We enjoy many traditions on both sides of our family. A lot of them center around the holidays, of course. We have hosted Thanksgiving for the last three years at our home for both sides of the family. Mark is a master of the turkey. Mark’s parents have hosted a tree trimming party for their extended friends and family for almost 50 years. At this event, close family and friends trim the tree and throw a LOT of tinsel on it when it’s ready. They also have a cookie decorating station for the kids, that is full of holiday shaped cookies freshly baked, with dozens of colors of icing and sprinkles.

C.C.’s family is connected to Scandinavian traditions, and they make gingerbread houses, and enjoy a feast on Christmas Eve. C.C., a singer growing up in choirs, loves doing a sing along Messiah with the family. A few years they were able to enjoy this at Lincoln Center. We love to travel with our family. Mark’s family likes to do big family vacations on big birthdays, if they can, and everyone does their best to join in.

Mark’s family also has a beach house on Cape Cod. Every summer, we spend as much time as we can up there with the family, and having fun with surf and sun. C.C.’s favorite holiday is Halloween, and she loves to decorate, and have fun at the local Halloween festivities – parades, and haunted houses. We love getting trick or treaters! We also love spending time in our backyard, making dinner on the grill or the pizza oven, and of course, enjoying porch time with friends and neighbors.