Archive for the ‘Traditions’ Category
365 Stories….
We have a “book” called 365 Stories. It will eventually have 365 stories, but as of now..it probably only has 80!
Some day it will have 365 stories…some day.
I can’t believe we started the book six years ago. I must say I had hoped to have all the days filled in by now. But, life got in the way…..
Sometimes Quinn will write the story and do the illustrations, sometimes Tuesday will draw the pictures and Quinn will write the stories or sometimes I will make the story! It is a little bit of everything..all creative!!
It actually is quite fun that the stories are spanning many years. We started it when Quinn was only 4 years old and River wasn’t even around! Now she is old enough to start working on some stories. On holidays or special occasions, it is fun to see what type of story the kids come up with to memorialize that event! They love going back and reading the stories over and over again!
In: Books, Family, Family Fun, Quinn, River, Traditions, Tuesday, reading
Father’s Day tradition….
A Father’s Day tradition we have in our family is writing stories and creating our own books. I think we started writing them in 2000, when Tuesday was only 3 years old. Quinn did his first story in 2002. And River did her first story last year. It has been such a fun tradition. I think the best part is getting out all the old ones and rereading them every year!
I use a template that I created in Publisher and type the stories. When you make a template, remember to leave a big margin on the left hand side for binding…if you don’t, some of your text and pictures will get cut off!
Then I print them out on thick stock paper. The children then add their pictures, usually using Sharpie markers. I love the Sharpie markers because they are the brightest and they don’t seem to fade. After all the pictures are completed….we head on over to our local teachers’ supply store, where they have a laminating machine. I get all the pages laminated….then we head on over to our local Kinkos/Federal Express shop and I use their work station to cut the pages all out and get them reordered……then I have them bind them for me. (Why don’t I just have the Kinkos/Fed Ex shop do the laminating? Because they charge about $1.50 per page!! It is much cheaper to go to the local teachers’ supply store..they charge you something like thirty-two cents a yard!)
I love the laminating because it brings the vibrant colors out and it protects the pages…makes them seem more like a real book! I always use a cover page…and then an inside dedication page that says the year.
The kids are always so proud of their stories and pictures! It is a great tradition or gift idea for any occassion!
In: Family, Traditions, craft projects, creating books, gift ideas
Christmas Tree Photo….
Every year we try to take a family photo in front of the Christmas tree. And every year, they turn out pretty much like this….Probably not a great family photo..but at least great family memories…..
In: Christmas, Family, Traditions, reflections
Christmas things…..
Well….another Christmas has come and gone….As I was putting away all the holiday things….it strikes me that some of my most cherished things…are the things that didn’t cost a lot of money. For example, our Christmas tree star. It was our first Christmas together, and Christopher and I got a small tree. As we were decorating the tree, we realized we didn’t have anything to put on top of it. I remembered that once, long ago, I had seen a star made from an old tin can. We didn’t have a tin can…only an old soda can. So, I cut a star from the soda can. Every year, when we got the star out, I would say we should get a proper star…but Christopher always told me, no, this was a proper star. And I guess, after all these years, I finally realize that he is right…it is a proper star and I wouldn’t have anything else for the top of our tree!
I got many wonderful presents this year….one of my favorites is a manger that my son gave to me. He is incredibly creative. He went into the workshop and took scraps of wood and, and using the scraps just as they were, he made me a manger. I just love all the adorable people and animals!
In: Christmas, Traditions, reflections
Christmas 2009
Well, we made it through Christmas! And what a joyful Christmas it was….it was filled with wonderful gifts and lots of laughs and love! The homemade and gifts that can’t be bought at a store are always the best (at least in my opinion)! And we had lots of those this year!
In: Christmas, Traditions
Christmas is almost here……
Lots of last minute sewings, gluings, tapings, bakings and too much to mention! I love this time of year, but it sure is tiring! Lots of super secret stuff going on! I hope everyone is taking the time to appreciate life and all the joy this time of year brings…..
I can’t explain all these strange things in the photos because it would give away secrets…but I will tell you all about them, after they are given away….
In: Christmas, Traditions, sewing
Christmas Countdown….Day 21…Wonder
I don’t think there is anything better than the look of wonder in a child’s eyes at this time of year. And a little bit of snow doesn’t hurt either!
This weekend we got so much snow…the storm of the century! Wow, what fun! And after playing in the snow, everyone had to have some snow cream!
In: Christmas, Family Fun, River, Traditions, Tuesday
Christmas Countdown….Day 18…Nutcrackers
Another collection we have is nutcrackers. Actually, it is Christopher’s collection. He used to get one every year from his parents. Our children love getting them out each year. Christopher takes three out a night and the kids are always fascinated by them. Quinn has decided he wants to start his own collection. I think they are so special because the kids only get to see them at Christmas time. If they were out year round..I don’t think they would have the same excitement!
In: Christmas, Traditions
Christmas Countdown….Day 16…visiting Santa
River was very excited to visit Santa and to sit on his lap. We always say that you can ask Santa for one item. So she thought about it and thought about it and finally came up with her one item…….”a sparkle ball toy that I can bring into the house.” Then Santa asked what else she wanted, which always happens, and every year our kids are at a total loss for words because we tell them they can only ask Santa for one item! Sometimes they even get so tongue tied that they can’t even remember their ONE item. They one year, Quinn, was so excited to see Santa, that when he asked what he wanted for Christmas, he went totally blank….and after a few seconds…blurted out……”a toothbrush!”
Also, I had to run out the other night to do some errands and when I came back, Tuesday was very involved in a project. She was working completely on her own and had gotten no help. When she was finished with her project, she proudly showed it to me….a manger! I loved it…it is so detailed…..she even took a pin and made little holes in the sheep to make it have a wooly effect!
In: Christmas, Traditions
Christmas Countdown….Day 15…Yule Lads
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is the Yule Lads. Christopher and I went to Iceland seven years ago. There we learned about the Yule lads and we have been participating in the tradition ever since! The Yule lads come down from the mountains during the last 13 nights before Christmas. Children leave a shoe in their window each night. The Yule lads sneak into each house and play a prank on the inhabitants before leaving a little treat for the children. Children who are not good, receive rotten potatoes in their shoes.
Each Yule lad is unique and carries its own traditions. Such as Stúfur, or Stubby, who is very short, therefore it is important to put a stool by your window so he can reach your shoe. A favorite in our house is Hurðaskellir, or Door Slammer, who is very noisy and slams all the doors in the house before he goes on his way!
Eventually, all the Yule Lads arrive and then make their way back to the mountains. On Christmas eve, children who do not receive new clothing, are in danger of being eaten by the Yule Cat! This tradition originated from the fact that Icelandic children were responsible for helping out with the preparation and production of new garments each winter. To make sure the children worked hard and concentrated while working, the adults would scare them with horrific tales of the Yule Cat!
You can read more about the traditions of Iceland and the Yule lads at this Iceland website.
In: Christmas, Traditions
