Holiday Ideas from Early Start Day Care

Using uncooked eggs, carefully poke a hole into the top and bottom of the egg with your pin. Widen the hole on one end a little by moving the pin around. Hold the egg above your bowl and blow through the smaller hole so that the contents of the egg empties out of the larger hole. Rinse out the eggs and let them dry.

Cut the colored construction paper into confetti. (This is also a good activity for youngsters still practicing their cutting skills. While not yet ready to cut along a line, they're great at cutting things up into little pieces!)

Set up cups or bowls for coloring the eggs. Put vinegar in each container and add a drop or two of food coloring. Since the eggs are now hollow, they float ! This presents new obstacles in the egg-coloring sport! Let the eggs dry.

It's time to fill the eggs with the confetti. You can widen your holes a little to aid your confetti stuffing. No more than half-full should be adequate. To close the hole, cut a piece of tissue paper large enough to cover the hole. Next, dip it in egg whites and stick it to the egg. Let the egg dry once more. You now have a great game and decoration all in one. On Easter, let the children crack them open to release the colorful confetti!

Cut out a large egg from the construction paper. Put all the materials in front of the children and let them decorate to their heart's content!

Chances are, you've already purchased some seeds. You've probably already caught Spring Fever. Include the kids! Children just love putting their hands in the dirt! It's a great science activity for children to watch something grow and to have a hand in the process every step of the way.

Here's a fun tip (especially around easter): When starting seeds indoors, use eggshells as the containers. Save some half-shells and put them in an empty egg carton. Fill the shells with potting soil. When you plant the seedlings in your yard, plant them in the shell. The shell will serve as compost! Just give the bottom of the egg a crack for the roots to break through.

I don't know how this one got started, but this has been a family tradition for a very long time. After hard-boiling your eggs, take out all the broken ones (the ones you don't want to color because egg is oozing out!) and wrap them in aluminum foil. Have the Easter Bunny hide these eggs with the rest of the eggs. Whenever we found one of these eggs, we would get a bag of silver (Hershey Kisses or silver coins or both). It was always exciting to find one of these special eggs and added another element to the traditional hunt.

Here is another family tradition that's been going on forever. When you're ready to eat your eggs, don't just crack them, peel them, and eat them... Make a game of it! You need to find someone to challenge. Each of you takes an egg in hand. The challenged holds the egg so that only one end is exposed. The challenger does the same, but holds his egg so that he can hit the other egg on it's exposed end. Ready, set, go! Whack the egg! If your egg gets smashed, turn it to expose the other side and do it again. Often, there will be a champion egg that never gets smashed. Whoever is hungry can eat the defeated egg. We have never tired of this game and the kids know that they can't play unless they are prepared to eat the egg! (or if I'm going to make egg salad!!!)

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place ham, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in center of thickest part of ham and does not touch bone or rest in fat. Roast uncovered 25 to 30 minutes per pound or until thermometer registers 135 degrees.

3. About 30 minutes before ham is done, remove from oven; drain. Cut uniform diamond shapes on fat surface of ham. Spoon glaze over ham (use hands to press it onto the ham and into the grooves). Bake 30 minutes. Garnish with kumquats, grapes, orange slices and pineapple sage if desired. 5lb ham makes 10 servings. (source: Betty Crocker)

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove with a slotted spon; crumble and set aside. In the drippings, saute onion and green pepper until tender; remove with a slotted spoon. Beat eggs and milk in a large bowl. Stir hash browns, cheese, salt, pepper, dill, onion, green pepper and bacon. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Yield: 6-8 servings.(source: Taste of Home Magazine)

Hallmark's Seasons & Reasons - Why do we hunt for eggs? Who is that Easter Bunny? Curious about the history behind this popular holiday? This page should give you some quick answers!

Billy Bear's Easter Page - There are some coloring book pages to print and color and mazes to print for the kids

Family Fun Magazine - My favorite magazine! Check out their Easter ideas (including a really cute chick that comes out of a cracked egg. This is easy and adorable!)

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