Easter in our family is anything but traditional.

We paint eggs and we barbecue hamburgers for dinner like every other family but we also do a few things that are unique to our party of five.

Our kids find their Easter treats through a scavenger hunt around the house with one clue leading them to the next while they collect goodies along the way.

I realized early on in the hunt that the two kids in our family who can read would either a) read the clue and take off from the group to get a head start in true Easter fashion or b) they would read the clue to themselves and then pretend to read it aloud to the others while actually saying something that was not on the card and steering their “opponents” in the wrong direction in the true spirit of giving.

At dinner, Hanna asked if we could all hold hands and say something we’re thankful for, combining Thanksgiving and Christmas which when you unscramble their combined letters spells ‘Easter Miracle.’

Hanna offered to go first and said she was thankful for having a roof over her head, a bed to sleep in and food on the table.

Clearly she’s shopping around for a new ipod (or new parents) or has a test she’s afraid to show us but it was a nice way to start the meal.

Ellie was thankful for the chocolate gum (tootsie roll) she got for Easter.

Greg and I were thankful for the end of winter and that everyone at the table was healthy and happy.

Chloe (our four year old) closed her eyes as we held hands and took turns passing the Easter ketchup around the table.

She finally agreed to tell us what she was thankful for.

She squeezed my hand on one side and Hanna’s on the other, “I wish to be a Princess and I wish to have all the stuff in all the stores. The end.”

Happy Easter.