I love holiday traditions. They make the holidays for me.

We have one holiday tradition that we have been doing for the last 11 years and it’s something I look forward to every single year.

In December of 2003, Matt and I went to the Rockettes in NYC with my parents. It was a beautiful and cold night in NYC. After we watched the show, we went out to dinner with my parents and we had a wonderful evening. We had told my parents that night that we were going to start trying for a baby in the new year… it was an exciting time for me and Matt.

The show was SPECTACULAR and it left such an impression that my parents decided that they wanted to take my siblings and their spouses (and nieces and nephew) that very next year.

A tradition was born.

We have not missed a year.

2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013…

It hasn’t always been easy. When we moved back to RI, the trek to the Rockettes went from being blocks away to 3 hours away. We’ve driven to NYC in the rain and in the snow. We’ve driven with me pregnant. We’ve driven with 3 babies. We’ve driven with 4 babies. We’ve driven with 5 KIDS! We’ve been in traffic.

Through it all… the tradition has been so powerful that it doesn’t bother anyone if we get held up at all.

As soon as that spectacular music starts, all of our worries… everything fades away.

There’s something very magical about the Rockettes. It’s soothing. It’s peaceful. It’s being together and smiling and being happy.

The tradition is one I love.

The tradition in one I look forward to.

And the tradition officially kicks off the holiday season for me.

Thank you to my mom and dad for starting this and keeping it up!!!!!