Today, my family was able to join in the very old Calmbach Family tradition of "Flower Picking". The last time we were able to go was 6 years ago. Colton, Reece and Cecily remember that visit and were so excited to be able to go again. This was a "first" for Brock as he was only one year old last time and didn't remember it at all... 92 years of picking flowers every Easter Saturday... a tradition started by my great-grandfather in 1918 and still going strong today. This year, I counted around 100 relatives in attendance.
Flower Picking means... visting DeLeon's Store in Elmendorf, Texas, for ice cream and cascarones... picking any wild flowers we can find... wine in plastic cups for the adults... all the junk and soda the kids can consume... races for all ages... and of course lots of visiting and laughter.
Later, we all head over to my great aunt and uncle's house to make "nests" on the ground out of the flowers - nests of all shapes and sizes. Every baby, child, teenager and college student has a nest - the adults just help and supervise. Volleyball and card games take place till the wee hours of the morning. People sleep anywhere they can find a flat area. During the night, the Easter Bunny comes and delivers baskets to all the nests and hides eggs. The next morning, the kids line up in age order (youngest to oldest) to go outside and check their nests. Then head back inside and line up again for the egg hunt. The younger kids hunt "real" eggs and the teens hunt plastic eggs with money inside (these are MUCH harder to find). Then it's chill time - time to play, eat breakfast and start getting cleaned up for church services.
I love traditions - I was raised in a family rich in traditions. Some, I have tried to carry on in my own family today and we've made some new ones of our own along the way as well. Flower Picking was always one of my favorites growing up and though we are not able to make it back from Tennessee for this event often, my children look forward to it just as much as I did.
Flower Picking means... visting DeLeon's Store in Elmendorf, Texas, for ice cream and cascarones... picking any wild flowers we can find... wine in plastic cups for the adults... all the junk and soda the kids can consume... races for all ages... and of course lots of visiting and laughter.
Later, we all head over to my great aunt and uncle's house to make "nests" on the ground out of the flowers - nests of all shapes and sizes. Every baby, child, teenager and college student has a nest - the adults just help and supervise. Volleyball and card games take place till the wee hours of the morning. People sleep anywhere they can find a flat area. During the night, the Easter Bunny comes and delivers baskets to all the nests and hides eggs. The next morning, the kids line up in age order (youngest to oldest) to go outside and check their nests. Then head back inside and line up again for the egg hunt. The younger kids hunt "real" eggs and the teens hunt plastic eggs with money inside (these are MUCH harder to find). Then it's chill time - time to play, eat breakfast and start getting cleaned up for church services.
I love traditions - I was raised in a family rich in traditions. Some, I have tried to carry on in my own family today and we've made some new ones of our own along the way as well. Flower Picking was always one of my favorites growing up and though we are not able to make it back from Tennessee for this event often, my children look forward to it just as much as I did.
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