There was (thankfully) very little snow (it melted).

There were baskets for little ones…

With chocolate nests, organic “jolly beans”, mama’s home-made maple nuts, this years books (for details see below!), a jar of new paint brushes to share and some mama-made rabbits that looked rather like kangaroos (these things happen).

And there were baskets from little alright, middle? ones…

for Steve and I, with boy made chocolates, and little Harry Potters (after enduring years of hounding from the boys, Steve finally buckled and it reading and, I think, enjoying, the series).

There were some very goofy children…

And an egg hunt of course…

for eggs full of yokes and such, but also some with peanuts, coconut chips, more maple nuts, and coconut rolled dates.

Some year I will get around to making some fabulous felt eggs to stuff.  It wasn’t an option this year, but some year it will be.

This year’s books:

Swallowdale by Arther Ransome for the 11 year old.  We read Swallows and Amazons during an extended illness over the winter and it was a huge hit with the older set.  I thought they would enjoy seeing the story continue.

All-Of-A-Kind Family (All-Of-A-Kind Family (Pb)) by Sydney Taylor and Helen John for the nearly 9 year old (!!  more on that soon, I am sure!).  When I saw this review, I knew I’d found his book.  I was so excited to read it with him, but then he smuggled it away before I even had a chance and nearly finished it in one sitting!  He’s really liking it though, so I’m sure he’ll be open to reading it again with me.

The Lost Lagoon by Reg Down for the 5 year old, because anything by Reg Down is, by default, an instant classic in this house.  This one is about a springtime adventure.  Perfect.

The Story of the Rabbit Children by Sibylle Von Olfers for the Wee Girl (age 2).  I actually wasn’t overly thrilled with this one.  I don’t know, but there is something about a book for young children where there is a scene in which a father nearly shoots his own babies, that I find off putting.  P.S.  Mom is at home knitting while her children are lost in the woods.  And yet, I don’t think little people really see it in the same way we grown ups do.  I didn’t pre-read this as I normally do.  In fact, I didn’t pre-read any of this year’s books, which is very odd.  And when I sat and read this one for the first time, aloud to the children, they loved the simple story and pictures and have been requesting it regularly ever since.

See here for last year’s list.