family
Family is very important to us and we are blessed to have both sides close by so that we can get together often. We see Alex’s family on Sundays at church and eat out together for Sunday dinner once a month. We have big birthday parties for all of the kids on both sides and celebrate the major holidays. We love being together and watching the kids run around and play. Our families are on the younger side and still growing, so your child will have lots of little cousins their age!
christmas traditions
When we get together with Joel’s family for Christmas, the first thing we do in the morning is gather in the living room and dump out the denim Christmas stockings that Aunt Ruth made. She lives in Colorado, but when Joel and his brothers were young, Joel's parents commissioned her to make each family member a stocking with a different western motif on it. They have become keepsakes for Joel and his brothers. Now, whenever a new baby arrives, they call on Aunt Ruth to whip up another one! Quill even had his own before we even knew if he would be a permanent member of the family!
4th of july
We always celebrate the 4th of July with Alex’s family out at her parents’ house in the country. We swim in their pool, play games like giant Yahtzee, her dad grills hot dogs and we all bring a dish to share. Then, in the evening, we pile into the vehicles and drive a few miles to watch fireworks in a ditch outside of town. We normally get a spot right next to the corn field, and directly under where the fireworks explode. It’s the best seat in the house and we always enjoy "oohing" and "awwing" together!
coffee dates
Our family loves to go out for coffee dates. Especially on chilly autumn days, it’s so cozy to head out, all bundled up in our sweaters. Quill picks out his own hot drink, made with milk and and flavoring but no coffee, while Alex sips on a brown sugar cinnamon latte. Sometimes the two of them meet up with family or friends. Sometimes Joel goes along and we try new coffee shops. It’s a family treat that we always look forward to sharing together.