Easter Basket Gifts & Egg Stuffers ~ Mariel's Picks 2012

We don’t have much time! Did Easter sneak up on YOU this year, too?? Luckily, Amazon has super fast and free shipping, or I would be running all over town, trying to find just the right gift for the Easter Bunny to leave in the baskets.

Here’s what’s in my shopping cart:

Forgive me, some of these things are obviously too big for an Easter basket. I just usually set them right next to the basket…

In Cub Scouts, Caden (age 10) was doing some science experiments with his troop. For one of them, they made homemade lava lamps with empty water bottles. He loved it and immediately came home and put a REAL lava lamp on his wishlist. I remember loving mine, as a kid, so I’m excited to get him one. They seem to vary a lot in price and customer review, but this one seems to closest to what I’m looking for. Lava Lite, $24

We have a creek that runs through our yard, and every spring, Shane (age 7) loves to go catch the frogs in it. Unfortunately, he has yet to keep a frog alive in his make-shift aquariums. So, I’ve been reading about sea monkeys (brine shrimp), and how fun (and fairly easy) they are to raise. Once you drop the eggs in the water, they will soon hatch and be nearly full grown in a couple weeks! They only need to be fed about once a week, and they multiply fairly quickly. So, many reviewers loved that there were grown sea monkeys, as well as new babies swimming around. Each one can live up to 2 years, if it’s well cared for. Schylling Sea Monkeys Magicquarium, $19

With flowers blooming any day now, and my kids living outdoors, I knew this flower press would be perfect for Audrey (age 5), my little crafter. This award winning kit is raved about by reviewers. They say it’s sturdy, educational, and includes many craft supplies for using the newly pressed flowers and leaves to make cards, tags, bookmarks, etc. Alex My Flower Press, $13

My kids love to run through the sprinklers. Their favorite sprinkler ever was the Mt. Tiki volcano one, that exploded randomly with water, but sadly…it broke. So, they have all been begging for a new one. The Mt. Tiki isn’t sold anymore, so I had to do some research. Right now, the clear favorite amongst reviewers is this cutie from Melissa & Doug. I’m thinking this would be perfect for my little 3 year old. Melissa & Doug Sprinkler, $15

And, last we have baby Joe. He loves hiding from his four overly-loving older siblings. So, I think he’ll love chilling inside this tent tunnel! I love that you can collapse it into a compact circle. Pacific Play Tents Find Me Tunnel, $34. Melissa and Doug has another version for about $12 bucks cheaper…if you’re interested.

And, now for some fun egg stuffers…

Joey loves anything that squirts water, but he doesn’t love the bathtub! I’m hoping these bath squirting animals will change his mind. 🙂 Bonus, these are non-toxic…unlike several others I found online. I’m hoping they will fit in the large plastic eggs. Elegant Baby 8 Piece Bath Squirties, $13

My kids love slap bracelets. After spending $30 bucks on Chuck E. Cheese arcade games, they finally get enough tickets to get one! Pretty pathetic. Get a dozen slap bracelets for just $5.99 on Amazon.

My older boys would love these Fortune Telling Fish! Hold them in your hand, and they can read your mood. Get 144 for about $6 bucks…don’t ask me what to do with the rest!?! I’m sure you’ll come up with something.

What’s with the mustache craze?? I don’t get it. But, I know my boys (and probably my girls) would get a kick out of sporting these stick-on furry mustaches. 36 for $6.