Do you all remember how precious Berenstain Bears books were as a kid? They were among my favorite reads, and I remember how they always showed us lessons in such a grace-filled and loving way. Well, not only did the team at ZonderKidz release a re-telling of the classic Easter story from the Bible, but they have a new storyline to share, as well!

The Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story

This title is a welcome offering from Zonderkidz and the Berenstains. It has a hopeful message for today's kids, and comes with colorful stickers, too! When the kids get a little obsessed with candy for Easter, the parents present a beautiful opportunity to share something even sweeter than treats: Jesus! This is a sweet read for little ones who are more eager for jelly beans than hearing the Gospel message.

(Available at Amazon. The Kindle Unlimited version is free for members.)

The Very First Easter

Do your kids know the Easter story? From Palm Sunday to Jesus' Resurrection, the Bears act out the way it would have happened in the Bible. The Biblical storyline is told is a simple way so that today's youth can understand. It's a beautiful version!

(Available at Amazon.)

Thank you to the Zonderkids team and those at The Berenstain Bears family for sending us these titles to review -- and the sweet treats, too!

What? It's Easter, when?

If you've just now realized that the big day is coming up fast, you'll need some ideas for easy crafts and treats you can whip up in a jiffy with items you can get at your local store for less than $10.  Here are two quick projects we did at our house today, and the talent required is minimal!

Easter Candy Necklaces

This no-brainer comes as a kit from Wilton.  Each box has the materials for 8 candy necklaces the kids can string themselves.  This was a fun way to pass the time today, as I rushed around getting other things ready for the big weekend.  Considering that candy necklaces cost about 50 cents each, this was a great bargain at less than $2 a box.


Spring Sugar Cookies

No time to mix up a batch of cookie dough and let it chill for several hours?  Grab a roll or two of the Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough and cut into servings before placing on a try and baking them up.  We decorated with a tube of Wilton dual color frosting (tips are included) and topped with fancy Wilton pastel candy beads.  As you can see, I'm no cake diva, but they tasted delicious.  (If you work the dough just right, you can cut them into shapes.)



No skills and no time.  This pretty much describes all of my holiday craft and baking undertaking.  Thank goodness I can grab a few simple supplies from Walmart to help me along.

What quick DIY ideas do you like to throw together before the Easter holiday?

One of our favorite activities to do as a family every year is visit Fort Atkinson near Ft. Calhoun during their Living History Days! These special days are held on select weekends throughout the summer and fall, and they allow my kids to get up-close and personal with the history of the area!



This fort has been recreated to allow for visitors to go inside the exhibits, interact with costumed actors, and see what life at the fort was really like! Here are some of our favorite things to do when we go:



1. Watch the cannons. My kids' favorite thing to watch. They set off real cannons. Cover your ears. It is loud!

3. Listen to music. There is usually at least one musician playing music true to the time period. It's a great way to see instruments that we haven't used in years!


4. Learn the trades. There are blacksmiths, weavers, coopers (barrel-makers), and more doing real-life demonstrations. It gets very hot near the blacksmith! Some weekends they churn butter and allow you to sample on fresh-made bread.




5. Learn local history. From accounts of the local Native Americans, to details of Lewis and Clark's expeditions, there are plenty of details that make the day interesting. Several new art pieces help to commemorate why this area was so important in early Nebraskan history!



6. Experience nature. Bring your walking shoes! Trails and a beautiful scene overlook make this a great destination for getting exercise and taking photos! During the fall, there are a few days where the bugs are a bit of a nuisance. Bug spray is recommended.

Moses spies a Daddy Long-legs under the bill of his hat!

A fun day of costumes, adventures, and learning, we love that everyone volunteering is ready to answer your questions and teach you about the fort. My husband and I could spend all day in the garden, alone. Finding out about the foods of the area has been very useful in planning our own garden!


Experiencing life as those in the fort did is just one small way to make our homeschool fun and relevant to my kids. I admit that I love going every year, and it's one of our favorite destinations in addition to the Henry Doorly Zoo. You can learn more about the Fort at their website, or check out their Facebook page! Be sure to check it out if you live close by!

OPENING WEEKEND IS MAY 4-5, 2019! See you there! 

Kids are welcome at the fort, but parents are encouraged to keep an eye so that everyone can enjoy the displays and wonderful details for years to come!

Yesterday, I found some ants in my kitchen. Where did they come from? Who knows. I did know that they were headed to the bag of sticky, melted Easter candy from LAST YEAR!

Needless to say, my kids do not need candy in this year's baskets. So I rounded up some goodies that I know they would enjoy. See what tops the list of basket filler at the Knerl house this year!



1. Water Blasters 

The weather is warming up -- fast! That means the boys will be asking to get into the water hose on the side of the house and douse each other. I would rather they skip using my hose, so this Adventure Force Super Storm, was a good pick! It features a water blast of up to 38 feet and is great for my older boys to spend some time outdoors. (It won't quite fit in any basket I know of, but it will be there Easter morning!)


2. Automobiles

My toddler is obsessed with cars, trucks, planes, and boats. These cute molded plastic vehicles from American Plastic has smiling faces and are easy for little hands to hold. They come in all kinds of colors, too!


3. Farm animals

We already showed you how to create a candy-free basket using the realistic toys from Schleich. I am expanding on this idea to include more accessories and animals for the older kids, too!


4. Books

Yes! This is the favorite on my list. We can't have enough good books at our house, and it is something my boys get so excited about. This year, I ordered a few titles from my local Usborne and book consultant. I was really happy to see that they were exactly what I was looking for. I chose the first of the Gateway series (The Four Fingered Man), The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow, Words of Wisdom pull-out poster book (Literary Edition), and the Chess book! I was excited that I could get something that fit each of my children's interests and personalities!






5. Star Wars: Rogue One Gear

Finally, I have one son who is a collector. He draws comics, codes, and loves to amass everything and anything Star Wars!  When we received a viewing kit from the folks at Disney to celebrate the Rogue One home release, I knew that these two items were going into my teen's Easter basket!

If you haven't seen Rogue One yet, check out our coverage. (It includes a fun interview with Alan Tudyk!) And you can find these fun toys where Star Wars collectibles and gear are sold.


Looking for FREE ideas for the basket? Check out these Rogue One activities and printables. They are perfect for printing out and stuffing into the basket, or into a card.



I think my kids are going to be pretty excited come Easter morning. Since the holiday is probably the most important one to us and our Christian faith, I don't think there is anything too awesome to put into the baskets. We are so blessed and grateful to live in a place and time where we can live out our faith and have amazing gifts for our kids.

Which one of these do you get most excited about? Better yet, what candy-free ideas are you using for your baskets this year?

*Samples of Star Wars, water blaster, farm animals, and automobiles received to review. Opinions are my own.