Off the top of my head I can think of two very distinct family traditions we had when I was a kid. One was going on vacation; whether it was a road trip down to the beautiful city of Guanajuato in central Mexico or flying to Florida to check out Disney World for the first time, a family vacation was one thing we could count on every year. The next thing I remember vividly from my childhood was the annual “first day of school” picture, always in our backyard in the same spot, taken with my mom’s film camera that she had to develop and put into a photo album. Why do I remember these things?

Those memories are forever ingrained in my mind and heart, and I looked forward to them with anticipation. Those family traditions are ones I now pass on to my kids. Some are small and effortless, while others are big and take months of planning. Nevertheless, my hope as their mom is that maybe they’ll take away just one tradition or even make something up all their own once they’re adults to cherish with their families.   

New Year’s Eve

I started this tradition some four years ago as a way to ring in the New Year with my kids. I didn’t think at the time it would be something they would look forward to the following year, but it was. And here we are years later having fun every 30 to 45 minutes before the clock strikes 12:00am. The party begins around 8pm with a coloring page, there are balloons, a toast, sparkler, even games. And you better believe that my boys will stay up well into after the ball drops in NYC. If you want to see the full itinerary, click here.

Easter

Special holiday family traditions are a way to not only to have fun, but for me to teach my kids that there are meanings to why we celebrate. An Easter tradition I started a couple of years ago that is not only meaningful to our faith but also very tasty, is learning about the story of Easter. On Good Friday, we sit and watch an animated movie (30 minutes) about the death and resurrection of Jesus, then we make tombs out of graham crackers, chocolate donuts, and mini Oreos. We use peanut butter as our “glue” (but have also used icing in years past) and coconut flakes mixed with green food coloring as our “grass.” Super simple and the conversations that go on during our craft are ones that make this mom’s heart happy.  

Last Day of School

A special treat my boys have become VERY fond of to initiate the beginning of summer break from school is a nice cold Bahama Buck’s snow cone on the last day of school. In Texas, it’s practically a necessity. 

Birthday Tradition

On the morning of my kids’ birthdays, they wake up to a donut cake. Yup, you read that right: sugary, yummy donuts to start the day. Since most mornings their breakfast usually consist of something in a bowl or scrambled up quickly, a tower of donuts to ring in another year of life seems only right on their special day. Not only that, the entire house wakes up and serenades the birthday boy.  

Summer Vacations

Since the summer vacations I took as a kid are memories I still treasure to this day, I knew I always wanted the same for my kids. We use this time to get out of the regular routines of home life, a chance to get away from work life and obligations, and just be with one another, seeing new places, and making new memories. We all enjoy our time together wherever it is that we travel to that summer. Whether they realize it now or not, the time we spend together is special and something I want them to carry on into adult life.  

4th of July Celebration

We did not know when we moved into our home in Allen, Texas, 12 years ago that the park adjacent to our community held the biggest 4th of July celebration in the metroplex. But now we do, and for the past eight years, we’ve celebrated accordingly! Like holidays that tie us to our faith, this 4th of July holiday ties us to our patriotism and reminds of the the people who fought and continue to fight for our freedoms. Nonetheless, hosting our family and friends has just become second nature when the Market Street Allen USA Celebration is upon us. 

First & Last Day of School Photos

I bring this family tradition with me from my childhood. Every first day of school, I photograph my boys in the same spot, on our front step in front of our house. On the last day of school, I do exactly the same thing. And every year I look at them in awe of not only how different they appear from the previous school year, how much they’ve grown, but also about how precious time is to us. It keeps me grounded in the fact that the days are long and the years are short. 

State Fair of Texas

Being born and raised in the great state of Texas, I could definitely not exclude this from being a tradition I enjoy with my family. It blows my mind when someone tells me they have never gone or don’t intend on going. To them I say, GO, at the very least, one time. But for my family, it’s a given that you can find us there at least three times throughout the State Fair season (which this year falls Sept. 28 – Oct. 21, but who’s got THAT memorized, right?!) if not more. And if you need tips on maneuvering the State Fair of Texas with your little ones, I’ve got you covered!

Traditions, no matter how big or small, are important to my family. As my children get older, the memories they hold onto from the family traditions we build together will be long-lasting and something they continue to look forward to even when they have their own families. If starting family traditions sounds like a daunting task, check out this great blog post to get on your way to making and keeping meaningful memories.

What are some of the family traditions you’ve started or hope to begin soon?