our thankful tree

I wanted to do art projects with the kids that were fun for them but also some that had meaning. Activities that made them think and open their hearts a bit. This is what we made first.

This is our family's thankful tree and my new centerpiece for the dinner table.

I rallied the kids one afternoon and we scoured the empty lot next to my parent's house for appropriate sticks. I put the sticks in a vase I already had and filled the vase with black rocks.

I found some leaf templates and cut out different shapes and colors from construction paper. Punched a hole in one end and used yarn to tie to said sticks.

Each member of our family chose three leaves and wrote what they were thankful for on them.

My plan is to keep this centerpiece all year long and change the template to whatever the holiday or season is. We will be making our Christmas templates very soon!

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Nola

We took a trip to New Orleans the weekend before Christmas. It was a crisp cool weekend but the sun shone bright. My parents were with us. It was actually my Dad's brilliant idea in the first place.

We rode a streetcar, saw the SuperDome, went to the Insectarium, walked around the city a lot and played at Audubon park.

Oh yes, and we played in these feather Mardi Gras wraps.

And hats.

Can you guess what covers Micah's nose and lips?

If you guessed powdered sugar you are right!! We couldn't visit NOLA without getting drenched in powdered sugar while eating beignets at Cafe du Monde.

One of the oldest traditions in New Orleans are the street artists. We watched in awe of these guys for a good while.

We had a wonderful time in New Orleans. It is great to visit this city during the holiday season with all the lights, decorations, music and hustle and bustle. I was sure hoping to run into Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints but, alas, we did not. Next time!

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family traditions

Every summer, for as long as I can remember, my Dad's side of the family has gotten together to spend a week in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is a family tradition. Oh, the memories we have made over the years! Like annual fishing rodeos, playing Trivial Pursuit and The Newlywed Game, jet skiing, pontooning, awards night, talent show night, trips to Souvenir City, playing goofy golf, Sam the Sand Crab, fishing off the pier, parasailing, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, staying at the Romar House and crab night! These are just a small sample of the sweet memories I have from all the years staying in Gulf Shores.

This summer is no different! We started our vacation this past Saturday. The majority of our family are staying in beach houses down on the Gulf. What a pleasure it is seeing everyone and spending time with one another. It used to be myself and my cousins as the littles of the family. Now, my cousins and I have grown and some of us have littles of our own! They are the ones carrying on the traditions of fishing off the pier, taking that trip to Souvenir City, and building sand castles. I can't tell you how thankful I am for my ENTIRE family and the precious memories I hold in my heart.

I can't help but picture my brother, Martin, still here with us and thinking about what he would be doing. Wishing he were close by to hear his thoughts on the oil spill, complaining about the weather, making plans to play tennis or see a movie, or planning a water balloon war with our cousins. It is our first summer without him and our hearts ache to have him here. It's just not the same.

I'm off to make plans for the day. The forecast calls for rain, mixed with rain, with a slight chance of more rain! Ugh. What are some of your own family traditions?        

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