He Touched an EGG!

Yesterday was April fools day. My children had been home sick for two days straight, which is in itself enough April fools for me! So to keep them busy (and me sane) I pulled out Easter Eggs to dye.

Last May when Monk was diagnosed with a severe egg allergy, I wasn't thinking at all about the holiday that surrounds itself with decorating, hiding, and eating this one particular food. I will say that in past years the whole business of Easter eggs was not too appealing.  Buy at least a dozen eggs, boil them, and then anxiously watch as my small and not so graceful children hover a fragile shell over a bucket of dye, held steady by a wire the diameter of my floss.  Doesn't that sound fun!

Because my Monk's egg allergy is contact, he cannot touch eggs or their shells. So fast forward, and my new role as allergy mom has me scouring the internet for all things allergy friendly and I see someone mention dye-able plastic eggs, from Walmart no less.

A quick trip to Walmart and I come home with....

 Yep, you saw it right folks, $1.97 per dozen for these little babies, and they look like the real deal (leading Jag to suggest that we scare the hubby with a little allergy April fools joke later that evening).

I got some nifty PAAS dye loaded q-tips ($.99 at Walmart) to paint them with, but soon found out that markers work well too.  The kids had a great time with their eggs and then proceeded to play Easter bunny for the rest of the afternoon.

Here are some of the finished eggs (see if you can spot the "Mommy's been watching too many episodes of The Walking Dead" egg.)

I tried to get Monk to pose with his finished egg, but he was only interested in throwing it (which he couldn't have done with a real egg btw.)

So here is the run down on this new allergy-friendly find.

Pros:

1. No prep work from me. 
2. No stinky egg smell (or vinegar smell for that matter)
3. No fear of cracks or dropping accidents
4. Absorb egg dye just like the real thing
5. Didn't even have to purchase dye as markers work fine.
6. No worry that someone will hide one and that I will find it a week later by following my nose.
7. Kept 2 children's attention with very little mommy help needed for at least a solid hour!
8. My sweet little monkey can hold these eggs without fear of a reaction! (guess that should have been #1)

Cons:

1.  No strangely colored egg salad (is that really a con?)

I guess you can say that we really liked these little eggs. In fact, I plan to go grab about a dozen more in case someone decides not to produce them next year. Let me know if I can pick some up for you!

Names confusing? I got tired of using my kids initials and changes their names. See this post to know who is who.