COVER STORY | Family Traditions: The Schmoker Hall Family Share on their Fun Family Adventures

LOCAL TEACHER AND MOM OF TWO LOVES SUMMERTIME WITH FAMILY

Building summer memories begins early in the year for Dirk, Stephanie, Sophia (3), and Emma (19 months) with a tradition that began with Stephanie’s mom when she was a young girl. Each May Day the family creates May Day baskets with flowers, candies, and small gifts and delivers them to each one of their neighbors without being identified which provides giggles galore for the little ones and smiles abound for the recipients.

As soon as Stephanie completes her school year teaching at St. Marks in St. Charles, the summer transitions seamlessly with the creation of a family bucket list inclusive of going to the zoo, hitting every park in the area, making homemade ice cream and popsicles, observing sunsets from their farm cliff, and watching movies under the stars.

“We also follow astronomical happenings and were even able to catch the comet on Sophia’s birthday last year,” Stephanie says. '

“We often watch the moonrise too and love to star gaze and have the children join in all we do. We call our outings adventures, and the girls get so excited when we tell them we are going on an adventure.”

Living on a farm offers unique memories of their own kind. Last summer marked the beginning of a new tradition of COVID camping with the Hall cousins on the farm, highlighted with catching fireflies. The environment also allows for eating clean and teaching the girls how to garden.

“We have pots on the deck, sensory gardens, a veggie garden, and a flower cutting garden. We cook from our garden; our girls love salads, fresh veggies, and fruits, and love to go berry picking and hiking in the woods.”

Summers are completed with lots of water and mud play, family vacations, and always end with a trip to the Sandwich Fair in September. -Story by Kristen Kucharski, Photos by KimberleeB Photography

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FAMILY TIME

ST. CHARLES

KANE