create your leaf story

i didn't get to post on father's day, but wanted to share this sweet photo with you. as i've mentioned before, we try to do one really simple & meaningful tradition each month as a family. we plan on continuing the same monthly tradition every year. you might remember our new mother's day tradition of getting pedicures and taking a pic of our newly polished piggies.

so, for father's day, after our special activities, we are going to take a picture of the girls holding dad's hand. can you imagine how priceless it will be to watch their tiny hands grow into the chubby little fingers of toddlers, then the elegant long fingers of a teenager? we have 12 special, silk albums that coordinate with each monthly tradition. here is the father's day album. and here's this year's gorgeous pic:

matt and i have always tried to do something special and unique with the girls. when i learned about the company "once upon a family", i had to be part of it. it's such a special part of our lives that it not really "work" to me. the last thing i need with 3 kids under 4 years old is a "job." but, i love sharing these special ideas with my family and friends. let me share the story that is really what the company is all about. the story that just had me hooked. read this true story....it's what i longed for my family...our own LEAF story:

As told by Richard Erye, father of nine children and co-author of THE HAPPY FAMILY:

"On my birthday in October, we had always raked huge piles of leaves with the kids and then jumped in them, stuffed them in our shirts, threw them in the air, and just generally had a wild time. We thought, as the kids got older, their interest in such a frivolous activity would fade. On the contrary, when they were teens, the leaf piles just got bigger. Finally, one year, four of our children were away at school or living abroad. On my birthday, four birthday cards arrived. As I opened the first, a leaf fell out and a note, 'Dad, I honored your birthday tradition. Here's a leaf from my jumping pile. I love you.' Through my tears I opened the other three cards-and a leaf fell from each."

are you crying?! i'm so excited to know that matt and i are creating our own family leaf story. here's to wishing you yours....