Family Traditions...... We have lots of them in our family.

I love traditional family celebrations.

One of more unique traditions was actually started by Becky.

She was turning eleven and noted that nothing much happens at age eleven. She said, "When you're ten you are cute and when you are twelve you get a lot of privileges.....but there aren't even any good books about eleven year olds! Upon further investigation we decided that she was right! So began our family tradition of "Now that you are eleven!"

Each child upon turning eleven could invite one special friend and his or her parent to a gala dinner and "special event" that each child could choose. Becky has always loved the theater and so was able to go to an off Broadway production of "42nd Street". She got a souvenir program and tee shirt to commemorate the big event as well as a nice dinner with her friend and her mom at a nice restaurant.

Suzy chose a special production at the Civic Center. It was a drama called "The Toymaker's Dream "that had a laser show an some ballet. (Yes, I know, you could have been a prima ballerina if only your mom had let you take dance lessons instead of stupid piano lessons .)She also had a nice dinner with her friend and commemorative shirt and program.

When Andy turned eleven his special event, "Monster Truck Rally" at the civic center with dad and a friend. ( so much for culture!) He also got the commemorative program and a shirt that he kept for a long time (even putting it on one of his stuffed toys). The gala dinner was junk food while watching the trucks and also ear plugs as the trucks were very loud.

So there you have it.....Now that you are eleven! It was a great rite of passage and made each of them feel special. I hope my children will continue the tradition with their own children one day or with their nephews and nieces.