt at my moms so they will get plenty more candy.

Hello all! This is my first post - I'm a newbie! I read through lots of the post and see that everyone seems to buy really great bargains after holidays or on clearance, etc. for upcoming things - birthdays, next year's Easter. How/Where do you store all of it and how do you remember what you have, so you don't buy again next year? I have 3 children - 5, 3, and 6 months. Would love some suggestions!

Kristie

We have Easter nests instead of baskets. They each have a basket that they use for egg hunts, but on Easter morning their goodies are in the nests that they build the night before. I always put summer stuff that we would have bought anyway in there - the nest allows for bigger items. This year the little one will be getting a big dump truck and the oldest will be getting a few toys and they will each get a book and a little candy. They will get outside toys like balls and bubbles and chalk.

My son is 14 months, I bought him a 99 cent basket because I think he's too young to appreciate a nicer one yet. I looked at the elmo ones that were so cute but he's more excited about the grass!! After Easter I plan to purchase a good one that we will keep using on clearance. I put a new Barney DVD that I got for $5.50 at Target, two puzzles, Easter playdough, and a small Peter Cottontail board book ( both also at Target for a dollar each, I love the dollar section at that store!!) Also, since he loves to shake things I just bough 75 cent plastic eggs and a bag of mini m&m's to fill them with. I think he'll like that the best! I hate having clutter around our house and every couple of months I donate things we haven't been using so I dropped some hints at my in-laws not to buy anything that won't be used a lot since they tend to spoil him (not that I mind!!)

Also I have two new nieces that are both 4 months old. I bought them little fuzzy lamb baskets for a dollar each at Target and put onezies I got on clearance for $2.78 in them since they are both looking for short sleeve summer clothes now. Then I hand made them tags with my scrapbooking supplies and sent our other niece a dress that was on clearance for a couple of dollars, but really cute, in the mail since she lives out of state with Easter stickers.

I buy bubbles, chalk, $1.00 sand toys, etc...

Last year I found rubber rain boots on clearance at Target so I'll use these too!

I try to limit the amount of candy because it is not so great for the kids and it is expensive.

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"It's one of the most beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some interesting ideas you can do if you have boys....... One year I got a minnow trap and put their Easter goodies in it instead of a basket. Another year I used a tackle box for fishing and filled it with Easter goodies and fishing tackle. Fireworks in Christmas stockings is also another idea. We shoot fireworks on Christmas Eve before everyone goes to bed. My boys are 12 and 14 now, so these ideas are mostly for older boys.

Last year when decluttering our house I threw away all the Easter baskets. They were cheap and held no sentimental value, so out they went. That was great until I went to go price news ones this year... ouch! The bigger ones that seemed nice were well over $15 each. So instead of forking out $30 for baskets I got each child a big plastic terra cotta plant pot for $4.99. Dd has wanted to grow flowers this summer anyway, so I knew they would get used. Plus, there was plenty of room for all their Easter goodies!

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