FAMILY AND TRADITIONS Sandy’s parents, brother and sister live nearby and we are together often. Uncle Danny and Aunt Tracy have 5 children between them who Lila adores. Sandy has an older sister in Florida with 2 children and they stay close with regular visits. Mary has 3 sisters, 2 in Ohio where her parents live, and one in Florida—with 8 children combined. We make annual trips to see Mary’s family and they love their summer visits to Southern California. Our families are so excited about welcoming a new child into the family to love and spoil! We are a very close family who are together for birthday celebrations and to support the little ones in their soccer games, dance recitals, and swim meets. Every holiday from the Easter egg hunt to the 4th of July, and Trick or Treating’ through Christmas, are spent together. The highlight of our time together is when all 16 of us spend a week together enjoying a Lake front home in Bass Lake, Ca. We believe that Rituals and everyday traditions like made –up bedtime stories, silly hugs, kissing monster, and other daily rituals that say “I love you” are what makes children feel safe and cherished and deepen the family ties. Our treasured annual traditions will also create positive memories for our children. Every summer we visit Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Lego Land, Aquarium of the Pacific, the County Fair, and San Diego Sea World and Zoo. We look forward to the fall where we go to the Pumpkin patch for pony rides, pick out Halloween pumpkins and go trick or treating with Lila’s cousins and friends from the neighborhood. In the winter we drink hot chocolate as we look for the perfect Christmas tree and build snow men in the local mountains.