Making Memories and Traditions No 1 – Taking Pictures

Lilac...how I just love Lilac at this time of year.....It reminds me of looking out my bedroom window when I was a young girl.  I could see the pretty Lilac tree in next doors garden and if I had the window open I would receive wafts of the divine aroma. When I would visit my grandmas house there was a beautiful lilac tree in her garden too. There is just something about looking at and smelling a Lilac tree that brings these memories back to me ...so today's post is on the subject of making memories.

When you live with a child or family member who’s life expectancy is shortened… or you don’t know how long a time they are going to be with you… it is important to make memories.

Making each day count is key, as you never know when it may be their last. BUT it is equally important for siblings to have fun happy memories of  “normality” (if there is such a thing) too... and to have their own separate memory building experiences.

Through the years, instead of just buying STUFF, we have had the mindset of spending any money we have available on trips and days out… time spent on building and making special memories.

Sometimes that means that we all go on holiday together as a family WITH Heni. Sometimes we leave her at home with carers and take just the other kids to somewhere that’s more difficult to go when she is with us. 

Sometimes…especially over the last few years, I have had the fun and privilege of taking an individual child away with me and spending “one on one” quality  “alone time” together. 
Also each year the boys get to go on father and sons camp and so my youngest daughter and I have one on one time going and doing something girlie.

Sometimes tradition/memory building, needs a bit of organizing and some hard earned cash. Other times it is a simple experience that doesn’t cost a thing...a bit like the Lilac.

I’m often amazed and astounded at how children come out with statements like… "Remember when……” and then  give an account of a time that seemed like unorganized down time …..

                                   .......like the times we had the paddling pool in the garden 

and Katie would run a round with her fairy wings on… 

  ....The times spent fishing and paddling in the stream

.... or hanging out in the garden making music

or the funny little words that the kids would say when they were small. They still tease each other about how so and so said “tilly” room and “washysheen” instead of the utility room  and washing machine!

  

In this series of posts I want to share with you some of the things that we get up to and maybe encourage you to plan your own adventures and memory making experiences.It can seem really daunting at first... especially with our special needs kids or loved ones...but its well worth the effort looking back.

Today I’d like to show you a place we have visited on numerous occasions and each time we go we have a “family” photo shoot in the same spots. This year whilst in Cumbria on holiday over Easter, we visited Tarn Hows for the “umpteenth” time and as we walked around I would frequently hear the kids say ... “we have to have our photo taken here…Its TRADITION!”

Here are some of the pictures we have taken over three different trips.
( 4 trips updated to 2016!)

The mossy stump 2012

The mossy stump 2014

The mossy stump 2015

 The mossy stump 2016

The wavy bridge 2012

The wavy bridge 2014

The wavy bridge 2015

  The Wavy bridge 2016

The boys at the tree stump 2012

The boys at the tree stump 2014

The boys at the tree stump 2015

 The Hungry boy at the tree stump 2016

It's nice to realize that what started out as an activity of just taking a few family photos has now become something the kids "own" and treasure in their memories. One of my hopes (one day) is to fit all the kids, spouses and grandchildren on the "wavy bridge" and take pictures of the grand boys on the tree stump and the grand girls behind the mossy stump in the cute bear hat.I can just imaging the ring of little voices... they will hopefully also be saying …. "We have to take a photo here…it's tradition!"

Lets hope that the tree stumps and wavy bridge are still there by then of course!

 Jx

Think of a place you love and that has meaning for you and start taking those yearly pics soon.