Easter Tradition: Magic Jellybean Prayer and Lollipop Garden
Confession: I kinda hate jellybeans. I think they’re gross. Not only are they way too sweet (in a not good way) but they always sink to the bottom of the Easter basket and then you have to dig around for them inside of that disgusting plastic Easter grass that feels gross and smells horrible. Some kids might’ve found digging for their candy to be fun, but it just got on my nerves. And who wants to eat candy that was just floating around loose rubbing all over that yicky Easter grass? Not I, says Jenn. Not I.
But, jellybeans are mandatory in Easter baskets otherwise the Easter basket police will come take me away and shove jellybeans down my throat until I agree to feed them to my children. Or maybe not. But my kids (who clearly have very poor taste in candy) love jellybeans.
All that to say…hey, people, have you heard of the Magic Jellybean Prayer and Lollipop Garden? For the past few years I’ve taken a basic Easter Egg Hunt, The Jellybean Prayer, and the Magic Jellybean Lollipop Garden Easter traditions and put them all together.
(Watch video here)
The first year that we tried this we were going to plant the jellybeans out in the yard but it ended up being too cold to have the kids outside for that long. Instead I grabbed a random pot of dirt at my mom’s house (because who doesn’t have a random pot of dirt sitting around) and planted the jellybeans in the pot inside the house first and then we set the pot out on the porch.
If the weather is nice enough we have an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Nothing fancy, I literally just toss eggs filled with pennies out in the yard moments before the kids come out. Mixed in with the other Easter eggs are 5 special jellybean shaped Easter eggs.
When the hunt is over the children give me the jellybean eggs that they found and gather around for the Magic Jellybean Prayer. Inside each jellybean egg is a part of a poem and several jellybeans. I open the eggs in order and read the rhyme and give each child a jellybean to eat and one to plant.
How to grow a lollipop garden from magic jellybeans:
-Read the Jellybean Prayer
-Plant the jellybeans in a pot of sugar or directly in the ground.
-Set the planted jellybeans in Easter Eve moonlight or Easter sunlight and wait for them to grow.
(Magic jellybeans will need all night to grow when using moonlight, but they grow in only a few short minutes when put in Easter sunlight.)
-Your magic jellybeans will become a tasty lollipop garden!
I found the poem I use for The Jellybean Prayer at Happy Home Fairy.
(By the way if you like all of the holiday ideas on my blog you’ll love Julie’s blog. Not only does she blog way more regularly than I do, but she’s super nice and sweet and not cranky and sarcastic like me 😉 It’s a breath of fresh air compared to what you normally get around these parts. Shut up. < see?)
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The Jellybean Prayer (Free Printable) @ Happy Home Fairy
There is another version of The Jellybean Prayer that is all over the internet but I’m not really fond of it because I think the rhyme is cheesy and hardly has anything to do with Easter (orange is for the edge of night…whaaa?). So, because I’m picky I really prefer the prayer shared on Happy Home Fairy. I think the rhymes and colors make more sense and it’s sweet and simple for kids to understand.
I really try to avoid giving the children artificial colors and flavors when I can so I used Hammond’s Natural Lollipops (available on Amazon). The flavors you see below are Cherry (Pink, White, Red) and Peach Mango (Green, Orange, Red)
(They also have Butterscotch (Cream, Gold Stripe), Pomegranate (Red, Orange, White Stripe), Lemon (Yellow, White Stripe), Root Beer (Brown, Tan, White Stripe), Cinnamon (Red, White Stripe), Orange (Orange, White Stripe), and Mint (Red, White Stripe).
In the photo from 2012 I used YumEarth Organic Lollipops.
If you don’t mind the artificial colors you can find lots of colorful swirl lollipops on OrientalTrading.com
The jellybeans that I gave the kids to eat were vegetarian Green Beans All Natural Jelly Beans and Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans.
The jelly beans we planted were just regular ones from the dollar store and since we don’t eat them I save the bag for planting each year.
I got the Dudley’s Jelly Bean Filler Eggs at Hobby Lobby years ago. Good luck finding them anywhere online, I haven’t had any luck.
The kids have enjoyed planting the Magic Jellybeans for the past few years and this year Jonathan will be old enough to join in the fun with his sister and cousin.
Have you ever planted a Magic Jellybean Lollipop Garden? Is the Jellybean Prayer part of your Easter traditions? Let me know in the comments!
**DISCLOSURE: This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links. If you purchase something using these links I may get a small amount of money. This does not change my opinion of the products recommended, all opinions are my own.
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2013
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
April Holiday Traditions
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April is almost here and it’s time to start planning your holiday traditions!
Here are some ideas for family traditions for April holidays.
*30+ APRIL FOOLS PRANKS TO PLAY ON YOUR KIDS
If you’re not really digging the idea of pranking your kids maybe you can come together
as a family and create some silly and foolish April Fools Day fun with these…
*APRIL FOOLS DAY FAMILY TRADITIONS!
*FREE APRIL FOOLS PRINTABLES!
Just print and prank! 😉
*EASTER TRADITION: MAGIC JELLYBEAN PRAYER AND LOLLIPOP GARDEN
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
)
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2013
)
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
%20%23traditions%20%23easter%20%23eastereggs)
Easter Tradition: Easter Bunny Paw Print Trail (2013)
For the third year in a row the Easter Bunny left white paw print tracks all over our family room (which is now the playroom).
(Watch video here)
The kids had to follow the bunny trail to find their Easter baskets.
The Easter bunny hopped in through the window just like he did in 2011 and 2012.
This year he hid Jonathan’s Easter basket inside of the play kitchen.
The Easter bunny hopped all over the playroom leaving his footprints behind.
He even hopped onto the table to get a closer look at Adaline’s stuffed bunny.
Then the Easter Bunny hid Adaline’s Easter Basket under the art table.
Adaline searched for both Easter baskets since Jon is 14 months old and was not very interested in the whole thing.
Adaline was so excited about the Easter Bunny’s footprints being everywhere, she just kept running around in circles pretending she was bunny!
The kids enjoyed inspecting the Easter Bunny paw prints closely.
Yet another fun visit from the Easter Bunny…that rascally rabbit! 🙂
Does the Easter Bunny leave paw prints at your house? Does he hide the Easter basket?
Let me know in the comments!
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
Easter Tradition: Easter Bunny Paw Print Tracks (2012)
The Easter Bunny visited and left a messy paw print trail all over the family room again!
(Watch video here)
The bunny hopped in through the window and onto the sofa before hopping off to hide the Easter baskets.
He hopped straight ahead and hid Jonathan’s Easter basket near the chair.
And then the Easter Bunny hopped onto the chair and his trail continued across Adaline’s toy table (where he had left some Cadbury Eggs for Mommy and Daddy)…
The Easter Bunny’s paw print tracks led to Adaline’s toy basket in the corner of the room where he hid her Easter basket.
From there he hopped onto the end table and loveseat…
…and then he hopped across the room again.
And finally he hopped back onto the sofa and out of the window the way he came in.
Does the Easter Bunny leave paw prints at your house? Does he hide the Easter basket?
Let me know in the comments!
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2013
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
Easter Traditions: Bunny Footprints (2011)
Find a free printable Easter Bunny paw print template/stencil here! Front and back paws! 🙂
Last year on Easter we woke up to find that the Easter Bunny had left bunny tracks in the family room!
At first Adaline was a little afraid of the bunny footprints which is odd considering that she didn’t seem to mind the leprechaun footprints at all.
It looks as though the Bunny hopped in through the window and then hopped across the room to fill Adaline’s Easter basket leaving a trail of bunny prints behind.
He also dropped some plastic eggs that had candy in them. Adaline enjoyed putting them in her basket once her fear of the bunny paw prints mellowed.
Adaline’s bunny and book about Easter was waiting for her.
Adaline’s Easter basket
Don’t worry about the bunny prints…they vacuumed right up! In fact, I’d say they were as easy to vacuum as flour, baking soda, or baby powder ;)!
If you need a template you can try this one!
Does the Easter Bunny leave paw prints at your house? Let me know in the comments!
*FREE PRINTABLE EASTER BUNNY PAW PRINT TEMPLATE
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2013
*Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs (Links)
*Round up of 50+ Easter Egg Decorating Ideas
*Santa’s Magic Sooty Bootprints!
*Leprechaun Visit 2011: Leprechaun footprints and green toilet water!
*Leprechaun Visit 2013: Little green footprints!
*30+ April Fools Pranks You Can Play on Your Kids!
This post is linked to…
Eco-Friendly All Natural Dyes for Coloring Easter Eggs (Links)
Did you know that you can color eggs using natural dyes you may already have in your kitchen? Beets, onion skins, coffee, tea, and more, are all great natural ways to color eggs!
Check out the links below for pictures, tips, and tutorials on how to die your eggs naturally.
(Click on the titles or photos to follow the links.)
(For 50+ other ways to dye and decorate your eggs click here!)
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NATURAL DYES
*Natural Egg Dyes @ FamilyFun.go.com:
*Dyeing Easter Eggs Naturally @ Almanac.com:
*Naturally Dyed Eggs @ The Herb Society of America:
*Natural Easter Egg Dying @ Oh Dee Doh:
*How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally, Without a Store-Bought Kit
@ Serious Eats:
“A couple of beets, some ground turmeric, and a red cabbage, and I was turning out gorgeous eggs in all three primary colors.”
*Vibrant Eggs, Dyed Naturally @ The Kitchn:
*How to Make Onion-Skin Easter Eggs @ The Kitchn:
This is a great, natural way to make subtly beautiful Easter (or Passover) eggs. And they answer the question, “what to do with all those left-over onions?” here.
*Natural Egg Dyeing Techniques @ MarthaStewart.com: 
*Easter Egg Dyes @ Chemistry.about.com:
*Natural Easter Egg Dyes @ BHG.com:
*Easter Egg Dye @ What’s Cooking America:
*The Natural Easter Egg Dye Off @ Art of Natural Living:
*Natural Egg Dye @ Observer-Reporter.com:
*Dying Eggs Naturally @ What’s Cooking with Kids:
*DIY Project: Gorgeous Sienna Easter Eggs @ Hostess with the Mostess: These chic sienna Easter eggs from floral design guru Kim Foren are gorgeous, easy and non toxic!
*Natural Easter Egg Dyes (Video) @ FoodNetwork.com: Tyler Florence shares ideas for making natural, vegetable-based Easter egg dyes.
*Simple Recipes for Natural Egg Dyes @ Green Living Ideas:
CHINESE TEA-DYED EGGS
*Chinese Tea-Dyed Eggs @ Barefoot Kitchen:
*Tea Infused Marble Eggs – Chinese Marbled Tea Eggs @ What’s Cooking America:
*Chinese Marbled Tea Egg Recipe @ Steamy Kitchen:
50+ Easter Egg Decorating Ideas (Links)
This post is linked to…
50+ Easter Egg Decorating Ideas (Links)
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If you’re looking for a new way to decorate eggs with the kids or a new hobby for yourself…we have all the inspiration you need! Whether you want something quick and easy or a new challenge the best egg decorating ideas from around the web are all here in one convenient list! Find new techniques using chalkboard paint, Kool Aid, fabric, tissue paper, electrical and duct tape, rubber bands, leaves and flowers, silk ties, doilies, stencils, tie dye, decoupage, crayons, rubber cement, sequin, stickers, beads, foil, string, glitter, and more!
Click the title links or photos for details, directions, and tutorials!
(For ways to dye your eggs naturally click here!)
*Decorating Easter Eggs with Your Preschooler @ Quirky Momma:
*How to Make Chalkboard Easter Eggs @ Skip to my Lou:
*Tiny Chalkboard Eggs @ Style at Home:
*Kool Aid Colored Eggs @ Measuring Flower:
*Van Gogh Easter Eggs & Polka Dot Easter Eggs
@ No Time for Flash Cards
*Fabric Eggs @ Holiday Haven:
*Tissue Paper Easter Eggs @ How Sweeter it is:
*A fun Easter egg dyeing technique (using electrical tape) @ Indie Fixx:
*Duct Tape Eggs @ kateandersok flickr:
*Fun Unique Easter Egg Dyeing Techniques @ Jolly Mom:
Rubber Band Technique, Masking Technique, Botanical Print Technique
*Marbled Easter Eggs @ Quick and Simple:
*Silk Tie Dyed Easter Eggs @ Monogram Momma:
*How to Make Geode Easter Eggs:
Make Fun and Unusual Crystal Eggs for Easter. You can make Easter Eggs full of beautiful crystals with this a fun Easter craft that could double as a fun science project using common kitchen ingredients.
*Doily Stenciled Eggs @ Urban Comfort:
*Easter Egg Decorating Ideas Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 @ Botanical Paperworks:
*Dye Free Easter Eggs @ Parents.com
*Good Eggs: Unbelievably Cute Easter Crafts @ Parents.com
Looking for a fun Easter craft? Raid your pantry, craft closet, and sock drawer to make our cute Easter projects.
*Hunt for Easter Egg Decorating Ideas @ Familyfun.go.com:
A collection of Easter egg decorating ideas that kids will love. Dye-ving Dudes, Tie-Dye Tuffets, Melted Crayon Eggs, Surprise-inside Egg, Sheep Egg, Leaf Print Eggs, Bee Egg, Easter Dove, Decoupage Designs, A Herd of Eggimals, Bluebird Egg, Cool Crayon Colors, Superegg-man Egg, Paper Egg Diorama, Pig Egg, Tie-Dye Easter Eggs, Sticker Stencils Technique, Fancy Feathered Friends, Tissue Paper Technique, Purple Cow Egg, Daddy Deggster Egg, Mom Peggy Egg, Megg Egg, Lovely and Loopy, String Technique, Natural Egg Dyes, Simply Smashing Shells, Lots of Dots (and Lines), Nesting Instinct, Grandpa Gregg Egg, Aluminum Foil Technique, Lightbulb Sleeves Technique, Rubber Bands Technique, Thumbprints Technique, Rock-a-bye Birdies, Simple Stained Glass, Sticker Stencils, Tie-dyed Eggs, Turn an Egg Into a Christmas Tree, Bubble Packaging Technique
*Easter Egg Decorating @ Familyfun.go.com:
Fun & easy techniques kids will be dyeing to try. Dye-ving Dudes, Easter Egg Wreath, Egg Pedestal, A Herd of Eggimals, Faux Fabergé eggs, Melted Crayon Eggs, Decoupage Designs, Aluminum Foil Technique, Bubble Packaging Technique, Lightbulb Sleeves Technique, Rubber Bands Technique, String Technique, Thumbprints Technique, Tissue Paper Technique, Sticker Stencils, Leaf Print Eggs, Dots (and Lines) using glue dots and colored sand or glitter, embroidery floss, Stained Glass, Crushed Shells, Tape and Paint Masking tape and paint, Tie-Dye Easter Eggs, Silk Tie-dyed Eggs, Decoupage Eggs, Dripped-On Eggs using rubber cement, Swirly Dyed Eggs using oil and water, Marbleized Eggs, Rubber banded, Sponge Stamped
*Easter Egg-stravaganza @ Disney Family
*13 Creative Ways to Dye and Decorate Easter Eggs @ Free Stuff 4 Kids:
Marbled eggs, tie dyed eggs, ribbons, crayons, mosaic, rubber bands, lace, sponged eggs, disco egg, stamped eggs, Easter Bunny eggs, stickers, silk-tie eggs
*Easter Egg Decorating @ Kaboose:
Crayon Eggs, Decal Dyed Eggs, Easter Egg-Heads, Egg Decoration Ideas, Egg Bunny, Chocolatescapes, Easter Eggs, Drip Dot Eggs, Easy Sponge Painted Eggs, BloPen Easter Eggs, Easter Egg Heads, Jeweled Easter Eggs, Marbled Easter Eggs, Napkin Applique Easter Eggs, Oil and Food Coloring Marbled Eggs, Paraffin Easter Egg, Decal Dyed Easter Eggs, Swirled Easter Eggs
*Easter Eggs Decorations @ Delish:
*Decorated Eggs @ WomansDay.com:
Fanciful decorating techniques for your Easter eggs.
*Easter Egg Decorating Ideas @ Good Housekeeping:
Just Picture It, Decorated Eggs using simple-shaped paper punches, Wrapped Eggs, Popcorn Eggs, Fern Eggs (Go Natural)
*Quick and Easy Easter Egg Decorations @ BHG.com:
Pretty Ways to Dye Easter Eggs: Hop to it! These pretty Easter egg dyeing techniques are perfect for the kid in you. Sticker-and-Dye Egg Designs, Banded Egg Design, Scrapbook Notions, Vibrant Dyed Eggs with Flowers, Natural Dyed Eggs, Pysanky Eggs, Easter Egg Flower Pots, Eraser Decorating, Toothpick Decorating, Tie-Dyed Easter Eggs, Polka-Dot Eggs
*Easter Egg Decorating Ideas @ AllRecipes.com:
Disco Egg, Chick Egg (Broken eggshell), Word Egg (Die-cut stickers), Space Egg, Bedazzled Egg (beads), Bumpy Egg (glue dots), Flower Vase Egg (blown egg), Charm Egg (The charm in this egg says, “Thank You!”), Royal Egg (necklace fasteners), Flower Power Egg (sequins), Dot Egg (stickers)
*Fun Easter Crafts @ Country Living:
Surprise someone special with handcrafted Easter gifts you can easily make at home, or buy. Pretty Patterned Easter Eggs (masking tape), Elegant Eggs (blown eggs) + 15 egg free crafts.
SILHOUETTE EGGS
*Silhouette Easter Eggs @ Le Papier Studio:
*Eggscelent Eggs @ LollyChops:
*German-Style Paper Cutout Easter Eggs @ MarthaStewart.com:
*Silhouette Easter Eggs @ MarthaStewart.com:
SURPRISE/SECRET MESSAGE EGGS
*Egg with a Secret Message @ Poppy Talk:
*Easter Surprise Eggs (the easy version) @ Not Martha:
*Chocolate Easter Surprise Eggs @ Not Martha:
*How to Make Chocolate Eggs @ MarthaStewart.com:
*How to Make Golden Chocolate Easter Eggs @ The Kitchn:
CHINESE TEA-DYED EGGS
*Chinese Tea-Dyed Eggs @ Barefoot Kitchen:
*Tea Infused Marble Eggs – Chinese Marbled Tea Eggs @ What’s Cooking America:
*Chinese Marbled Tea Egg Recipe @ Steamy Kitchen:
UKRAINIAN PYSANKY EGGS
*Pysanky Ukrainian Easter Eggs @ That artist Woman: Tutorial!
*Ukrainian Egg Tutorial @ Suzy’s Sitcom:
*Getting Started in Pysanky @ LearnPysanky.com:
50+ Creative Ideas from MarthaStewart.com
*Egg Dyeing 101 @ MarthaStewart.com:
Egg Dyeing Basics: Blowing out eggs, wax resist technique, masked designs technique, marbleizing technique, dripped on technique, creative egg carrying cases
*Decorating Easter Eggs @ Martha Stewart
*Easter Eggs @ MarthaStewart.com:
Lace Eggs, Spring Menagerie Eggs, Cheeky Chickens, Striped Crepe Paper Eggs, Overlapping Dot Designs, Metallic Eggs, Speckled Butterfly Easter Eggs, Glittered Sticker Eggs, Faberge-Inspired Eggs, Elegant Origami Eggs, Grass Appliquéd Dyed Eggs, Marbleized Swirls, Trimmed with Cord, Flight of Fancy Egg Hinged Egg, Egg Ornaments, Silk Tie Eggs, Crepe Paper Egg Bunnies, Glittered Eggs, Botanical Eggs, Stenciled Eggs, Chocolate Eggs, Beaded Egg Ornaments, Country Cow Eggs, Gilded Eggs, Wax-Resist Patterns, Pearl Trellis Egg, Metallic Polka-Dotted Eggs, Natural Egg Dyeing Techniques, Beaded Eggs, Velvet Trimmed Eggs, Stamped Eggs, Peek-a-boo Egg, Ladybug Eggs, Jeweled Eggs, Scrambled Lines and Letters Eggs, Tissue Paper Eggs, German-Style Paper Cutout Eggs, “Cracked” Eggshells and Chick Designs, Masked Designs (tape, stickers, little leaves, etc), Oversize Botanical Decoupage Easter Eggs, Dripped-On Eggs (rubber cement), Speckled Faberge-Inspired Egg , Big-Eared Bunny, Pretty with Pearls, Confetti Eggs, Stash-and-Carry Eggs, Easter Egg Tree, Square Patterned Eggs, Puddly Pigs, Paper-Napkin Decoupage Eggs, Baby Bird Eggs, Latticed Eggs, Egg Baskets, Silk-Dyed Eggs, Embellished Chocolate Easter Eggs, Dyed and Speckled Easter Eggs (acrylic paint), Hinged Eggs with Gold Trim, Tissue-Paper-Decorated Eggs, Egg within an Egg, Leaf and Flower Eggs
You might also like:
+Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs (Links)
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Fun Prankless April Fools Day Family Traditions
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Today is April Fools Day!
I’m surprised that our family doesn’t have any April Fools traditions. Although we’re a bunch of jokesters who love to laugh, we’ve never really gotten into pranking each other. We have been known to stick things on the head of an unsuspecting old lady while she sleeps…something we’ve been doing for over a decade. (Sorry Grandma)
If you’re not really digging the idea of pranking your kids maybe you can come together as a family and create some April Fools Day fun! Declare a day of silliness and foolishness and try some of the ideas below!
*Family Traditions: April Fools’ Day Dinner:
This family has a wacky April Fools’ Day Dinner tradition!
On April 1, we share a really wacky meal that was inspired by a summer camp game. It’s wacky not because of what we eat, but how we eat it: for every course, each family member gets to have just three random things that are on the table — and only those three things. So you could wind up with milk, butter, and pepper! The crazier the combos, the more fun it is.
FUN WITH MEALTIME
*Backwards dinner!: Serve breakfast for dinner or serve dessert first.
*Mixed up place settings: Set the dinner table with all of the plates, cups and utensils upside down or put all of the silverware at one place all of the plates at another, etc.
*Use giant utensils, tiny plate: Set the table with giant serving spoons and tiny plates (like saucers or dessert plates) to eat with.
*Serve food in a glass and drinks in a bowl or in a plate?! Messy!
*Declare all utensils forbidden…eat with your hands!
*FREE Ding Dong Ditch Download: Put a “sweet” new twist to this old prank! Ding Dong Ditch someone together as a family!
*You’ve been egged! FREE Download: A great Easter tradition that’s perfect for April Fools Day! Get together as a family and “egg” somebody 😉
The family that pranks together stays together 😉
Does your family have any April Fools Day traditions?
Let me know in the comments!
*30+ April Fools Prank to Play on Your Kids!
*FREE April Fools Day Printable Pranks:
Great printable pranks for kids and adults alike and April Fools Day coloring sheets!
FREE April Fools Day Printable Pranks (Links)
Here are some quick last minute April Fools printables.
Just print and prank! 😉
Amazing Origami Rock Craft: Perfect for the kid that loves a good craft…it takes them through a series of complicated steps before telling them to crumple the paper into a ball! 😉
Doughnut Seeds: Simply print our doughnut seeds envelope. Cut it out, then fold and glue the bottom and side flaps. Add a handful of frosted O-shaped cereal (such as Frosted Cheerios) and seal the top flap.
How great would it be if you “planted” these in a pot inside the house and the next morning real doughnuts were there?! (Perhaps lying in some “dirt” dessert!). 🙂
*FREE April Fools Coloring Page @ Crayola.com
*FREE Disney April Fools Day Printables: Make your April Fools’ Day extra “Goofy” with these fun and silly Disney printables.
*FREE Ding Dong Ditch Download: Put a “sweet” new twist to this old prank!
*You’ve been egged! FREE Download: A great Easter tradition that’s perfect for April Fools Day! Get together as a family and “egg” somebody 😉
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
*Chris Dunmire’s Real Fake Fun Stuff:
Popular Printable April Fool’s Every Day Jokes
*FREE World’s Smallest Sand Castle joke: All you need is a little bit of craft glue and a pinch of sand . . . and an adventurous sense of humor!
*World’s Hardest (Impossible) Puzzles Awesome April Fool’s Day Jokes: “Dropped” Word Search Puzzle, World’s Hardest Crossword Puzzle, FREE Printable Classic ‘No-Find’ Word Search Puzzle Collection (Descriptions below)
“Dropped” Word Search Puzzle
A seemingly normal-looking word search puzzle gets ‘accidentally’ dropped on the floor and when it’s picked up, all the words on the memo are scattered and messed up on the page as if they could be so easily displaced.
1. Print both versions (normal, dropped) of the puzzle.
2. Show your victim the front of the normal ‘intact’ puzzle for a brief moment before “accidentally” dropping it on the floor. When you pick it up, secretly swap the normal version with the dropped version and hand it to your recipient with a sheepish apology: “My printer hasn’t been working too well lately… Sorry if things got a little messed up.”
3. After a hearty ground-rolling laugh over that absurdness, give your friend the normal-looking version of the puzzle to do. Tip: Run off before he or she realizes that only partial words appear in this puzzle, except of course for the entire “APRIL FOOLS” line.
World’s Hardest Crossword Puzzle
This gag puzzle was designed with “duel” possible outcomes:
1. The solver will soon realize that the answers that fit into the puzzle squares don’t fit the questions, and give up.
2. The solver will realize that the real answer to the question ahead fits into the squares for the previous question. For example, the answer that fits into the #5 across squares (“crafts”) is the true answer for #6 across (“Arts and _____”).
Printable Classic ‘No-Find’ Word Search Puzzle Collection
Give someone a copy of Chris’ special “Artist’s Studio”, vegetable or animal-theme word search puzzles and watch how long it takes them to realize they’ll never find one word.
Do you know of any great printable April Fools Day jokes?
Let me know in the comments!
*30+ April Fools Prank to Play on Your Kids!
*April Fools Day Family Traditions
30+ April Fools Pranks to Play on Your Kids!
April 1st, is April Fools Day! Here are some fun, safe, quick, easy, harmless pranks to play on your kids.
*Please remember to use your own discretion regarding pranking your child. Each child is different. Please do not prank a child that is overly sensitive, easily embarrassed, or one that simply can’t take a joke. Keep in mind the age of the child. Some pranks are more appropriate for tweens and teenagers as younger kids may get upset or simply not “get it”.*
PRANKS WHILE THEY’RE SLEEPING
*Draw on them with washable markers: Sneak into your kids’ rooms at night and draw on their faces with washable markers. Draw pink hearts on the boys or the classic mustache on the girls, or sign a message like “Gotcha!” or “April Fools” (bonus points for writing it backwards on their forehead so that it’s readable when they look in the mirror!)
*Move them into a different bed: While your kids are sleeping gently move them to a different room/bed in the house.
*Change and hide the alarm clock: Change the time on the alarm clock and hide it in the room (under the bed?) so that when it goes off your child will have to search for it to turn it off.
PRANKS FOR GETTING READY IN THE MORNING
*Model Parent: Make a fake parent and set them up at the breakfast table. Even funnier if the real parent comes into the room later before the kids discover the fake one!
*Put salt on their toothbrush: Wet the toothbrush and then dab it into salt. Be sure to shake off the extra salt before putting it back.
*Latherless soap: Paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish and put in the shower/bathtub. This makes the soap appear normal, but it won’t lather at all!
Put one at the kitchen sink too!
*Stuff their shoes with tissue paper: Put tissue paper in the toe so they can’t get their shoes on all the way. This is the perfect complement to the small-clothes trick below.
*Replace your child’s clothes with smaller ones: This would work best if you were able to duplicate the same outfit in a smaller size, otherwise the kids might notice that their old clothes are back in the drawer.
*Sew all of their underwear together: This requires only a few stitches at the side seams, then fold neatly and place back in the drawer.
*Early Wake Up!: Change all of the clocks and wake the kids up for school (at 3 a.m.) and serve them breakfast. Mom and dad should be already dressed for the day however they normally would be. Feed them breakfast and start out the door…once they’re outside they’ll notice it’s dark…April Fools! It would be great to have an April Fools sign outside…maybe even something made with glow sticks that shine in the dark ;)!
*Don’t be late!: Set all of the clocks in your house an hour early and hurry everyone as if you will all be late.
*School on a Weekend: If April Fool’s day is on a Saturday wake up the kids like a normal school day. Go through your regular school day routine and even drive them to school! When they’re about to get out of the car (or they notice the parking lot is empty!) say “April Fools!”.
*Scroll down to the “Around the House” pranks section for tips on coloring your bath water.
*If you do have somewhere to go, you may want to keep an outfit the correct size, pair of underwear, good bar of soap, and unsalted toothbrush set aside to keep you on schedule ;).
PRANKS FOR BREAKFAST
*Cereal Box Mix Up: Take all of the cereal out of their original boxes and put it back into a different box.
*String the Cheerios: String an entire box of Cheerios or other “o” shaped cereal on one long string and put it back in the box.
*That’s not cereal!: Remove the cereal from the box and replace it with packing peanuts or some other type of non-food that pours.
*Freeze the cereal: Freeze a bowl of cereal and milk with the spoon inside.
*Magic Milk Bowl: This trick makes milk change color when it’s poured on top of cereal. Put a drop of food coloring on the bottom of a bowl or glass and the milk will change color when poured on top.
PRANKS WITH DRINKS
*Gelled Juice: A thirsty family member is the perfect target for this glassful of trickery that’s impossible to drink. And since the undrinkable beverage is made by the batch, you’ll be able to fool more than one person.
*Vinegar Juice: Replace apple juice with vinegar. Yuck!
*Colorful Milk: Put food coloring into the milk container, it will pour a different color and surprise the kids. This obviously won’t work with the see-through jugs as you’ll be able to see it before pouring.
*Frozen Milk/Juice: Freeze your drinks while still in the container so they won’t pour
*PRANKS FOR A GAG LUNCH
Can’t Un-Ziplock: To set up the prank, zip the bag closed and place a length of double-sided scrapbook tape on one of the flaps just above the closure. Firmly press the flaps together to make them stick. Your kids won’t be able to unzip their sandwich!
Wormy Apple: Use a plastic ballpoint pen, washed and with the ink cartridge removed, to bore a hole in the fruit, then insert a gummy worm. (Don’t make it the night before, or the worm may get mushy.)
Snack Switcheroo: Make the switch by carefully opening a snack bag along the top seam. Empty out the original contents and fill the bag with another edible item such as baby carrots. Add a playful message such as “April Fools!,” then use a strip of double-sided tape to reseal the bag along the seam.
This sneaky mom opened the snack bags from the bottom.
Slice a banana without peeling it: When your kids peel the banana, they’ll find the fruit inside is already cut into bite-size pieces.
PRANKS FOR DINNER AND DESSERT
*Backwards dinner!: Serve breakfast for dinner or serve dessert first. That would work well with the next prank below!
*Dinner/Dessert Disguise: Here are some great recipes for making your dinner look like dessert or making cupcakes that look like other food. Announce “dessert first!” and then serve the kids this ice cream sundae that’s actually mashed potatoes and gravy!
*Fly in the Ice: Freeze a plastic fly inside an ice cube.
*Salt/Sugar Switch: Replace sugar with salt. Only do this if one of these is used every day (like in coffee or tea) otherwise you may forget and end up cooking with it!
FUN WITH UTENSILS AND DINNERWARE
*Mixed up place settings: Set the dinner table with all of the plates, cups and utensils upside down or put all of the silverware at one place all of the plates at another, etc.
*Use giant utensils, tiny plate: Set the table with giant serving spoons and tiny plates (like saucers or dessert plates) to eat with.
*Serve food in a glass and drinks in a bowl or on a plate?! Messy!
*Declare all utensils forbidden…eat with your hands!
PRANKS to set up WHILE THEY’RE AT SCHOOL
*Switch the drawers: Either move around the contents of the drawers (underwear where the pants go, etc.) or switch siblings drawers
*Rearrange the Room: This one takes some time and effort. You could just move around the furniture or turn everything backwards and upside down. You can go as far as turning pictures, posters, and shelves on the walls upside down or backwards.
*Short sheet the bed: And oldie, but a goodie. Instructions found here.
PRANKS AROUND THE HOUSE
*Take the batteries out of the remotes: This is sure to frustrate older children and husbands alike!
*Make your water change color: Add Crayola Color Dotz Bath Tub Tints inside the faucet by unscrewing the cap on the faucet, and setting a couple of tablets inside.
Not just for the kitchen sink…use these in the bathtub or shower, or simply run a bath for the kids and add food coloring!
*Tape the hose open: Wrap a rubber band around the kitchen sink sprayer so whoever turns on the faucet gets a big, wet surprise.
*Toilet paper messages: Unroll a roll of toilet paper and write messages or jokes on some of the sheets inside, roll it back up and place it on the holder (I personally like “Help, I’ve been kidnapped and forced to work in a toilet paper factory!”).
You can also write a note (or a joke) to your kid on toilet paper with a Sharpie and then place it in the toilet bowl right before they go to the bathroom.
(The classic “I C U P” is always a winner 😉 )
After giving a clue of what’s to come using the Joke on the Water prank above, send your target laughing all the way to her piggy bank. Conceal a dollar bill inside your toilet paper roll by unwinding it several turns, then wrapping it back up with the bill inside. Rehang the roll flap-side down as shown. When your target tugs at the tissue, the money will spill out.
NOTE: If your house is visited by tricky Leprechauns , Christmas Elves (Elf on the Shelf), or Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2 throughout the year, you may want to skip certain “magical” tricks and leave them for the legendary figures ;). Recycle some of their pranks and tricks to use on April Fools Day when the kids are older and stop believing 😦
*Please click on photos for source credits*
Do you play pranks on your kids on April Fools Day? Let me know in the comments!
April Fools Day Family Traditions
FREE April Fools Day Printable Pranks:
Great printable pranks for kids and adults alike and April Fools Day coloring sheets!
This post is linked to…
SITS Sharefest / Bloggers Brag 3/31/2014
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On JennRian.com: Christmas traditions with Joe Boxer pajamas from Kmart
Joe Boxer pajamas from Kmart have been a part of our family Christmas traditions for many years, so I’m excited to share this sponsored post with you over on JennRian.com. Please click the image below to see how my family chooses to #ShowYourJoe and watch a new video where my son, Jonny, completely upstages me with his cuteness!
December Christmas Traditions
December is the month for holiday traditions! Coolest Family on the Block has your family Christmas tradition needs covered from Christmas Pajamas, to Ugly Christmas Sweaters, to proof of Santa’s existence, and so much more!
Christmas Book Countdown Advent
Christmas Morning Tradition: Gift Wrap Doorway
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10 Ideas For Your Christmas Pajamas Tradition
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Ugly Christmas Sweater Tradition
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Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest Rules
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Santa Proof: Photos of Santa in your home!
Santa Proof: Santa’s Magical Sooty Bootprints
Santa Proof: Phone Calls from Santa
Santa Proof: Watch Santa feed his reindeer!
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Make Writing a Letter to Santa a Tradition
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How to Mail a Letter to Santa at the North Pole
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How to Email a Letter to Santa
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What are some of your family’s December traditions?
Let me know in the comments!
Visit my other blog…it’s pointless, sarcastic, and mildly amusing.
JennRian.com: I’m, like, funny…
Win a ticket to The Mom Con in Pittsburgh!
I’d love for you to join me and a group of other ladies at The Mom Con in Pittsburgh. Introduce yourself, tell us your goals and your dreams. Just be you, whoever that is. Hey, I’m an awkward weirdo, but that’s okay, and I’d love the opportunity to be awkward and weird around you!
To read more about The Mom Con Click here or on the image below or just go ahead and enter the giveaway by clicking the link at the bottom of this post! 🙂
Because a shared experience is a powerful thing. It creates community, which allows for sparking ideas and learning from each other. Social media can take us a long way toward building relationships with each other, but it will never replace the power of face-to-face contact. The Mom Con is a day to get inspired by our speakers, empowered with new ideas, and connect with each other in real life. It’s a place for creative + motivated moms to be who they really are.
Enter to win a free pass to The Mom Con on Saturday November 15, 2014 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North
Easy Last Minute Halloween Costumes
This year the Cool Family opted for some extremely cheap, simple, and easy no-sew Halloween costumes.
Thankfully Adaline insisted on being a Black Cat this year. I was going to go the leotard route but figured it was pointless to spend the extra money, especially if she would end up being too cold. She wore a black long sleeved shirt and black pants that she already had. We got a cat kit for $5 at Target which included the ears, tail, and bowtie (it also came with a weird nose, but it looked awkward). A little eyeliner nose and whiskers and we’re done!
Jon wanted to be a scarecrow. The costume was simple: overalls and flannel shirt. Jeans would work as well especially if the shirt is a little longer and you could cinch the waist with some rope. For the straw “cuffs” I just tied some yard into a circle and then tied yarn around it and put it on his wrists and shoes. For the hat/hair I stuck pieces of yarn to duct tap and then safety pinned the strip of duct tape to the hat. Simple! I was going to put a scarecrow nose and stitched mouth on him, but he wouldn’t let me 😦
When I was 2 years old I was also a scarecrow for Halloween. That’s me on the left. Do you think Jon and I look alike at all?
I decided to go as a nerd because I only needed a few accessories to complete the costume: nerd glasses, suspenders, and a bowtie. I will tell you that I’m not happy with my accessories at all. We went to Party City because it was closer and these were the only options. I think the glasses are too “trendy”, the bowtie is too “cocktail waitress”, and it was all pricier than I would’ve liked. After I’d already bought the stuff I found cheaper and more appropriate accessories at a Halloween store at the mall. So I’m disappointed.
Nerd glasses, suspenders, bowtie: Party City 2014
Nerd knee socks: Target 2014 (I already had these, because they’re awesome)
Hair Pom Poms: Gymboree 2010 (They’re Adaline’s, I thought they worked perfectly)
Because I wasn’t entirely thrilled with my nerd costume (I hated the bowtie in particular), I decided to change it up and go specifically as a Harry Potter Nerd or a Potterhead, if you will. I already had the awesome Gryffindor t-shirt and scarf, and the round Harry Potter glasses. Yes, I already had those, just for every day use. Because, shut up.
Harry Potter Glasses: Amazon
Gryffindor T-shirt: Wal-Mart 2014
Gryffindor Scarf: Universal Islands of Adventure 2011
Nerd glasses, suspenders: Party City 2014
Nerd knee socks: Target 2014
Hair Pom Poms: Gymboree 2010
It ended up being chilly so I wore a gold cardigan that I already had that matched perfectly and in the end I decided to wear the nerd glasses instead of the Harry Pottery glasses. Fascinating stuff, right?
Gryffindor T-shirt: Wal-Mart 2014
Gryffindor Scarf: Universal Islands of Adventure 2011
Gold Cardigan: Target 2013
Nerd glasses, suspenders: Party City 2014
Nerd knee socks: Target 2014 (I already had these, because they’re awesome)
Hair Pom Poms: Gymboree 2010 (They’re Adaline’s, I thought they worked perfectly)
Last year Adaline and Jon went as an Artist and Masterpiece.
Click for costume details.
What did your kids dress as for Halloween this year?
What’s your favorite go-to last minute costume?
Let me know in the comments!
Visit my other blog: JennRian.com. It’s pointless, sarcastic, and mildly amusing.
Healthy Halloween Snacks
We were in charge of bringing classroom snacks for the Kindergarten Halloween party. Homemade treats were not allowed (which is just as well since I don’t cook or bake). I really get tired of all of the junk my kids accumulate from October to January during the holidays, so I really didn’t want to give the kids loads of sugar. Instead I prepared healthy snacks (fruit and cheese) with a fun “Halloween” twist…and they got organic lollipops as well. Yep, I’m one of those super fun parents :P.
(Don’t worry, they also got store bought cookies filled with sugar and artificial junk and bags of artificially colored Cheetos 😦 That was my husband’s doing. He’s everyone’s favorite.)
These healthy Halloween snacks were ridiculously easy to make. Seriously, I can’t express to you enough how quick and simple this was! I made 16 of each and it only took about half an hour to complete. I know, right?! All you need is a black Sharpie Marker!
These String Cheese Ghosts were the easiest to do. I just drew little ghostly faces on the back of a cheesestick and was finished in only minutes! Effortless!
Using a Sharpie marker I drew Jack-O-Lantern faces onto oranges. Okay, okay…so they were Halos or Cuties which are technically Mandarin Clementines. But I’m still going to call them “oranges” anyway because this is my blog and I’m a rebel that laughs in the face of accurately classifying fruits by their proper species and binomial name. Suck it, science!
I’ve seen these Banana Pirates around cyber space for years now. They’re not particularly “Halloween-y” but I still thought they were cute and fun. Halloween is a time you can dress up and be whatever you want…so can your banana! Maybe if I wasn’t so lazy I could’ve come up with a different more appropriately themed “character”, but this will have to do.
What are your kids’ favorite healthy Halloween themed treats?
What other creative character can you turn a banana into?
Do you call Clementines “oranges” too?
Let me know in the comments!
Need last minute Halloween Costumes for siblings?
Check out these adorable and easy Artist and Masterpiece costumes!
Visit my other blog: JennRian.com. It’s pointless, sarcastic, and mildly amusing.
Silly Wacky Crazy Seuss Hair Day
Can you believe Adaline is in Kindergarten now? Today she had Crazy Hair Day at school and I thought I’d share her silly, wacky, crazy hairdo with you!
I can’t take credit for the awesome hair…my mom did it.
I’m hair-challenged and can barely put hair in a ponytail.
SILLY WACKY CRAZY SEUSS HAIR
*Put hair in multiple ponytails.
*Twist the ponytails into knots and secure like tiny buns.
*Use colorful scrunchies and barrettes.
*Accent with curly-Q pipecleaners.
I think her hair has a very Dr. Seuss-esque quality to it. It would be perfect for a Dr. Seuss celebration, Read Across America, or Wacky Wednesday!
Party in the back…
Visit my other blog: JennRian.com. It’s pointless, sarcastic, and mildly amusing.
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