Traditions

The wintertime brings on special traditions for the family.  Here are a few of them!

1.  The Holiday Parade!  This parade is fantastic!  It is full of glowing floats spreading holiday cheer.  This year was extra special because Russell, AJ and Ryker got to enjoy the parade on a float this year.  The float was in honor of the Cub Scouts!  It was all fun and games in the begining but then the boys were over the float.  They stuck it out!  Grandma and Grandpa came down for the parade, and with a group of friends we hollered at the guys when they came by!  That was pretty darn special!

2.  Holiday 

   Lights!  Mandy and I have made it our mission to go enjoy holidays lights, with hot chocolate in tow.  This year, Mandy and I, we braved the event with 5 children.  It was a Thursday before break, we didn't get there until 650pm, Dempsey fell out of the car on ice, it took at least 10 minutes from leaving the car to get to the entrance of the zoo....but darnit we DID it.  And we had fun.  We also agreed that a shot upon entrance might do us some good.  The kids begged to do the carousel and honestly that ended up being my favorite time!  AJ and Ryk went running around to grab their animal.  Dempsey really wanted to sit by the monkeys, which ended up being a stationary bench.  She could not quit laughing because she was so happy.  A cherished memory indeed!

3. Star Wars!  Not only did we see Star Wars on opening night, but we also got to see Star Wars with my immediate family!  It's becoming a tradition to go see the movie as an entire family.  Two years ago we all wore our own Star Wars shirts.  This year Grandma hooked up our entire family with matching Star Wars Colorado shirts!  

 4.  Christmas Day Opening Presents @ Home.  As long as I can remember I have immensely enjoyed having Christmas Day at home.  I can't explain it.  It's not that I don't love being around family, but there has always been something special to me about being in my own home.  I love being around my Christmas tree, our presents, our comfy pants...you get the idea!

5.   My Top 3 Favorite Day of the Year.  The student-staff basketball game at my school.  Oh I love it so!!  A packed gym with all of our students cheering us on!  I get to play a full court game with the best colleagues I could ever work with, many who have become dear friends!  I live for this day:)


6.  Christmas Eve Boxes!  I honestly don't even know where these got started, but we do this every year.  The boxes, which were created by Granny Barb a few years back, include matching pjs, hot chocolate, and bells.  Typically the kids put on these pjs, while they drink hot chocolate, and watch The Polar Express.  This year we celebrated this with my niece and nephew.  When I suggested we watch The Polar Express the kids were not interested.  At bedtime, AJ looked at me and said, "WHAT!  We aren't watching Polar Express?  But it's tradition."  Being that the kids needed sleep, we ended up watching this on Christmas Day.  Special still!

 6.  Getting our Christmas Tree.  But this isn't in bold.  You ask why?  Oh because we were lame this year and with sickness and exhaustion...well we went to Walmart.  I didn't even bring myself to attend this special event...well because...

It seems that traditions help me to ground myself in the things that are important to me and my family.  I am finding out that some of my traditions aren't necessarily interesting to my kids, but many are!  It isn't interesting to navigate what to continue, and what to honor for them and their needs.  It creates awesome dialogue for sure!

"But Mom, it's tradition!"
Love,
Momma