in the past year, we’ve been asking ourselves about each and every holiday and celebration: “what would truly excite us about this day? what do we want do together? what would be fun to do now and as our family grows? how can we make this day a special celebration? what traditions do we want to have as a family?” and while, yeah, it was because we now had a child and I wanted our lives peppered with joyful traditions and intentional celebrations, there’s also another added bonus: simplification.
because, as one of my favorite books ever talked about, there is power and freedom in deciding once. because we waste energy when doing the whole dance of, “I don’t, know, what do you want to do this year fo {insert holiday or celebration here}?” if you can pinpoint right now what you authentically love for that holiday and what would genuinely get you excited for, say, valentine’s day, assign it to that day. do it every year. decide once. no need to reinvent the wheel every year if you can figure out now what you’d love - we have plentyyyy of other things in our life to have to think about.
(of course - like our routines - the minute something is no longer serving us in our current season, we let it go and we reevaluate.)
but for now, that deciding once makes things so easy. so even when I’m not feeling well or man, I’m tired, or hi, i have a toddler and a three-week old, those family traditions are automated, guaranteeing us a special celebration.
and i want my kids to grow up and know that their mom loved her daily life, but she also loved holidays, traditions, and birthdays.
and because life is short. and i want mine peppered with joyful rituals and intentional celebrations.
ready?
January
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for January’s month of play
February
family trip to HMart - Brett’s favorite.
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for February’s month of play
March
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for March’s month of play
April
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for April’s month of play
May
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for May’s month of play
June
spa date with my mom and sisters for my mom’s birthday
our family’s birthday (aka how we celebrate our wedding anniversary)
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for June’s month of play
July
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for July’s month of play
August
if our budget allows, we take an annual beach trip
family trip to HMart - Brett’s favorite.
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for August’s month of play
September
our waffle dinner - Brett asked me out over an Eggo waffle on September 24th, so we eat waffles every year for dinner on that date as a little tradition :)
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for September’s month of play
trip to the spa with my sisters and mom to celebrate my sister’s birthday
October
Halloween traditions (aka How I Learned to Love Halloween) - like tamales for Halloween dinner!
Brett and I go on our Annual Holiday Planning Dinner, sometime in September or October - this is explained in my Christmas traditions post!
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for October’s month of play
November
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for November’s month of play
Sushi Dinner sometime after Thanksgiving - post coming soon!
trip to the spa with my mom and sisters to celebrate my sister’s birthday
December
annual staycation for Brett and me - post coming soon!
see Our Monthly Themes for Play: Our Favorite Books, Toys, Activities, and Sensory Bins For Each Month of the Year for December’s month of play
