Home

The meaning of home My home is not a house, it is what it holds. My family is the heart of my home, filling our rooms with endless chatter, and even the occasional screams of me chasing my brother through the kitchen because he annoyed me. I love the constant buzz of activity - it gives me purpose that I am meant to be there and have a place to be. If you listen closely, I'll share why these noisy, wonderful moments make our house a true home. My home isn't just filled with movement and sound - it's also a place where wonderful smells and tastes bring us together. Fresh meals like Mom's brownies and muffins fill our kitchen. Then when they are finally done cooling down, everyone digs in. These delicious treats often bring us together after busy days of non-stop sports. These moments together give us a break from our busy schedule so we can all be together. But our sense of home stretches beyond walls. Even though Point Pleasant Park isn't technically part of our house, it feels like an extension of our home. I love the smell of the fresh park air while Dad and I chatter as we walk along the paths. We take our dog Stanley through secret paths, and he races up and down like he's been cooped up all day. I remember one time when we saw two raccoons in a tree - Stanley was so excited that he ran over and tried to play with them, but that wasn't going to work! These special moments with Dad and Stanley make even the park trails feel like they're part of our home. Back inside our house, one of our favorite traditions is making homemade pizza on Christmas eve. My sister's and Dad's pizzas look like they came from a real pizza place. Well, my pizza is very deformed, and then my brother's pizza, well, what do you expect from a 7-year-old? I love this fun tradition and I always will because it makes me feel cozy, and it lets us share not just food, but wonderful moments together. When I think about what makes a home special, it's not just the walls or the roof - it's the love and laughter that fill every corner, whether we're inside baking treats, outside walking with Stanley, or playing a big family game of Monopoly. These moments we share, both big and small, are what make my house truly feel like home.