the last easter egg hunt

we have been to two (three if you count the preschool parties) egg hunts this year, but this was going to be madelyn's first. and she was ready! it was a community egg hunt that was close enough to walk (matt and mason ran/walked but the rest of us drove because it would be tight getting to soccer afterwards if we didn't have the car). the day was forecast to be warm so we all wore shorts. it was not warm enough for that. we were fine for the first hour or so but then we started to get cold. oh well.

the morning started with some bunny ear hats and face painting. mason's was super cute!

and then we went outside to maddux' hunt location. this was the first egg hunt we have done that is segregated by age. manning wasn't old enough to participate, but he didn't mind like i thought he might. the older three were each in different age brackets separated by 15 minutes so we had plenty of time to enjoy each hunt.

maddux was ready to go!

at first we weren't sure what maddux was doing when he jumped over the eggs at his feet and ran straight for the middle of the area. but then we realized he had a great strategy and came back with a very full basket!

mason was next. his strategy was to just stay low to the ground and get as many as he could. i don't think he stood completely up until it was over.

the kids were enjoying the goldfish that filled several of maddux' eggs while we waited.

another full basket...

mason was the only one willing to take a picture with the easter bunny.

and finally madelyn got to have her turn! it was killing her to have to wait and be last (there was one more older group that went after she did but she was the last one in our family - the oldest group hunts on a wooded hillside).

she took a little of maddux' strategy heading to the middle but she just couldn't pass up the eggs she was stepping over. i loved that mason was cheering her on.

another loaded basket!

we were asked to empty and return all of the eggs for next year. that was fine except that most of the eggs were taped shut in a way that was almost impossible to open! what i thought was neat was that the treats inside were suited for each age group (maddux' had a lot of goldfish cracker filled eggs while madelyn's had a lot of harry london chocolates).

the kids reliving the 'hunts' and their winnings together on the way to the car.

this was such a nice community event and we will definitely sign up for next year's hunt! but now it was time to get to soccer. love.