I'm a Traditional Girl...In a Non-Traditional World

So when I was thinking about blogging about some traditions I am trying to pass on to my girls I started by searching the internet for a catchy quote on traditions. But I couldn't find a single quote that used the word "tradition" in a positive context. Our world isn't exactly into family traditions.

I however love traditions! Just ask my husband! When Jeremy and I were engaged one thing I was super excited about was to start our own family traditions, along with passing down traditions from my family growing up. As I might have mentioned I'm not exactly all about change. I like things the same...most of the time.

Recently the girls and I had a tea party. Just like my Mom-o used to have for my sister and I. (that is what we call my mom's mom) We used Grace's tea set and I cut up Zebra cakes into mini "tea cakes" I always remember her doing this. We used to get all dressed up with gloves and hats-it was the best! We didn't dress up this time but I hope in the future to add in that part of the tradition as well. We did make blue "tea." (Skim milk with a drop of blue food coloring). I love my Mom-o so much and am so glad God choose her to be my grandma!

Another tradition I really desire to hand down to my girls is a love of cooking. My grandma, mom-o, and mom are great cooks! I remember cooking with my mom growing up. I wasn't very good at it but now I LOVE to cook too. My girls have already started "helping." We make bread, treats, meatballs (only once Grace tasted the raw meat-ewww!), and anything that requires stirring. While we were home over the Fourth of July Grace & Faith helped my mom and I make muffins. Can there really be anything more lovely than cooking with your mom & daughters?

So here is my attempt at a quote on traditions:
"Traditions are simply reliving extra special family moments over and over, so you will always have a little piece of your childhood to hold on to." -Jennifer Humiston

Doubt they will ever embroider it on a quilt!

Check this out!

Fourth of July Fun

Grace's First Carousel Ride With Daddy
The Big Parade
The Girls in their Red, White, & Blue

Our nation's birthday has always been fully celebrated by my family. So when we moved to Hannibal we moved to the right place. Fourth of July is huge here. Its called Tom Sawyer Days and last year it was featured in Family Fun Magazine (one of my favorites!!) as one of the top five places to visit for this holiday. This year for the first time we went down to the river and checked out the carnival rides. I read the sign and it said that parents could accompany children on the Carousel & Big Slide free of charge. I thought great-and bought two tickets. Tickets cost $.75, I thought $1.50 well spent. Then we arrived at the Carousel-it cost three tickets! Opps, so I had to send Jeremy back for one more ticket. Even though the ride was pricier than I originally expected it was worth the $2.25 because Grace loved it!! She had huge grin on her face the entire time. But we decided one ride was enough for this year.



We also went to the parade. When you come from towns the size Jeremy and I do a parade is like twenty minutes. Wow, were we in for a surprise the first year we went to this parade. It is seriously the longest parade I have ever seen. Each year we have made it one hour before we have seen enough. (Just long enough to spot our big kids in the band, and see the church float!) This year Grace loved it too. She clapped and waved and was having a wonderful time. Luckily a nice older woman next to us snatched some candy for her because the competition was fierce, and she was safely sitting in her stroller the entire time. When we were thinking it was about time to leave I asked her if she was ready to go to Papa's house and she said no! Okay, in her world this is like the ultimate statement of enjoyment. She will drop anything in a second at the prospect of going to see my parents.



That night we went to my grandparents house for Fireworks. This is pretty much an annual tradition in the Holst family. Except for this year it wasn't my grandparent's house exactly-it is my grandma's house. This was our first holiday without my grandpa and probably the one he will be most missed at. He LOVED blowing money on fireworks and watching his grand kids light them off in his pasture. I think everyone kept waiting for him to come walking up the stairs ready to BBQ. This year my dad took over the role of grill master. And honestly that equalled some awesome burgers, because my dad is really great at the grill. But it wasn't quite the same as my grandpa's almost raw ones. (We always kind of laughed at his under cooked burgers)

I'm sure we will have lots more memories to come as the girls are old enough to particpate in more of the special events of Tom Sawyer Days. But seeing how much Grace enjoyed it this year is something I definitely don't want to forget. Although she didn't really see what the big deal about fireworks was. She choose to watch a movie with Grammy instead.

Purple "Dirt"

So we have something new and fun at our house- purple sand. Last week at Jeremy's softball game one of the moms brought a sand table full of bright purple sand. It was wonderful! The kids played nicely the whole time and I actually got to see Jeremy make a few good plays. (Usually we are only there in presence I see very little of the actual game!) Grace loved it. So we decided the next day Jeremy and Grace would take a Daddy Trip to WalMart and get her some. We talked it up all day and she couldn't wait for him to get home and take her with him to the store. The sand comes in a 20 lb bag and is on sale for $2 a bag. (it is usually like $9!) So we bought a bunch and put it in a tub with scoops and other sand toys since we don't have a sandbox. Grace calls it purple "dirt." It comes in lots of bright colors but we choose purples since that is her favorite color. Thank you WalMart garden center-what fun!