Happy (Belated) Easter!

I wrote this last month but forgot to post it. Enjoy!

It's no surprise that holidays stress me out.  The etymology of the word probably would explain that tension is at the root of holidays.

I'm not sure why everyone else is stressed out, but I know why I am. Each holiday comes with the expectation to continue traditions and make the day magical for my kids. But like an opossum, I tend to close my eyes and play dead in the face of a challenge.

This Easter the kids spent the weekend with their dad and his folks, so those 3 adults were able to pull off the kind of enchantment a child anticipates. Without the pressure of having to perform, I was able to enjoy the kids for a post Easter celebration at home.

At an Egyptian Easter brunch, I had learned about hollowing out eggs in order to paint them. Hallelujah! An option to the traditional American style of coloring Easter eggs was just what I needed.

Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to hard boil eggs without cracking them? As a result, the dye colors the egg in addition to the shell. Then there's the issue of wanting to display the handiwork...but there is also the inherent risk of the spoiling food that is left out of the fridge too long. Dying eggs in bowls full of colorful vinegar is difficult as you don't have much control when it comes to the tiny details.

So here's what we did:

1) We poked tiny holes on either end of the egg and blew out the insides. Ever try blowing up a brand new balloon? Yeah, our cheeks hurt just as badly.

2) Then we hardened them with a coat of nail polish.

3) While we waited for the eggs to dry, we beat the yolks and whites for a delicious omelet lunch with roasted vegetables. The day felt so special so I let the kids drink orange juice out of my grandfather's martini glasses. We felt so fancy!

4) Finally, we brought out the paints and decorated our delicate eggshells. The highlight of my day was when a couple of the kids told me that this alternate process of painting the eggs was the most fun way to color Easter eggs.

Some of our final products.

Our day broke the usual tradition, and as a result, I was able to conjure an even more memorable magic for the family.

Studying American Ingenuity

http://www.amazon.com/Built-To-Last-George-Sullivan/dp/0439517370

The kids and I have been slowly going through this fascinating book about architecture that covers iconic and influential structures in the United States.  The stories behind these great designs are mostly entertaining and always inspiring. I'm amazed at the ability to construct something so massive so long ago. Their efforts -- primitive at times -- sometimes required many years during an age when machines couldn't do all of the work.

For example, the Brooklyn Bridge found its foundation on the deep bedrock below the East River after years of men mining the mud in underwater chambers. Air tight underwater chambers! The explanation of how these chambers worked was reminiscent of an astronaut in space. Mind you, while this seemingly space age technology was in use, Laura Ingals Wilder was crossing the praire as a child.

After reading this book, I'd like to take the kids on a tour of our favorite monumental structures described in this publication. Why not spend a weekend in New York City learning about more than just the political history of the city? Instead, we could study the history of American ingenuity.