Our Family and Family Traditions

 (Monika) I grew up with one brother and two sisters; their names are Helmut, Melissa and Melanie. My Mom and Dad, Glenda and Helmut Neher, are very kindhearted individuals who serve their lives purpose helping people. My parents have been fostering for 17 years in the Timmins area; they foster from the age of 0 to the age of 18. My parents are hard working and own their own grooming business. My brother Helmut is currently going to school to eventually earn his doctorate in robotic engineering. My sister Melanie is married to Ronald green and has two boys, Johnny and Colton and a baby girl on the way. My sister Melissa works for Air Canada and enjoys her free time flying and traveling. My dad is from Germany and most of our traditions come from him. Growing up, every holiday, we celebrated it to the fullest extent. Birthdays were filled with breakfasts in bed, shopping, movies, and a full day of pampering. Thanksgiving was full of family, a fabulous dinner cooked by my mother and desserts made from my Dad. Christmas was my favorite time of the year. My mother would cook a turkey all day long on Christmas Eve that my Dad raised on his farm; my dad would also bake his famous German treats. On Christmas Eve, we would watch movies all day and eat our Christmas meal at night; we would sit around the table and tell everyone why we loved them as we began to eat. After that, we would move to the couch and sing Christmas songs. We would hear a Christmas story, sing some more songs and learn the true meaning of Christmas. Following this, we would open presents (this is the German tradition). On Christmas Day, we would open our stocking and all wear our matching pajamas. I am so grateful for the traditions that my parents have passed down to me.
    (Chris) My parents Gregory and Michael Duke only had one child. At a young age, my parents divorced and I resided with my mother. I moved in with my father and grandparents when I was 8 years old. My father was a pipe fitter and due to his work schedule, my grandparents help to raise me. My father and I spent a lot of time together doing BMX racing. My father instilled in me the value of athletic prowess. My grandparents nurtured and taught me many valuable lessons about life.  They taught me to be responsible, respectful and independent. We celebrated holidays together as a family.
    (Our Family Traditions)  We like to celebrate every holiday or event to the fullest. Every other year for Christmas we go to Canada to visit my family. When Chris and I celebrate Christmas together in our home, we incorporate our traditions. When we celebrate Thanksgiving, we always go to Idaho to spend time with Chris's family. We like to make breakfast in bed on birthdays and pamper each other with love, affection and gifts.