Several years ago-probably just after we moved in with my mom (February 2005) I decided that I rarely saw my brothers. So since we were conveniently living with my mom-who has never been much of a cook- I decided we should have dinner as a family once a month. Growing up my mom used to have both sets of Grandparents come to dinner every now and then and I always loved it. Before I could drive I would ride out to pick them up (once they weren't quite as able) with my mom. I always loved having time with them all to myself. Then once I started driving my mom would send me out to pick them up. I always loved spending time with my Grandpa Monson-he was such a positive person to be around (Grandma died before I could drive). Grandma Hale was a little bit more difficult to drive around because she did a lot of complaining and back seat driving. Once again-Grandpa Hale had died before I could drive.
Anyway- these memories made me want to have my kids have the same memories. Also- Steven's family would always get together for dinner at least once a month (sometimes every week!) and it made me a little sad to see all these cousins bonding and having fun together and knowing that Max (1 at the time) wouldn't see much of his Hale cousins unless I did something about it. Also-in retrospect- I'm SO thankful that I did this so that I got to know Justen more before he passed away. Before Sunday dinner's we really only saw each other around holidays and I felt like I knew Eric's kids when they were very young but never really as a pre-teens and teenagers...this alleviated that.
So-family dinner began. It got me being more creative with cooking and also with side dishes and desserts. I have to say that my favorite thing to make is desserts. So every fast Sunday (for the most part-holiday's-superbowl's and such interfere a bit) we all get together at my mom's for dinner. While we lived with my mom the cooking was much easier. When we had 1:00 church (2 years ago) I had to put more thought into what I was going to make and how I was going to cook it and transport it to my moms in time for dinner at 5:00pm.
Some Sunday's are full of chatter and laughter. Others are full of newspaper ready-TV watching- and iphone/ipad playing. Either way we are spending time together as a family and my kids are getting to know their cousins and their aunts and uncles.
Anyway-the inspiration of this blog post was the photo I found of my mom eating dessert on the couch with her grand kids. Unfortunately- Evan's family only makes it about once a year if they are in town.
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