Family History Archives

A New Meaning to Spring Time

March 31, 2013 By Vanessa Leave a Comment

Happy Easter, everyone! I hope you are all enjoying a beautiful day with your family, creating and celebrating your legacies of holiday traditions. For our family, mostly Daddy D and I, the coming of Spring and Easter was forever changed last year. As I got ready to leave my baby girl overnight for the first time in her life, just a few days before Easter, I knew her life would be forever changed. I returned home after a short while with her baby brother, Sebastian. This was Easter 2011, and I cannot believe how much has changed since then. It seems like yesterday that I snapped my tiny … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Traditions & Legacy Tagged With: easter, Family History, Family Memoir, Holiday Traditions

Contemplating on How to Choose a School for Us

February 2, 2013 By Vanessa Leave a Comment

We need preschool. But which one to choose? As we get ready to tour yet another preschool this morning, the question of how to choose a school that is right for us is a constant question. Hours of research, time spent touring and interviewing educators, introducing Alina to classrooms, has made this whole process tedious - but I can't image doing it any other way. I want to know everything. After all, I will be entrusting these people with the health and wellness of my little girl, a child that has yet to be cared for by anyone but me. When I think about a preschool setting, my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Alina, Education, Family History, Preschool

Birthday Traditions: The Birthday {Pan}Cake

January 16, 2013 By Vanessa 2 Comments

Sunday Pancake Breakfast is a tradition in our home. It's one very close to Daddy D's heart, as his own Dad used to make them for him every weekend. Daddy D has told me how Grandpa Bell would make extra large pancakes, taking his time while a young, little D waited anxiously at the table. They would chat about their week, my father-in-law molding my husband into the extraordinary man he was destined to become. With Alina turning three this week, birthday traditions have been heavy on my mind. Grandpa Bell and Alina's wonderful Daddy are the foundation of the birthday {pan}cake, a tradition I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Traditions & Legacy Tagged With: #BuildYourLegacy, Family History, Party Food, Traditions

Holiday Traditions and Positive {unplugged} Parenting

January 8, 2013 By Vanessa 3 Comments

Happy New Year! I hope you all a wonderful end of 2012. For me, what started as a few day's break to enjoy our holiday traditions of Noche Buena, Christmas morning and holiday travel has turned into a nearly three week social media hiatus. Deliberate at first, as my family was craving more of my attention, I was feeling the need to focus 100% on home. Daddy D was off work for the last two weeks of the year, and although he is supportive of this blog and my time spent online, I wanted him to know that he is my priority. So, I unplugged. In writing so intently about holiday traditions, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Traditions & Legacy Tagged With: family fun activities, Family History, Holiday Traditions, Mixed Family Travel, Traditions

Harry Potter Party (part two)

October 30, 2012 By Vanessa 9 Comments

This is the second part of our Harry Potter Party planned and thrown by my sister for our annual Halloween pumpkin gathering. We do this every year, but this year was a bit different in that Alina's Auntie decided to go all out. Be sure to check out part one of our Harry Potter Party. Harry Potter Party: part two Decor, decor and more decor! This girl went all out! Each shelf was artfully styled to represent the classes at Hogwarts: defense against the dark arts, potions, divinations, herbology, care of magical creatures and, Alina's favorite, transfiguration class (where we actually painted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Family History, Holiday Traditions, Parties

Harry Potter Party (part one)

October 29, 2012 By Vanessa 2 Comments

It's a family tradition to have a Halloween party and paint pumpkins. We've been doing it for years, and the tradition is part of our family history. As my kids get older, these events are especially fun for us. Watching the excitement in Alina's eyes makes it all so memorable! This year, my sister decided to throw a Harry Potter party and, in true sister fashion, went all out. She really out did herself. How one person has this much party throwing talent is beyond me. Even with all her past party masterpieces, this one certainly takes the prize for most detailed. Harry Potter Party: The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Family History, Holiday Traditions, part, Parties