Easter Egg Hunt (April 23, 2011)

The sun rose hot and unforgiving. Lyra awoke with a start. She knew instantly what day it was. Her basket and sundress were laid out with care. She could hear Mommy and Daddy preparing her breakfast. Oatmeal. A good choice. Today was all about speed. It was Easter Saturday. A good day for a hunt.

At 8:30am a restive crowd assembled at the entrance to Buchanan's Native Plants, a nursery in the Heights, awaiting the egg wardens' official announcement. A nursery? asked Lyra. For plants, silly baby! Where better to hide eggs?

Lyra has her game face on. Those eggs don't stand a chance!

Where are the eggs?

Lyra is looking in the right places, but some overeager parents have already "found" all the eggs. Boo!

Lyra found an egg!!! Huzzah!

Another pose with the egg of victory.

Lyra is rinsing off her egg. Not a bad idea -- you don't know where that egg has been!

Lyra stops to show some love to mushrooms, her favorite vegetable. Fungus. Whatever.

Lyra tries to divert the waterfall.

Lyra gets her Sisyphus on.

Lyra tries to Tom Sawyer her mom into taking over. "Mommy, this is so fun! Don't you want to try?"

Lyra takes a well-deserved rest with Daddy...

...and discusses the news of the day with her good friend Zoe.

All too soon, the hunt is over, but Lyra is already thinking about next year: "I'm going to need a bigger basket."