Youngest child holiday woes.

My kids are a mix of ages and as I'm sitting here totally 100% burned out and watching my youngest scramble to get all the cutesty little Easter things ready for herself, I'm kind of sad like I let her down. We aren't huge holiday people, but I thought I make it special enough. Our family is a bit religious, so Easter is a big one. we had about a bajillion traditions when it was one kid, but as we added more kids and got busier and the kids started getting older, more and more things fell to the wayside.

So this year 7 didn't get to go to an egg hunt. why? because the older ones weren't interested, and they're all busy, 7 included, and one of the brothers had very (VERY very) big weekends back to back leading up to Easter. Her friends asked her to come along this weekend, but she opted to hang with the fam, cheering on said brother. It felt 50% sweet and 50% sad.

She still very much believes in the Easter bunny which is no small miracle. None of my boys believed at 7! So tonight she was running around getting notes and booby traps and everything ready. And all I could think was "GIRL, I am so tired and just want you to go to bed so that I CAN fix and hide your basket!" ugh, why?! I feel so bad. I did catch myself and stop rushing her, help write a note, and help with a couple of her little preparations, but it literally took everything in me to smile.

Realistically, I know this is my last year having the Easter Bunny be alive in a kid's mind. I should be savoring it. Big brothers all hype it up and let her be a kid, they help dye, fill and hide eggs.

But today, I was just so done. I'm worried her morning will feel super lackluster. We scaled back on candy and things she's expecting, on account of both trying to eat healthier, and getting more useful "gifts". But I'm worried she won't find it as magical, and I'm kicking myself like why couldn't I just do the gimmicky little kid Easter one more time for her! The big boys will be glad, even surprised. They're getting new baseball stuff and things that are needed. Lil sis is also getting gifts on the same level (all spring stuff we'd technically be getting anyhow, but they've been asking for), but I think I missed the mark on what she's expecting/remembering. I'm about to go drive the hour round trip to the nearest store and try to buy extra and last minute candy to make up for it. And I don't even know if I'm over or under reacting! Holidays are somehow hard when the kids keep growing so fast, lol!

Just me? how are we keeping the magic alive and also transitioning to a solidly big kid holiday fun (no magic)?!