Creating a choc full easter
CAMPING, fishing, hitting the beach, a seafood feast and plenty of chocolate after a visit from the hippity hoppity means only one thing - it's Easter time.
And hasn't it come around quickly?
It only feels like yesterday the kids were unwrapping Christmas presents but come Sunday morning they'll be ripping open Easter eggs of all kinds.
I was reminiscing with my uncle the other day the good times we shared on Easter holidays growing up.
Our families would pack up and head to our favourite spot at the beach for a few days of fun and the great outdoors.
My uncle loves telling the story about our fishing trips and the golden rule when out on the boat.
We weren't allowed a lolly until we landed a fish, which made for some frantic fishing.
If one of us landed a fish, my uncle reckons my younger brother would jump straight in that spot on the boat - sometimes even before we had the fish in the boat.
These days, the lollies have been replaced by a nice cold beer but the same rule applies, which makes for some thirsty work.
We all have special Easter memories from growing up.
Now as parents, my wife and I are hoping to create some of our own with our children.
We will never forget our Easter two years ago after our youngest daughter was born on Good Friday.
Another memory that comes to mind is a story that has become Easter folklore in our family already.
I was given some brief instructions before I came to bed to put some footprints through the house so the kids knew the Easter bunny had paid us a visit.
After one too many chocolates, if you know what I mean, I couldn't find any powder for my feet so some self-raising flour from the cupboard seemed the next best thing.
So off I went, up and down the hallway - several times - around the kitchen table - a few laps again - back and across the veranda and then down the stairs.
I thought it looked great and would stoke the kids' imagination of the Easter bunny when they woke up.
This sure was the case for a matter of weeks, actually, as the footprints proved hard to clean off our floor.
Happy Easter everyone and I hope the Easter bunny visits - but wipes his feet before he comes in.
Dad's the Word
with Aaron Kelly
