As a grandparent, I discovered the importance of creating traditions for my grandchildren. Over the years they have learned that they can count on our family traditions and look forward to them on holidays and other special occasions. Here are a few that my grandchildren never want to miss!

Establishing fun and meaningful traditions can create lasting memories that children and grandchildren can treasure.

• Valentines Day – Make a chocolate fountain. 
• St. Patrick’s Day  - Bake Shepards Pie for dinner and give a box of Lucky Charms for each grandchild.
• Easter – Host an Easter Egg Hunt in our backyard. 
• Memorial Day – Have the first swim of the summer or first campfire.

• June – Hold a GrandKid camp with sewing, cooking, music etc. 
• ALL SUMMER - Once each week we have Cuzzin Camp with their 1st and 2nd cousins. This usually includes swimming, playing together and a craft project.
• July 4th – Have a Breakfast on our patio and release balloons at the cemetery for our daughter who passed away on the 4th of July many years ago.
• Labor Day – Have the last swim of the summer with Minute-to-Win-It games.
• Halloween – Throw a party and hang donuts from a tree. Then tell grandchildren they have to eat the donuts without using their hands.
• Thanksgiving – Host a Turkey Bowl at our local bowling alley, then afterward, decorate gingerbread to kick off the holidays.
• Christmas Season – Host grandkids for a craft day and pinata. Visit our children/grandchildren on Christmas morning to bring them their Christmas stockings. 
• Sunday Gatherings – Get together with our children and grandchildren twice a month. The first Sunday, we do dinner. The third Sunday, we have dessert to celebrate the birthdays that happen that month.
• Memory Books - Create a Shutterfly photo book for each grandchild for every EVEN numbered birthday until they are 18 years old. This provides a good chronological record of their childhood.
• High School Graduation - Create a recipe book for High School Graduation that includes all of Grandma’s favorite recipes, including those made together with grandchildren over the years plus photos of these activities. 

Establishing fun and meaningful traditions can create lasting memories that children and grandchildren can treasure. Hopefully, they will enjoy the activities, recipes and gatherings as they venture into adulthood and eventually continue the traditions with their own children and grandchildren.