The Tradition Jackpot--Going Big

This past weekend was full of Easter and eggs and family and games and traditions and laughter. When I married into this family I sort of hit the tradition jackpot. They have a lot of traditions. And they always go big on holidays and special occasions--lots of people, lots of tradition, lots of food and lots of love.

This family doesn't just host a Good Friday breakfast...they host a party with crafts and food and games. It's the kind of party everyone shows up for. Grandkids come back from college to paint eggs and help the younger cousins. The grown-up siblings get involved and help their mom and dad and paint eggs and joke around. 

Cousin Rachel came home from MSU to help out and have fun.

Look at those big kids in the corner having fun!

Awww, Michael and his mom.

Some of the girls, looking so grown up. 

Cousins (big and small) and uncles playing a rough and tumble game of basketball on the tiny tykes hoop is always fun to watch.

Traditions aren't just about food and crafts with this family,they also always involve games. And you better come to compete because the leader of the games, Grandma, takes it all pretty seriously.

Here's Grandma giving the kids the rules of the game.

All the kids take it pretty seriously, but also have so much fun.

There's always a guy that puts a lampshade, um or a bucket, on his head at the party, right? Yeah, Wade is that guy.

New game, new rules and Grandma is telling them
how it's going to be...

This may be my favorite picture from any family party ever.

I told you, Grandma takes it seriously. Lol. 

The annual egg toss. It was a pretty cold day so the kids were worried that would mess things up for them. JT and Micheal won for the second year in a row. Wade and Rachel came in second place and was so excited. 

Do other families do this? I mean because mine didn't. I have some very nice memories with my family when I was little, and visiting my grandma and grandpa was wonderful. BUT we didn't go this big. 

When I first joined this family, to be very honest I was a little overwhelmed. I felt pressure to be a certain way, act a certain way and I might have been a tiny bit resentful of all the big-ness. But I was young and didn't see the bigger picture. I was used to being alone-ish. I was adjusting to being married and being a parent. But almost 18 years later, boy do I get it. 

I get that these family traditions are about love and legacy. They are about showing up. They are about supporting each other and all the life that is happening to all of us. They are about remembering to laugh and have fun when all that life is happening to all of us. They are about staying connected to each other. They are about honoring the past and looking forward to the future. 

This past Sunday was Easter and we were back doing it big and the grandparents' house. Easter baskets, Easter ham, desserts, egg hunt and more basketball. And you better believe Grandma was back running the show. 

The girls were showing Grandma some fun apps for her new iPhone.

The weather was warmer thank goodness.

I've learned so much from this family about going big, showing up, always supporting each other and staying connected. And having fun.