Traditions

I've been thinking a lot lately about what kind of traditions I want to start with Baby T.  I had a pretty great childhood, and I want to make sure Baby T's is just as awesome, and see if we can make it even more awesome!

When I was younger, probably middle school, my aunt took me and my cousins blueberry picking, which was so much fun.  At the farm we went to, you get a bucket, and are driven out to the bushes and set free.  You can pick as many as your bucket can hold and are free to eat as many as you want too.  I loved it.  Mark and I went last summer, and he had a blast.  We didn't get to go this year, since the early warm weather and then frost killed most of the buds.  It was a pretty bad season for them I guess.  This is definitely something that I want to continue with our kids.

Every summer growing up, my parents tried to take us to the water park (Magic Waters) and to the amusement park (Six Flags Great America).  We'd pack a bunch of sandwiches and food and have picnic lunches at the tables in the water park or at the car at Six Flags.  At the water park, we'd get to run around to all the rides, and meet back at the tables whenever we were hungry.  At Six Flags, we always stuck together, but it was fun anyway!  I think once our kids are a little older, I'd like to take them to Fright Fest too, which is something hubby and I did for the first time last year.

Last year, my hubby and I found a great pick-your-own-apple farm out in Maple Park.  We love apples, and I love homemade applesauce, so we went and had tons of fun.  You get a ride out to the trees, and a bag for your apples.  We went again this year, and I know we'll be back next year and for many years to come!

Every fall, my parents took me and my brother and sisters to the pumpkin farm in Channahon.  It's grown a lot over the years, but when we were kids, they had a petting zoo, a hay ride, and a corn maze.  It was always so much fun to go and pick out our pumpkins, and then carve them all together.  We've tried to keep this tradition alive, despite living a little farther away.

 Another new tradition we started last year that I will definitely continue with Baby T is picking out and cutting down our own Christmas tree.  I had never done that before, and I was giddy with excitement.  I'm hoping that it's snowy this year when we go... perfect weather for picking out a tree, right?

What kind of traditions does your family have?