My new Easter dress, crinoline, and Mary Jane patent leather shoes were bought and waiting in the closet. On the morning of, the Easter basket on the kitchen table contained plastic eggs filled with new socks, panties, candy, and other small, and often utilitarian, gifts. As I aged, I would find a poem on the kitchen table that contained a clue as to where to find the basket. When I figured out the first clue and arrived at the spot, there would be another poem/clue and then another until finally the basket. One year it was hanging from the top limb of the Oak tree in our front yard. My mother was so clever!
Memories of our daughter bring to mind Easter at my in-laws. Our daughter had to sleep in the open concept living/dining area on the pull out sofa. We had to stay awake until we were sure she was asleep and then slip in and hide eggs filled with candy and other small gifts. One year, she woke us in the morning so excited because she had heard the Easter Bunny hopping around the night before and she knew he was REAL!
Our daughter and I took my granddaughter to my mother's house in Ft Myers over Easter one year when she was about seven. After she went to sleep, we hid eggs in the back yard and when we opened the door to take her out, there was a real Cottontail Rabbit, hopping away. We were all blown away and she was so excited and so convinced she had caught the REAL Easter Bunny in action.