traditions : old & new

I love watching our little family traditions grow - some of them quite without me realizing they're happening. On Saturday morning, I was getting ready for a journey to the grocery store (the epic experience that is the day before Easter), and walked into the living room to find Calvin, Ezra and Adelaide in the 'shanty' (aka - the couch cushions with quilts draped over them), playing "Laura, Carrie, and Mary Ingalls". But the tone was serious - and I strained to listen to just what was going on in there, worried we were reenacting Jack's (the Ingalls' dog) death again or something equally Little House on the Prairie-tragic.

But another very important kind of meeting was happening in there. Calvin and Ezra were having a little sit-down with Adelaide - filling her in on just what Spring is all about, and what exactly she could expect on Easter. They were explaining how the little animals of the forest leave out treats for them to find. They even impressed me with a few "some people are celebrating this....and some people believe this...." that has me believing they do actually hear me when I ramble on about such things. And then in great detail, the description of the 'really special and beautiful' chocolate bunny they would have in their basket from Mama and Papa. (Perfect, I thought, as I mentally added those yummy Lake Champlain bunnies to the grocery list.)

But before I could get too comfortable in my preparedness, I heard "...and Mama makes us all springtime pants!"  Wait, what? I do? A moment of panic set in as I racked my brain for just what was in the Easter baskets last year (a task more difficult than it should be for my 31 year old brain). Chocolate bunny, pencils, paper...yup, pants. And the year before? Hmn...wood animals, earth balls, watercolors....and oh yeah, pants. Oh gosh. That's a tradition. An accidental tradition, but a tradition nonetheless.

As the day went on, I think I slipped something subtly into conversation about how wonderful it is when things change, or how holidays can be different from year to year and new traditions are made. But of course, I was only trying to convince myself. It wasn't until later that night, with a house full of sleeping babes, and the last of the Easter preparations completed (including a massive search for the Easter baskets. Where could they go?), that I finally succumbed to the pant-making. I distinctly remember whining about it to Steve and a friend during that day...but as I started gathering the fabric, I snapped out of that. I mean, really now, how long will it be that my children are looking foward to handmade pants from Mama in their Easter basket? Not long, I am sure. I'll take it while I can. With joy.

Before you imagine the scene to be too idyllic, I should tell you that it wasn't as though they were jumping up and down excited about these little pants. I assure you, it was the candy first. Art supplies second. Mama - made pants a distant third. But they each did put them on, and sat down together like this - giggling and eating and playing. Soon the linen was covered in chocolate and sticky jelly bean slime, and in a few days, I am sure, they'll be handed to me covered in mud from outside spring play. A perfect tradition.

Oh, and the easter baskets? I couldn't find them. At all. So we 'made do' at the very last minute with some clementine boxes. I think we started a new tradition.

Comments

[betz]

I can relate! My son wrote a note to the Easter Bunny ("note to Santa" style) Saturday night before bed! Telling the EB how he lost the Pokemon he got last year and it's be nice to get another. The EB put a $5 bill in one egg...whaddya gonna do!?

[Emily]

What a sweet tradition! I love it! Thank you for sharing this.

[natasha s]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those are the best easter baskets ever!!!

Very cute pants,talking of pants,
Hop on over to my blog and leave a comment to be entered in the pant giveaway to celebrate me opening my shop.The giveaway includes the new Heather Ross rosy posy line!!

I am glad that you had a great easter,
Natasha
~~~~~~~~~~

[Kim]

wow - all of these beautiful spring pants in one night, not to mention the night before a holiday - you are amazing!

[Jessica Keith]

Happy Easter (a day late)! Good for you for rising to the occasion and making the pants. I happen to remember them from last year too. I wish I had thought to make some for my guys. :)

[miss chris]

Hee. Love moments like that. Easter pants. :)

[melissa s.]

I love the pants, baskets and new tradition!

[coffeechris]

Happy Easter. I love the spring pants and great that you did them, our children teach US so much! What happens to those baskets? They seem to reappear about June with the memory of "oh yea that's where I stored them" - I can never part with empty clementine crates - I love them - so cool they became baskets. I used bucket's once in a panic and it turned out more fun.

[Lisa Wakely]

Wow! You are certainly making some cherished memories for your little ones. I love how you live in the moment with them, after all we only have them for such a little while. I'm sure as they get older they will relive the memory of "Easter pants" in their baskets. What a treasure.

[emilykristin]

i love the clementine box-easter baskets! And what a good memory for your babes, that they can enter into springtime with special pants, just when the trees are budding and flowers growing and animals coming out. They can participate in the changes happening with special dress - it is such a good, human tradition to honor occasions by changing what we wear. They will have good, good memories, those three.

[Melissa]

Wonderful story

[kristena]

You're a good mama! How very sweet too to hear your older children informing the youngest about family traditions. It's clearly very important to them!

[tara pollard pakosta]

too funny about not finding the baskets! great idea w/ the boxes!
cute cute pants!
tara

[Deardeedle]

So cute! And I love the Clementine box idea :]

[katie]

love it! love it all amanda!

[Julie Roth]

The perfect monday after Easter story....
and you are oh so definitely destined for writing
superstardom.
Just perfect.

[Melissa A]

I love the pants, and I can't wait to receive my copy of your book in a few weeks!

[Berlinswhimsy]

I love it! Those pants are wonderful and I'm still just so in love with that red & white bathrobe, especially with the earless chocolate bunny.

It is SO wonderful when kids explain the world to each other---I love hearing their interpretation (one of the things I've loved about working with children).

How many times have I heard the same interpretation of a tradition in which I had forgotten! Even this year, my kids talked about receiving those dreaded 'Peeps' (I've always cringed at those things) and I had not bought any. Ack, I trip to the store insued.

And I, too, made something for my kids and the little bunnies took a far backseat to the stuff... Until later, and I knew that would happen. It's often the case with my homemade presents but I think they're the ones that remain in their memories... ;-)

[Carrie]

Where to begin!? The pretend-play cuteness, the natural chocolate bunnies,the pants,the Easter crates,the traditions! Everything is incredible! I didn't get an Easter basket but this post certainly was an Easter treat to read!

[Carol]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us. The pants are beautiful.

[Annika]

Lovely! By total coincidence, I made my son a little pair of (knitted) pants that I finished yesterday. And his basket this year may have been an actual basket, but that is only because I borrowed it from its regular job of holding toy cars.

[Kelsi]

Your blog is so beautiful and it inspires me! I linked you on mine. I am new to blogging ... let me know if you would rather me take your link down.

[Nicole]

Oh, my. Easter pants are just too cute! It's funny the things the children decide are traditions sometimes, but oh, they do cling to them. Way to go, mama, for making it happen just in the nick of time! :)

[andi]

Such a sweet post! I love how the boys shared their thoughts on Easter/springtime traditions! So good that you heard them mention the pants just in time...Oh, and I also love the idea of using the Clementine box for a basket- I have a feeling there will be lots of us bloggers using that idea next year...

[Sheila]

You are amazing! To go create 3 prs of pants even after grocery shopping!! Kudos of the greatest sort to you!! Thanks yet again for sharing!! It is almost book time!!

[Lauren]

love the bunny photo

[Annie]

How great that they actually wear the pants! My daughter always asks me to make her things and then refuses to wear them later...

[Tee-Tee]

Yes I remember your pants from last year and said to myself that I would do the same this year. Sure enough, pants and chocolate mixed with a wee set for the dolls(after seeing your Christmas photo) Sunday morning and I was so very pleased that I managed them(even though one was pee soaked within an hour and the other so full of chocolate and grass stains by the end of the day I wonder if they will survive another). Thanks for keeping me inspired.

[Lucinda]

Very sweet story!

[erinn Johnson]

I love the "new" easter baskets. What a great idea. I was short one this year and we made due with a fancy bucket.

[Carolyn]

That was a wonderful read. I love the look of the last minute pants. What a happy day!

[Rubyellen]

That is magnificent that you can whip up lovely creations so quickly!

[teakai]

Oh, *sniff* that is just so SO beautiful.

[elizabeth of course]

i think those clementine boxes are perfect. i hunted around for the "perfect" baskets for my boys, something not too babyish so we can use it for many years, not too garish, not too much pink, (why does every easter basket have pink anyway?)and i ended up leaving his basket contents (a book, crocheted chick and chocolate cross) in a pile on the table sprinkled with jelly beans. He doesnt care what it was in.

[crouching tigerlilly]

Easter pants make me giggle, for some reason. One of those things that when your kids are grown and married, puzzle their spouses to no end.You want to put what into the baskets? :)

[tammy]

Thank you for your beautiful post today... these young childhood years are so precious and your story was a good reminder to me, as a mom, that I am creating traditions with my children, intentionally and not. I laughed about the pants because I also set out to make some pants for my older son. I cut without a pattern and the waist ended up so tiny that it would barely fit a leg, never mind a bum! I turned the ruined pants upside down and created a funny stuffed bunny instead and gave it to him as an easter gift. So if your story bears true in our family, I may have to come up with a new animal for next year... perhaps a sweater-elephant?

[Paper Dolls for Boys]

I'll be the 100th person to tell you that your story, your writing really, made me tear up. And I'm not even hormonal at the moment. Thanks for sharing!
Tracey

[kat]

how lucky to have heard the pants discussion whilst there was still time (haha) to make them!

[robinette]

Oh, I love the fruit crates instead of baskets! And the pants! My boys got pants last year and I just didn't get them made this year...

[blossom]

I just love reading your blog.......it brings such a smile to my face..
with my 3 girls we make *bunny nests* for the bunny to put things into.
These boxes(just cardboard from the green grocer) are painted,glittered upon and stickered by whatever is at hand...

I LOVE the pants!! and you just whipped up 3 prs..I am in awe of you lady!Well done!

[Robin]

Thanks for reminding me that my time with my kids is both magic and finite.

Your blog inspired me to start one to share love with far-flung family.

Thanks,
Robin

[Amanda]

Sweet! I love the idea of a "welcome spring" basket, and the kiddos thinking the animals leave things for them! Clementine boxes make lovely doll beds too.

[joy]

love the traditions. the pants are great, amazing fabric for the bottom. Thanks so much for your inspiration! Happy Easter to you & yours.

[Crystine]

It really is lovely to read your words and see how much care and love you put into making a wonderful home and memories for your family. They are indeed lucky to be gifted with such an inspiring Mama.

[lillie]

oh i love clementine boxes. to me, that is a perfect springtime easter basket! lovely (:

[Elise]

Hi Amanda

How sweet it is that your beautiful children remembered the pants that you made for them in previous years. That's got to be a tradition if I ever heard one! One day you may very well have little grandchildren running up to you and showing you the hand-made pants that their parents made them.

I never thought that through the world of blogging I would be touched by other mothers around the world, but here I am discovering and learning from other blogging mums.

[PhoebeRae]

A moment to be grateful... a fedex parcel arrived today! All the way over in Australia! I've been procastinating for a while ordering your book but the other day just stepped out and did it... and I'm so glad I did.
It arrived today amidst a flurry of a day in our cafe and I was so in awe of the parcel I've waited till now, to be home with a glass of white to open the precious parcel. I've just devoured the introduction and am in tears. (although I've had to stop a few times mid sentance when a little 2 year old beauty calls 'c'mon mummeeee' so I can dance and sing along to the music she's listening to)
We are establishing a new business. My at-home-mama world was turned upsidedown when my husband became quite ill with stress and depression. He is now an amazing at-home-papa while I do my thing in our cafe. The little ones are enjoying this new play-mate and they are his daily healing balm. The moments I have to share with them are precious. I am even more conscious of making this time quality. I know that along with a daily visit to your blog (which has continued for now 2 years since I first stumbled accross it via Loobylu)I will have more resources to make the time I have with my children more memorable and full of wonder for all of us. Thank you will never be enough. Thank you for sharing your home, family, heart and giftings with us all. Phoebe

[claudia]

This was the first year I couldn´t hide the easter goodies in our garden because we now live in an apartment, so it was a year of new traditions here too. I still found plenty of good hiding places for the chocolate rabbits and coloured eggs which my children insist on me hiding - even though they´re already 12, 14 and 16 years old.

[shelley caskey]

ahhh, how i love traditions. we have similar ones that have also just seemed to 'appear' accidentally (usually anything done more than once)! beautiful spring pants and a great tradition!

[muralimanohar]

Accidental traditions are the best...best when you have a bit more notice than last minute, though, lol!

I love love the clementine easter baskets!