My First and Last

This is the first year we have been able to participate in our city wide Easter egg hunt and, unfortunately, it will also be our last. 

As my family arrived at the egg hunting site, I noticed the children leaving were depositing their newly found eggs into a big black lawn bag. I also noticed there was no candy in their baskets. I thought this was rather strange and figured I had better go ahead prepare the children.

I told them that it looks like we would not get to keep the eggs that we find. They must want us to return them so they can reuse them for future egg hunts......you know, recycle. WeIrD! But, whatever! I mean, I am all for recycling, but not letting the children keep the eggs they find-what's up with that?

Anyway,  I tell the kids. They look a little puzzled.

AR just shrugged her shoulders and said, "OK." 

Well, that was easy. I knew it would be with her, she is my "go with the flow" child (for the most part).

Gates said, "We don't get to keep the eggs?" 

I said, "It doesn't look like it. All the children are turning them in as they leave." 

By now, I am feeling that things are about to go south. See, Gates is my not so "go with the flow" child. When he gets something stuck in his head: an idea of how something should go, work, look, taste, whatever, he expects it to be just so. Yes, he's OCD. By the way, I have no idea where he gets it from!

"Well, is there candy in them?" he asked.

"I don't think so, sweetie. But that's OK, we are going to hunt lots of eggs at Nana's and Papa's tomorrow, don't you worry!" trying to avoid the inevitable.

"Well," he says, as he sits his basket on the ground, "then I am not going to hunt any."

"Now, buddy, that's not a nice attitude to have," I say. 

But I am totally thinking "I am with you Gates. Who wants to run around and find eggs that have nothing in them only to have to give them back. What's the fun in that?"

The eggs were out in the open field and it was a mad rush to collect as many as you could. (Only to return them, remember? ) 

 AR took off and I lost her in the crowd for a second. I finally caught up to her and snapped a couple of pictures.

Gates was poking along with his daddy, picking up an egg here and there, but by no means was he going to exert much energy for nothing. 

Start to finish-FIVE minutes, if that.

Well, after stealing a few eggs from his sister's basket and a few tears later, we made our way back to return our eggs to the big black lawn bag.  

The kids were given a Caprisun and a bag of cookies for coming out. Hey, at least they didn't leave totally empty-handed!

"Ooh, my favorite!" Gates exclaimed, as he tore into the bag of Bud's Best Chocolate creme-filled cookies.

All's well, that ends well, I say!