"happy we're a family" day

My kids love to celebrate any holiday, birthday, accomplishment..you name it. We are planning for our son's birthday coming up here very shortly, and our kids were just not understanding that we were NOT having the party today, but in a few days. (note to self: 3 days to a 6 year old means tomorrow after nap time). So I decided to surprise them with a new holiday to celebrate... we had a "happy we're a family" celebration! Sounds funny, but here are the rules! It was so much fun!

We pick any day we want, can even be more than once a year. We get some streamers, color pictures, make decorations, etc. We (meaning mom) make a feast (i.e. we had bbq ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans, and mashed potatoes with salad...at least one thing that everyone really likes). We made desert, chocolate brownies with M & M's on top. We had 7 up (because everyone has to have a special drink, and well, that one's clear when it spills on to the carpet.). Everyone had their own part to play. Someone helped clean and set the table, clear the table, vacuum, make mashed potatoes, make the brownies, serve food, serve drinks, etc. Then we played board games (which is chaos with 7 who are all very young like ours...be warned!) and then they got ready for bed, laid down for a "camp out" in the playroom and fell asleep together watching a new movie never seen before. It was hectic, chaotic, and a little stressful...but all in all...it was a great night. They even gave their own reasons for why they are happy to be part of this family and what they enjoy most when spending time as a family....those were notes worth taking, let me tell you. You can learn so much from a child, just by giving them room to celebrate something that they never knew was so special!

It may not be everyone's forte to make up holidays, but it certainly gave us a great night together and brought everyone closer to each other. I had fun, and they did too! Try it, it was literally the cheapest holiday we've ever had! Our meal and decorations was less than $30 for a family of 10 people!!! We spend more than that per person at Christmas!!!