Finding Tradition among the chaos...

Now that we are a large family of six, it is becoming a challenge for me to find our traditions among our chaos. I like to believe I had a fun filled childhood, rich in tradition. Events that took place year after year that I once took for granted, now are a cherished memory in my heart. Holiday's, birthday's, and sometimes even restaurants bring to mind so many warm feelings, and I feel the strongest urge to instill these same memories into my children's hearts-no matter the chaos that insues. Chaotic we have become. With 4 little ones, 6 years and under, just getting in and out of the car is maddening. For everyone that knows me, you understand that I sometimes lack a sound mind, forgoe patience, get sucked into stressful situations, and in general do not "deal" most of the time. So why am I dressing 4 children up in various costumes the day before Halloween just to go to school to collect more candy than we could ever eat? After I have insisted at least 10 times that we "will not go tonight if you don't knock it off!". Knowing that I am exhausted, my husband has to choke down dinner and fly right back out the door, understanding that non of this will be fun for us grownups- we still are giving it all we have. We are going for it. Why? So that we can find our traditions among our chaos. The same reason I suppose that my parents did so many things that they would have rather not done for us. Sacrifice comes in so many forms- stretch marks, a never dissapearing muffin top, an old house stretching at the seams, hobbies finding themselves lonely, fewer brain cells, and feeling as if it's groundhog day everyday. But, the rewards are much greater. They may not seem like rewards today, or next year, or in 10 years even, but in 20 years Isabella may find herself wakeing up at 4 am to cook a turkey on Christmas morning, and I will collect my reward. Remind me of that tomorrow