What’s your definition of family? Although the dictionary has different definitions of family, the meaning of the word is special to the individual. The Orchard Families Project was designed as a way to build connections and celebrate the families we have in our Orchard community. The project is very simple, what does family mean to you? We asked some families to answer very simple and fun questions that explain what makes their family unique. We hope you will take the time to get to learn more about the families that make up our community. After all, we are all a part of the Orchard family! 

 

 

The Haneline family consists of Laura and Ben. Ben is currently in eighth grade and has attended The Orchard School since he was three-years-old. This is their 11th year as an Orchard family! For the Hanelines, family means “the people they love, most biologically related to them, but a few that are not.” 

 

They celebrate special occasions with ice cream, which is a long-standing family tradition that was passed down from Ben’s grandpa. In their family, home-made ice cream was made for holidays and special family get-togethers, and they still make homemade ice cream a few times a year. However, they eat ice cream frequently throughout the year to celebrate small and large achievements. The Haneline family celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Their favorite family memory is a vacation to Alaska when Ben was six-years-old. Grandma, grandpa, and Aunt Mel went along for the fun. This trip was also very special because it was the summer before grandpa got sick. 

 

The best parts of the trip were the “amazing scenic views and having a great time together.” What makes the Haneline family the Haneline family is that they spend a lot of their time together. They laugh, cry, and make fun of each other together. They know each others’ strengths and things needing improvement. “We love each other despite our differences and the mistakes we make.” 

 

Thank you, Haneline family, for sharing your family with the Orchard community!

Click here to read the previous Orchard Families Project: Anglero Family.