Our family has many traditions centered around Easter. When I realized the holiday would fall on the last Sunday in March, I suddenly felt the need to jump on the planning and preparation. It takes a lot to coordinate things around our house and the sooner we know what’s going on, the better.
This is what Kady made
We always start the day off with Sunday services in our home. It’s important for us to teach our children about the religious significance of Easter, and what it means for us in our everyday lives .
Sabrina, Allie and Kady singing for the talent show.
After that, a big part of our tradition is to host a big brunch with several of our friends and neighbors and their families. After the brunch we have a huge Easter egg hunt. We usually send the kids out in shifts with the younger ones going out first to find the eggs that are hidden in plain sight. The older kids have to actually work for it as we have a multitude of hiding places in the yard.
When the egg hunt is over and the kids are gorging themselves on the goodies found inside their eggs we set up for the talent show. Anyone who wants to be a part of it is welcome. We encourage our children to practice something and be performance ready when the time comes. This works well in theory but on the day of, if they get a bug and decide to get up and perform impromptu, well, we just go with it. I’m excited to see what they come up with this year!
Vicki accompanying Liesl
Something we try to squeeze in each year is decorating sugar cookies. I’m proud to say that we have already accomplished this, and two weeks before the holiday too.
I say “WE”, but in actuality it was Alina that made it happen. She prepared the dough which has to be refrigerated overnight. When it was ready she pulled it out and let the little ones cut out shapes of eggs, chicks and bunnies. After they were cooled, which was an excruciating wait, they got to frost them and decorate them with sprinkles to their hearts content. Fortunately we had a lot of pastel pearl sprinkles left over from Amanda’s wedding.
Below is the recipe for the roll-out sugar cookies as well as the cream cheese frosting.
Vanessa’ cookie
GRANDMA’S FAVORITE SUGAR COOKIES
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Cream butter with sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sifted dry ingredients alternately with sour cream, mixing after each addition until smooth. Blend in vanilla. Wrap in waxed paper and chill overnight until firm enough to roll. Roll on floured board to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 375 degree oven about 12 minutes or until slightly browned. Frost and decorate!
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugr
2 tsp vanilla
In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
Awesome! I think I might try the talent contest with the kids this year!
Love your family traditions. It’s SO important! I’m going to have to try the sugar cookies this year. I’m also trying a new recipe called “Resurrection Rolls”. So fun to try new things. Thanks for the recipe!
I love the talent show idea. What fun! Our Easter tradition since moving to Utah seven years ago is spending the weekend camping at a Mountain Man Rendezvous at Fort Buenaventura Ogden. They have church services in the morning, followed by an Easter Egg hunt for all the kids. And then our own family along with any of my siblings and their families that come have a big Easter breakfast together. The kids love being together with their cousins for this holiday.
How funny, I didn’t know there were other people who liked to decorate their sugar cookies with cream cheese icing. Thanks for the recipe, I was always buying the store made kind.