Easter on a Budget

Well, I did it!  I've been wanting to for years, but this year I finally sat my kids down and said, "I need to talk to you about Easter and the Easter bunny.  There is no Easter bunny.  Easter is about Christ, not bunnies and baskets and candy."  I went on to explain that when I was growing up, it was my family's tradition that we always got new church clothes for Easter, but that new church clothes and a basket loaded with candy and toys and other goodies was just too much money.  I also told them that I would fill one basket with Easter candy for our entire family to enjoy. 

Can I just say that this conversation went over without a hitch?  Well, one hitch.  Ethan asked, "What about Santa?"  I discussed that with him later when the girls couldn't hear.  Other than that, favorable responses all around.  Mazie asked if we could still have an Easter egg hunt, and I said, "Sure."  Later in the car she told me, "I always knew the Easter bunny was just a guy in a costume."  I did inform her that no guy in a costume came into our house and filled her basket.  It was just me and dad. 

So, having shattered all childhood fantasies, I went shopping!  I've been disappointed with Easter dresses the past few years.  I used to be able to find something that I liked at Target or Costco.  I'm too cheap to shop the department stores.  Even sale prices are generally out of my league.  The past few years, though, I haven't even seen anything that I liked at my favorite stores, and everything they carry is sleeveless, which just bugs me to no end.  We had SNOW on Easter in Montana some years.  Even if it's sunny here, it's usually windy and chilly.  Anyway, on to my shopping.....

Last year I had a handed down dress from Mazie for Josie, and sweet Grandma MJ sewed a matching one for Mazie in her new bigger size.  This year I was thinking I would find some cute fabric and sew some easy T-shirt dresses.  So, I went to Walmart for the $3 T-shirts (which is one of very few reasons you'll ever find me in Walmart), and of course, they never carry the same colors in Toddler sizes as they do in Girls sizes.  It is so frustrating.  They are the same brand!  So, as I was debating whether or not Josie could wear a girls XS, I saw these sets.

...for a mere $7 a piece, plus another $7 each for shoes.  That's only fourteen bucks per girl!  I decided that was better than sewing.  However, the skirts are WAY TOO SHORT, so my mom and I headed over to Joann's for this....

(Please disregard the stained ironing board.)

It was $3.49 a yard, buy my mom had a 40% off coupon.  So, for about eight dollars, I turned those two cute sets into these....

And, usually the boys feel left out.  I mean, new church clothes usually means a new tie, right?  But, they both just got new ties recently, and now they are getting quite the collection.  If Dylan was old enough to pass the sacrament, I wouldn't have bought these patterned shirts, but as it was, I decided they were too cute to pass up, and my primary boys would look downright handsome in them.  Did I mention that the shirts were on sale at Target for only... you guessed it $7 each!  I also got them new tan pants for spring, since their winter pants were black.  Here is the whole beautiful crew. 

Dang, they look good!

And, with the money I saved, I think I'll order some craft supplies off Etsy.  A happy Easter all around!