a family tradition

"Tradition" is a fabulous word for our kids. One of their favorites is our Valentine's Day Tradition where we pack up the whole tribe and go off to a fancy hotel in Branson. We just returned this afternoon and I thought I'd share some of the fun!

Packing on Monday, Bear was watching Louie, Jona was focused one of his newer space books, and Keona was VERY JAZZED about helping mommy pack. She's been packing ever since she could walk, stuffing toys and shoes into backpacks or Walmart bags and pretending she was going to the Moon or Dora's house...As she and I were packing things up, she looked at the boys and said, "We're the workers. They're the wait-ers."

With teddy bears and swimsuits in tow, we pulled into the "Castle" and piled out in our matching ISMK sweatshirts to take over the hotel. We started with a swim, enjoyed chocolate-covered strawberries while we explored the hotel, then took in a movie in their mini-theatre, played games in the room, and finished with another swim. Today we repeated the pattern and topped it off with icecream.

Jona announced, "this is one of the best days of my life!" And Keona asked, "what would happen if we stayed here 100 days???"

Ah, memories. They probably won't remember the details but I do pray that our kids grow up knowing they were always our main event!