Happy Easter!
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday—however you choose to celebrate it.
Years ago, when my daughter was younger, Easter weekend was a full production in our family. My mother hosted what we called the Family Olympics, and it was exactly as chaotic and competitive as it sounds. Each family had to sponsor an event, and throughout the weekend we all competed to earn “money” for an auction at the end.
It was part game night, part strategy session, and part friendly family rivalry.
And we loved it.
But as the years went on, schedules got busier, kids got older, and coordinating everyone in one place became more complicated. Like so many good things, it slowly faded… and eventually evolved into —our Christmas in July tradition. (And next year, we’re leveling it up into a full-blown Holiday Mash-Up… because apparently I don’t know how to keep things simple.)
(Side note: July in Texas may not scream “holiday magic,” but it does make travel easier when school isn’t in session. )
These days, Easter looks a little different.
We spend the afternoon with Ray’s family, but before we head over, I have one tradition I’ve held onto—Iyan’s Easter basket hunt.
And not just a casual, “here’s your basket, go enjoy” situation.
Oh no.
This is a full-blown clue-based scavenger hunt.
It starts with a single egg in the kitchen. Inside is a riddle he has to solve to find the next egg… which leads to another clue… and another… and another. When he was little, I used pictures to guide him. Now? The riddles have leveled up right along with him.
There are usually six or seven stops before he finally finds the basket.
And he still loves it.
This year, though, I decided to add a little twist.
When he finds his basket… it will only be half full.
Inside, there’s a note from the “Easter Bunny” explaining that the basket must have spilled—and he’ll need to keep searching.
So now the hunt continues.
Candy, a card game, batteries (because apparently everything requires batteries now), and a few extras will be hidden in eggs around the house.
Partly because he’s officially aged out of the neighborhood egg hunts…
But mostly because I’m not quite ready to let the magic go just yet.
And if I can stretch the excitement out just a little longer –
I’m going to.
Because somewhere between the big, organized traditions of the past and the quieter holidays we have now… there’s this middle space.
Honestly, at this point, I think I enjoy dragging it out more than he enjoys finding it… and I’m completely fine with that.
Sometimes traditions don’t disappear—they just change shape into something that fits the season you’re in.
Do you have any holiday traditions that evolved over time—or ones you’ve created that are a little outside the norm?
With love & glitter,
Valerie ✨
Feathers and Phases 