Family Traditions
 

As I sat and read the local paper and slammed a cup of java I planned todays adventure with my 6 year old son Rory. Today is our annual Dad & Son Monster Truck Show day. Its a big deal for us cuz we both love that type of stuff. The HUGE monter trucks, the crowd, the noise, its just cool. Anyway...my point/question.

My family is small. In fact, its just me, my wife, and the 3 kids. One goes to school in Phoenix. We have no extended family to speak of other than a few cousins, aunts and uncles hat are scattered around. Nobody stays in touch. Parents are dead on both sides. Just us. We had the honor of spending this past holiday with a freinds family who is about 30 strong. Grandma & Grandpa down to the several small kids. They gather each Thanksgiving. All of them. They put aside petty diffences and just be a family. As we sat at dinner and looked around I was moved by what I observed. I sat there and blocked out all sound and looked around at the smiles, the laughs, the gentle lean in to the person sitting next to them. Really cool to watch. My wife tuged at my shirt and asked what I was grinning about. I was grinning because at 43 years old it hit me that we, my small family, are the foundation for what were were introduced to that day. I want to grow old and sit arround a huge picnic table and look at the family "we" were the foundation for. I want to be the old man that drives up and all 30 people rush out to be sure I dont fall as I exit my car. I want to be the old man who falls asleep in the living room and all 30 peolple take their turn in assuring that the blanket one of the grand kids put over me is covering my feet. I want to be the old man that everyone says "hey grandpa do you remeber when?..." I want to be the old man that everyone says "He and grandma are the foundtion to our family."

I kind of went off on a tangent here. I just started typing and thats what came out. Kind sappy I know.

What are your traditions? Do you have large families?

Anyway, I was just thinking. Gotta head off the the MONSTER TRUCK SHOW. GRRRRRRRRRR.

Re: Family Traditions
 

Nice story James.:)

I'll let CP talk about that sappy stuff. Not my style.:p

Re: Family Traditions
 

I find myself grinning too when I'm at the table watching my wife and two boys interact and joke with each other. I always think what we've been through and our future ahead.

My wife caught me once at dinner when I was smiling to myself with that thought. She said,

"Thinking of the H2 Forum again?":jump:

Re: Family Traditions
 

No function of man has so much permanence as virtuous activities (these are thought to be more durable even than knowledge of the sciences), and of these themselves the most valuable are more durable because those who are happy spend their life most readily and most continuously in these; for this seems to be the reason why we do not forget them. The attribute in question, then, will belong to the happy man, and he will be happy throughout his life; for always, or by preference to everything else, he will be engaged in virtuous action and contemplation, and he will bear the chances of life most nobly and altogether decorously, if he is 'truly good' and 'foursquare beyond reproach'.

Continue the good, virtuous, life my friend.

Re: Family Traditions
 

You're a great man Kenneth. I couldn't of said it better myself.:giggling::beerchug:

Re: Family Traditions
 

James!:rant: Now my nose is stuffy and my mascara is in a little puddle.:crying:

That is so sweet, I love that men feel that way too (or some anyway).

Re: Family Traditions
 

Us leftovers want to know what feelings are.:jump:

Re: Family Traditions
 

I cried during Fried Green Tomatos.

Re: Family Traditions
 

Why? I was going to call him a sissy.:giggling: ;)

Re: Family Traditions
 

I cried during Friday the 13th; why do the hot / naked ones always have to die?

Re: Family Traditions
 

Isn't that the reason why we have kids? To make sure we're ok in the long run?

We just started our family, but it's amazing how important the traditions become when you have kids. When it was just me and hubby, it wasn't a huge deal if we didn't decorate for Christmas or had a nice dinner on Thanksgiving. With the kid around, it became crucial. Very interesting.

I find the monster truck thing hysterical....kid is 19 mos now, and ANY time that commercial comes on tv here, he's totally mesmerized. We can't get his attention until the commercial's over. So we may be seeing you there in a year or so. :)

Stacy

Re: Family Traditions
 

FAMILY, there is nothing better.

My 18yr old flew in tonight and is sound asleep in the quest room. I am wide awake knowing he is here for a few days before he goes back to his home. I want to go wake him up and tell him again that I love him. This is the first time he has seen the Hummer, so of course I had to show off when I pulled up to the airport terminal, I told him to look for all the lights and as I rounded the hill I turned on all 9 forward facing lights and the strobes. At that point everyone turned their heads away... But not one middle finger :giggling:
Now he wants me to give him the Hummer,,,, UH NO!
And soon I will have the bigger house so that my GF and her kid can move in and I pray that we can have the family thing forever.
Live is so damn good!!!!!!!!!!!!

:beerchug:

Re: Family Traditions
 

:iagree: What a great read. Traditions ARE important. I think it's great that JamesT and K9sH3 shared their feelings and thoughts about their families.

:perfect10s:

Re: Family Traditions
 

You should

Re: Family Traditions
 

:iagree:

Re: Family Traditions
 

James, I couldnt agree more. Family is the most important thing in my life. Im 25 and just started my own family. I just had my first child last thursday, a baby boy!! I love him more than life already.

Re: Family Traditions
 

Wait till he's 16 then you'll understand why some species eat their young. :D

Congrats on the new male unit.

Teach him to hold the door for ladies.
Teach him to eat Oreo's with milk
Teach him to skip a rock
Teach him to spit
Teach him to pee outside without peeing on himself
Teach him to love
Teach him to fist fight
Teach him to run
Teach him to fart under the covers for Mommy (my favorite)
Teach him to play "Pull my finger."

and most important...

Teach him humanity

Re: Family Traditions
 

Now he wants me to give him the Hummer,,,, UH NO!



Also...give him the Hummer!! Dont be cheap. Its your son!!!!

BTW...my 18 year old wanted mine too. I opted to go the "HELL NO" route and got her a Honda Accord

Re: Family Traditions
 

Congratulations.:)

:perfect10s: :beerchug: :perfect10s:

Re: Family Traditions
 

I'm a family guy too!

When we adopted our 10th child from the Nigeria I was overwhelmed with joy. Only one more and we'll have a football team.