The Houghs: The Death of the Easter Bunny

The first clue of the hunt. . .

What's up, Internet.

Well, this year was our first Easter where we didn't have to sell the myth of the Easter Bunny to our kids. Not that they probably bought into the damn thing for the last few years anyway - our kids are older now and the idea of them buying into a mythic animal that brings them baskets of awesomeness is simply absurd - but they kept mum about it for awhile, probably in fear that them saying anything would negate future Easter Baskets from appearing on Easter Sunday.

Since they came out about not believing in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Rosie the Elf on the Shelf, and everything else we've passed over them over the years, it goes without saying that they were pretty vocal about not believing in the Easter Bunny anymore either. This was exceptionally good news for us, since we - and Yours Truly, especially - has loathed the entire Easter thing for years. This meant that this year, we wouldn't have to prep as much for this year's shitty, shitty holiday Sunday.

Thank f***ing Jesus.

Alas, the girls were still looking forward to our annual Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt, so I still had to set that up for them. The good news here was that at least I didn't have to create a separate handwriting style for them, in order to fool the kids into thinking a frickin' bunny hand-wrote all the clues around the house. So I had that going for me this year.

So yeah. . . Easter this year was a little scaled down from previous years, but it still followed the familiar format. Scavenger Hunt, then Baskets, then Church. We decorated eggs in the evening this year, because we had failed to do so before this point, and the girls said they still wanted to do them (son of a bitch.) So here's what the Houghs' Easter '21 looked like.

Behold. . .

I always set out the first clue right on the kitchen table, where they can easily spot it.

I was going to upload videos of this year's scavenger hunt, but Kris recorded two ten-minute videos (yes, it took that long this year), and they were too large to upload. My apologies.

Due to our kids' age - and their recognition of the falsehood of the Bunny myth - I went out of my way to make this year's hunt ridiculously challenging. It required using Google to look up clues, which I thought was a solid touch.

For example, I'd reference Black Sam Bellamy in a clue, so Alayna had to google the name on her phone. This told her that he was a pirate, so they then had to think about where they could find more information on piracy. This led them to my library in the Study, where they had to flip through my many, many books on pirates in order to find the hidden clue that led them forward on the scavenger hunt.

As always, I spaced the clues out so that they had to run up and downstairs repeatedly, to various rooms, and I spread them out as much as possible to maximize the movement. I'm an asshole.

Searching for Rancid's best-selling album in their discography. . .

. . . And Out Come the Wolves. One of the greatest albums ever made.

Stumped. This happened multiple times this year, and we offered little to no assistance. They had to work for their baskets this year.

Many clues were hidden in movies, records, books, and even video games, as pictured here.

Searching for Cthulu.

They almost missed this one.

Surprisingly enough, they actually worked pretty well together this year. We had our doubts.

Kris, recording a shitload of video (that unfortunately you won't be able to see.)

Time for wine.

The last clue had them looking for something I'd wear to Lodge, so they started digging through my closet looking for dress shirts, ties, and suit coats. It took them a ridiculously long time to realize the baskets sitting out at their feet, in clear view.

Taking the baskets out to the living room to open 'em up.

And of course the dogs had to have an Easter Basket. It'd be a full-blown Easter disaster if they hadn't got to 'open' one.

Not as much candy in this year's baskets. The girls, while appreciating candy a great deal, would rather have 'stuff' instead.

Enjoying some Easter treats.

Samson, enjoying his second Easter.

More snacks for dogs.

I hate Easter so damn much.

After dinner, we decided to decorate Easter Eggs on the back patio, since the sun was out and the weather was decent.

Rockin' the Paas set, as always.

This shit always smells god-awful.

Abby loves wearing this old camping jacket of mine. No idea why.

Played around with a few different lenses while we were doing this. The sun light makes it fun.

While the eggs were soaking in dye, the girls - for whatever reason - decided to take multiple laps around the house to burn off energy. Whatever works.