Holding onto Tradition

A few weekends ago we gathered at my parents to celebrate my brother Ryan's birthday and do our annual pumpkin carving. It's a fun, messy tradition that I look forward to every year. When Rocky and I started our family we knew we wanted to have special traditions that our kids could look forward to each year.  Pumpkin carving, the Christmas tree farm, books and matching pj's on Christmas Eve....and the list goes on.

Over the years as our little family has grown into a biggish family those traditions have felt harder and harder to keep. At times we've had to modify because of kids' schedules or our commitments. Other times it has simply felt exhausting trying to keep up with all the traditions so we've let some slip. And some years the kids just don't need new pj's.

But last week spending the day at my parents with my sister and brother and their beautiful families reminded me how important it is to hold onto our traditions. These kids of ours are growing at lightning speed and as they get older I want them to have these memories. I want them to look back and talk about the funny and sweet moments together.

Just as we started to get prepped for carving the wind picked up something fierce and the kids made a beeline for the door to run wild and catch leaves. Shoes were optional.

My sister reminded me of when we were little we would stand in the front yard of our old house and wait for the wind to bring gusts of leaves over the roof of our house. We would run all over that front yard trying to catch leaves in mid-flight. 

The gap of years between our kids truly is a gift. 

It was not our plan to have 11 years separating oldest and youngest but I can now say how thankful I am for the space. Seeing how quickly my bigs are growing helps me appreciate so much more this time.  The evidence of speed sits in the driver's seat of my mini van. Time flies. 

I don't know that we can slow it down. Or that we can change much with our agendas but I do know I want to embrace these moments and soak it all up. 

In the crazy busyness I want us to keep the traditions and make room for the moments.

Because I know that's what will stick with our kids. Carving pumpkins, chasing leaves and laughing until their bellies hurt. 

And whether they need them or not...there will be 

matching pj's this year.

Sunday Football

Around these parts everybody's a Seahawk fan. Well most everybody. Pretty sure we have the biggest Russell "Wussell" Wilson fan living under our roof. I have to bribe him to wear attire other than the jersey and if my counting is right he's taken his Seahawk football for show and tell five consecutive weeks. 

 This kiddo runs play after play in our front room so it was nice to take the game outside on this beautiful sunny Sunday.

 He begged the girls all day to play football with him.

 And he was so thrilled when they obliged. 

Amelia is always happy to join him for some football.

 Maggie vs. the Littles

 Holding?

 Josie Kate with the kickoff

Don't mess with the girl in a pink Unicorn shirt

So thankful for this beautiful afternoon, fall colors, front yard football and watching my kiddos making memories. Just missing my biggest player who's sidelined with a football injury. Hopefully we can take him off the injured reserve list for next Sunday's front yard game.

Photog in the House

Found these sweet pics Maggie took of the kiddos a couple months ago. She did these when I was gone one day and told me none of them turned out. I beg to differ. I think you might have a career 

(or at least a fun hobby) ahead of you Miss Maggie Lu.

Ferry Riding [Summer Traditions]

For four years now we've had this tradition of taking the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle on a sunny, summer evening. It started as a spontaneous little trip (check out how little they were here) and has now become a summer must do. 

It was another fun ferry trip and one more check on the summer list. We're trying to fit as much in as we can in the next two weeks. I'm quite positive that each summer seems to go a little quicker than the last so we must soak up every last minute.