Initiating Tradition Through National Days: February - March 2023

We fit in as many National Days as we could in February and March. February 27th was #NationalStrawberryDay and I ended up making some Strawberry Shortcake, and it turns out somehow Celie and the boys had never had it before, which I didn't realize. So that was neat that it ended up being their first taste of Strawberry Shortcake. That's precisely what celebrating National Days is for, in my book. 

For March 2nd being #BananaCreamPieDay, my husband attempted to make his FIRST Banana Cream Pie. (He also made a Peanut Butter Pie, just because March 1st had been #PeanutButterLoversDay!) We also read a bunch for #ReadAcrossAmericaDay, which is actually Dr. Seuss's birthday (#DrSeussDay) so we essentially could make a tradition of having Banana Cream Pies for the good doctor's birthday every year. That would be fun. One of the reasons I like utilizing the National Days is the ability to stumble onto new traditions that we could establish organically as a family. All traditions were initiated by someone at some point, why not start some new ones instead of only following and studying the old ones?  

March 3rd was #NationalAnthemDay, so I played The Star-Spangled Banner on the guitar, and we sang for a bit. We also discovered and examined all of the verses, proper, that we were not aware of, and most people are not privy to. March 3rd was also #NationalPoundCakeDay and I had never made one in my life. We read about how they actually took a pound of each of the ingredients back in the day, hence the name. We decided to take a whack at making one old school, so Celie helped me measure out ingredients and mix one up. We ended up not having exactly a pound of each of the

ingredients, but so close it was worth attempting. It turned out rather good, and I'd like to add some other things for flavor next time, some cinnamon or lemon, even. The kids ate it up and it wasn't bad. Heavy. Ha.

Seed By Seed by Esme Raji Codell

March 6th was #NationalOreoCookieDay so we ate some Cookie's and Cream Ice Cream, that counts, right? We played a mild bit of Mario for MAR-10, #NationalMarioDay; next year I would like to celebrate that one a little harder, perhaps make some Mario sugar cookies. For #NationalJohnnyAppleseedDay

#NationalChiaDay

on the

11th I purchased us the book Seed by Seed and we intend to focus on that one
more next time around. We goofed off for #NationalGoofOffDay on March 21st. For #NationalChiaDay on March 23rd, I didn't get to make the chia pudding I had hoped, so I decided we should start the Bob Ross Chia Pet that Joey got me a year or so ago for Christmas or something. That was neat to finally do, and we watched it slowly sprout. 

#NationalCheeseSteakDay

Joey made delicious cheesesteaks for dinner. on Sunday, March 26th for #NationalCheesesteakDay. His own versions, of course, in both chicken and steak form, and not the traditional Philly cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz. We don't prefer that kind. Delicious! The National Days are fun because they even get my husband into it, and he tries his best to play along, picking up things while he's out shopping that would work or count and has tried making things several times this year that he has never tried before. Trying new things can be frustrating and difficult, but there's always a first time around. You're only bound for improvement, thereafter. Next time around, we'll celebrate even better.