We are trying to start some traditions in my family. Growing up we had a ton. It was always so exciting around the holidays in my home. Mama would really do it up for every occasion and we would party the night away into the wee hours of the morning. Even from a really young age, I remember staying up until 3 or 4 in the morning screaming laughing, dancing, singing, eating like pigs and chatting until the sun came up.
Again, like I’ve said a bunch in my posts, this last 12 or so months have been very life changing. So many things have brought us here, some I’ve already shared so I won’t elaborate and bore you! One of the things that I have realized is that we stopped many…no most of our traditions! Pretty much all of the holiday excitement died with my dad. Funny, because it was my mom who was the creator and doer of most of them. Maybe by not doing them, it would take away the obviousness that he’s gone…was what I thought the first few years. But then it became habit. Holiday comes, get together, eat, go home. No decorations, no party til we can’t stand it anymore. Just the obligatory….it was easy. I think we all got into this routine and it only became apparent recently when all the kids started becoming able to understand. “We NEED a change” my sister said, “this is ridiculous.” So yesterday was our FIRST ‘do it up right again’ holiday!
We all woke up bright and early and headed to an AMAZING pick it yourself farm. All the kids got into red wagons and we walked them out to the fields to pick fruit and veggies. They hopped out in the raspberry patch and each filled up there little crates in record time. It was SOOO cute. We also got strawberries, boysenberries, carrots, a bunch of different lettuce, celery, zucchini and a type of yellow squash that I had never seen before. We then let the kids play in the farms playground for a few more hours. They had a blast and crashed before we pulled out of the driveway.
Our first tradition! July 4th, go out and harvest this beautiful land that we are so lucky to live in:) Then return home to cook it all up. Food is DRASTICALLY better when you have worked so hard to pick it and it is so fresh. The kids were so proud of the food, they ate like little piglets and I was so proud of them and my family.
We have started what I hope to be years of exciting new traditions. Yes, we were not the family laying together on the boat in the marina watching fireworks…. But, we were a family with 4 and 1/2 (my sister in law is pregnant) new little people starting something new and special and all our own.
Unknowingly, I think our family has started a tradition of lighting faulty fireworks. This year we had an artillery shell fail to launch and it exploded on the ground. Despite the immediate freak-out from kids, it was definitely the greatest "fountain" ever. 😀
Each year, we do a family Christmas CD instead of letters or gifts to distant friends and family. Me, the wife, and both of our kids are musicians, so we come up with a few songs, and parodies, and do a quick home recording session over a couple of days. This last year was tough with one in college and the high schooler as busy as a rock star, so we did a "Best Of" and added a just a couple of new tracks. It's a great way to make time for each other, and in the liner notes, we catch everyone up on what's going on in our world. It's about 5.00 per disc and well worth the memories we are creating each year…
What fantastic adventure you had! I would love to start some great family traditions with my little ones as well. So, YOU better keep a heads up…I may steal YOURS! 🙂
Sounds like you've had an eventful year. My dad was always the one that kept the family together, when he died, our family kind of withered. My goal for this next year is to rekindle some of those magic moments that we had as a family and start some new magic! Wish me luck. And I'll be thinking of you too.
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Props for getting the family back into making new traditions. My Dad's been gone almost four years and there is no attempt to do anything as a family anymore. My brother and I try, but our kids are so different in age that it's hard to get everyone together. My Mom remarried 2 years ago to a man who is very involved with his family but has nothing in common with my brother and myself, so I don't see much changing there. So our little family of three tries to do our own thing, but we're not always that much fun by ourselves : )
I love the start of the new tradition! The pictures are great. I REALLY love the one of all 4 kids in the grass together. So happy and looking like they are having so much fun! Oh to be a kid again 🙂
My Dad was a "tradition" guy too, and the 4th was what he was ALL ABOUT! We live in NE and we are close to an old army fort. They do living history days out there the first weekend of the nicer months. Our tradition was to get up early and go to living history day and check out all the fun stuff, eat lunch in the tiny little town, and then hit up their firework stands on the way out. Even though he's not here anymore, we still do it and the kids love it! I have an almost 2 year old, but there's 5 girls 4 and under right now on just my side of the family, so they have a blast when they are all together.
OMG can your littles be any cuter?!?!?
It's hard to celebrate holidays when the anchors of your family have gone..My dad always did the huge Christmas tree while mom baked..they have both passed now, and it was hard for the holidays to mean anything at first. But then you realize you have to go on..it's now myself and my sister who is terminal w/COPD. We cherish the moments we have…
sanbient- That is hysterical!
Dave- What an awesome idea! I want to be on YOUR families Christmas card list!! haha. That idea rocks and yes, I may steal it!
Christine- Go for it! This is my year of doing the things I've always wanted. I don't know what the inspiration was. Guess I just got sick of the talking and no doing….. Keep me updated:)
Courtney- Sometimes you've got to force it…and that's okay. You know when kids get married you always hear of the mother-in-laws fighting over who gets what holiday? Flip it around on your mama! "THEM" Thanksgiving your amazing everythings on Christmas.
Jacquie- That is a great tradition! So awesome that you guys can carry it on. Having all those kids in the family is a dream. Mine have 1 cousin and 1 on the way so far. But hopefully that number goes up:)
Susan- First Thank you! Second, I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. God bless your family…
Another great post, Haylie. As always, your pics are great.
1) Free-Range Saylor… great caption
2) Raimy snuggling Renn in the Tuckered Out pic is beyond sweet.