Ha! I was getting ready to type out how we did this very thing. In fact our kids participated in this thing right up till last year when my youngest was 14. They still played along because the gifts got bigger and more expensive every year, esp the cash from granny.

Clodfobble, give 'em candy for breakfast and they won't give a shit about anything swirling around them. Househunting, packing, grandpa's brunch....nothing.

As a kid, my parents (i.e., my mother) hid candy eggs all over the house and yard. But who needs all that candy?

When my own kids were small I usually got them a "basket" with some candy, some little toys, and some practical things. I moved away from Easter "baskets" per se, because I found they were awkward to keep around, so I usually looked for some practical container. Clothes and shoes were also popular gifts, shoes especially. Can you take the kids all to Payless or something? Kids always need shoes.

I went bunny shopping today for the little girl grandkids. Poor crop this year, though. I think I will cook/take breakfast over to my daughters' house, then we're all going to the zoo.

:) I'll be watching Six Feet Under myself.

I got it, and I laughed until I stopped.

re: bad parent, is clodfobble? A: No. You are not! (lazy, perhaps. bad? no.)
(jesting about the laziness)

re: Your stolen childhood. I think you are still young enough (you're like 16, as I recall, so the statue of limitations is probably not up. You should sue your parents for damages and with the big reward money you can hire someone to write clues for you.

okay, jesting again.

Seriously though, some idears:

1. Where is your MIL? can you shanghai her into helping with the clues,etc. since she undoubtedly is a Shihan in this sort of thing.
2. Can you do a "lite" version in light of your impending move? Can the boxes be incorporated in the whole hunt?
3. Can you badger mr. Clodfobble into "cowboying up" with references to how your previous boyfriend lifted a volkswagen off a kitten with a broken elbow? Guys love it when their manliness is challenged.
4. Sorry, jesting up there.
5. What about putting mr. Shoulder guy in charge of writing the rhymes, the painkillers should make the creative process a breeze.
6. Fake violently throwing up and come out of the bathroom looking pretty messed up and while clutching your gut, start to speak then puff up your cheeks and run back in for another prolonged flushing, retching bout, come back out and say "As I was starting to say, I'll be happy to uuugggh, work on the uuuughgg egg hunt thing.. Ugghhh can you make me a cup of tea, I'll be right back." Rushg back into the bathroom and lie on the floor pressing your face against the cool tile floor, telling him you like it better down there and you'll be 'right as rain' in a few minutes.
7. Alternitivley, there is always telling the truth.

You're a funny man, foot. Funny indeed. :)

There definitely have been some general improvements in the last day: Mr. Clod reported much less pain in his shoulder this morning, and we put an offer on a house last night that we feel pretty certain they'll take without hesitation. So since we're not going out looking at houses again today, I have pretty much the whole day to go get some miscellaneous candy and plastic eggs from the grocery store, and I've decided that clue haikus will suffice, at least for this year. :) (But I may still take you up on your poem-writing skills in subsequent years monster, so you'd better consider yourself a permanent dwellar.)

Oh, and telling the truth is for pansies, foot, everyone knows that!

Clodfobble, I thought you were a guy (because sounds like a guy's name). Damn these new-fangly internet nicknames!

Happy Spring to all, btw!

A) Thanks.
B) Holy mackerel. What? You sold your house and have to be out in two weeks and you don't already have a place lined up? day um.
C) A gal after my own heart...

Easter schmeaster, since when does a Grandmother need a holiday to shop for the grandchildren?
Grandpa may need a reason, but grandma only needs an opportunity.

Let's see: rabbits, eggs, celebrations of fertility... Easter is about Jesus?

Jesus, Kits. Don't you know anything? Easter is when Jesus comes out of the cave and if he sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. Duh.



:right:

Easter is celebrating Saint Peter Rabbit.
(thanks to South Park)

No no, we have to be out of the old place by May 21st. The "two weeks" I mentioned was a realistic deadline for when we had to literally find a house we wanted, then all time after that will be spent on inspections, contracts, closing, and getting it painted and whatnot in time for us to move in. So right now we're actually a good week and a half ahead of schedule, no worries.