Looks Like We Made It: An Easter Story

Growing up, Easter morning was almost as big of a deal for the kids in my family as Christmas morning. My parents created an elaborate treasure hunt with clues throughout the house leading us to Easter baskets and chocolate. Since moving to Berlin three years ago, 2013 was our first Easter in the city as a family—we normally travel during this time—and Lennon was finally old enough for a proper Easter hunt. 

The morning started off early—5:30am early—with a note from the Easter Bunny and a chocolate rabbit placed strategically near where we'd suspected he'd awake—in our bed. Behind the note was a clue as to where Lennon could find his next Easter surprise—from Mr. Bunny, of course. The clue came in the form of a printed photo of a location Lennon frequents in our apartment, making it simple for him to know where to look.

On the edge of the bathtub, Lennon found a papier-mâché egg with Easter stickers inside, along with another clue.

Atop his play kitchen, was a new cooking and eating play set. Though another clue was included here, he became a bit distracted at this juncture.

His final clue brought him to his bedroom where he found a new bed for his baby doll. We're hoping to make him into a little Papa before his sister arrives in June. So far he’s playing along nicely.

Later that day, we would be visiting several of Lennon's friends and I wanted to bring something special for each of them. I made five small Easter baskets with a few goodies inside. For the baskets, I purchased this pattern but modified the handles and some of the construction to make it more Easter basket-like. I used my handy printable fabric to make the name plaques on the front. The linen and dotted fabric was purchased from IKEA—of all places—and the orange and white rick-rack was a market stall find. 

Each child received two decorated sugar cookies inside their homemade basket. After much trial and disappointment over the years with sugar cookies I tried this recipe entitled 'The Best Sugar Cookies.' They lived up to their name! An organic chocolate bunny lolly made by Alnatura was also included.

The tutorial for the carrots can be found here—it's free! Along with the dotted fabric from IKEA and the market stall rick-rack, the green check fabric I used for the carrot tops was also found at the market, on an enormously wide bolt. Just one meter yielded so much that I've already made big plans for the leftovers.

The padded baskets came in handy later for egg hunting with Lennon's buddy Otis.

In the afternoon, we made our way to Kreuzberg for a family supper with more of Lennon's little buddies and their parents. Lennon had been gifted a beautiful, mint condition vintage suit, circa 1950s, by my Mother, purchased from an Etsy seller. I couldn't wait for him to don it as his Easter outfit. With the absence of an authentic 1950s boys button down shirt, Lennon wore a white long sleeve onesie from H&M underneath and I made him a coordinating neckerchief from leftover vintage yardage and mini rick-rack, which sweetened the whole look.

For supper with friends, I made an asparagus quiche and a carrot cake. Other folks had made lasagna, salad, and homemade bread. Our hosts made lamb and a pear tart—so much good food and really wonderful people.  

I pushed myself beyond my energy level this Easter making sure I created the type of day I really wanted my family to experience, but it was absolutely worth it. I’ve been taking extra naps ever since to make up for it. My stamina is just not the same in the third trimester. Fortunately, I'm currently on maternity leave from my PhD program, which I'll be writing more about in the months to come. Taking this leave has lifted a tremendous weight off my shoulders and has allowed this pregnant mother to do just what she desires at this exact moment: focus on being a mom.

40 Days of Birthday: Day Twenty-Three {Looks Like We Made It: Baby Birthdays)

Today my husband, son, and I attended two birthday parties for little boys turning one year old. I like making birthday gifts, especially for my littlest friends. Alex received bunting with his name sewn on in felt letters. Otis received one of the animal costumes I’ve been working on all week for his animal themed party where all the little guests were meant to attend as their favorite animal. The big reveal: Otis is dressed as a Donkey and Lennon is dressed as Jenks the Beagle.

 

We’re still trying to get the network in our apartment sorted to the way we like it and the photos from Lennon’s first birthday party last month have been sitting on my husband’s computer, allowing me to forget to post about all the things I crafted for it. Attending  two lovely one year old’s birthday parties today reminded me that it was time to share what I’d made.

There was a minor moustache theme for our party. Lennon’s sweet Mr. Moustache mobile by Jaell und Tofta served as the inspiration. I was also very much influenced by the visual story of Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, which we had seen a few weeks before Lennon’s party. I usually prefer a monochromatic, organized palette and the film inspired me to be more playful.

There were several items on my list to make for the party: fabric bunting, a banner with mustaches to hang above the cake table, a birthday boy hat for Lennon, and one homemade gift. There was also a table full of cookies, bars, and breads that I made in addition to the birthday cake and cupcakes. Lennon had his own birthday cake, sweetened with bananas and frosted with cream cheese. I made two trial runs of this cake—one as a test the weekend before and one for a “Cake Smash” photo shoot taken the day after his actual birthday. With all the madness at his party, I failed to get a really good shot of the cake that day. Luckily, there is a shot of a near identical cake taken at his photo shoot.

Lennon’s gift was made several months ago. It’s a pattern I created myself based on a few others I found online. His little Orca whale is made from his Papa’s old blue jeans.

Lennon’s birthday hat is made from two colors of yummy wool blend felt. The trim at the bottom is vintage and was thrifted by my mother in California.

The bunting is made from scraps of my favorite vintage material, all of which was purchased by my mother, the professional thrifter, at estate sales in California. Lennon’s "Little Mister" moustache banner is hand painted on burlap and is trimmed in vintage fabric.

Each child at the party was given a goodie bag that contained a bottle of bubbles, a thick piece of sidewalk chalk, and a fake mustache. I made the mustache from black felt and hot glued a knit ribbon in a circle to the back so one could wear it on one’s finger.

Vintage books—"The New Teachers Almanac" from 1980 and "838 Ways to Entertain a Child" from 1960—served as stands for the party menu and goodie bag explanation.

 As happy as I was with the outcome of our party, there is always a detail I feel like I missed here or there. It was an incredible amount of worthwhile work. I’m so very grateful it happens only once a year.

40 Days of Birthday: Day Thirteen

Today felt like autumn. Lennon wore his yellow rain coat in the stroller ride to Kita and not only was it wet, but it was cold. When my boys left, I hunkered down in front of the computer and wrote and read and sighed and wrote and read some more. Three hours flew by and when Lennon came home for his nap, I napped with him. Research can be exhausting, but I think the gloomy weather didn’t help. Also, Lennon’s been waking up in the middle of night and struggling to go back to sleep, leaving me bleary-eyed come morning. I napped hard and it felt divine.

Our plan was to hit the Martin-Gropius-Bau Museum today for the Dennis Hopper Photography exhibit. When I woke up from my delicious nap with Lennon at my side, my husband came in and asked, “Can a big nap be your special thing today?” I immediately realized the wisdom of his proposal looking out the window. For over a week I’ve been filling my days with extraordinary activities and reckon that having an indoor day is kind of “special” in contrast.

I took advantage of the extra energy the nap afforded me and did some cooking. I made this quinoa and sweet potato salad for easy lunches and a butternut squash soup for cozy dinners. I’ve made squash soup so many times now the recipe is in my head and I just add spices until it tastes as I remember it should. I will say that chili flakes and sea salt make all the difference—but I like an extra savory butternut squash soup.

Confession: I stayed in my pajamas all day today.

Confession #2: This is not the first time I’ve done this since becoming a mother. Or an adult.

Regardless, I felt good about not having really gotten out of bed today. I deserve it! My husband deserves it more, however, taking our son to Kita every day during his two-week vacation so I can have some research time. Still, he doesn’t complain. In fact, this afternoon while I was cooking, he mounted my amazing antique type-setter’s drawer to the wall above my desk. This impossible find was spotted on the way home from the Lady Castle last week at a vintage toy store down the street from our home. The tag on it said twelve euro, but I got it for ten. It’s the perfect perch for my growing collection of tiny curiosities: there are so many compartments waiting to be filled with glorious bobbles of soul-singing inspiration, I can hardly stand it!  

I’m feeling especially spoiled today.