One of my favorite memories as a kid was "Dinner at Grandma's House" every Sunday. Now mind you, there was also a Grandpa, but for whatever reason, it was always just Grandma's House...Since having grandchildren, Papa Chip and I have tried to make dinner at our house on Sundays a routine. Busy schedules prevent this from happening as regularly as we'd like...sometimes we get a house full, sometimes no one shows up! But, last night 4 of the 5 children we have living in Naples arrived on time, and with them came 6 of our 8 grandchildren. The meal consisted of hamburgers and hotdogs...homemade macaroni and cheese...with cupcakes and ice cream for dessert...I prepared this dinner with only one thing in mind: What can I cook that the munchkins will like...because quite frankly, their parents' food preferences just aren't a priority of mine when i know the kids are coming! I'm certain that my Grandma also had me in mind when she cooked Sunday dinner...and all I'm trying to do here is create some happy memories. If someday they grow up and look back on those Sundays spent at Mimi and Papa's house, then that mission is accomplished!
I went out on Saturday and purchased a new bean bag lawn game, which kept everyone entertained for hours. Papa did the grilling, we had the football games on, and we all had a wonderful visit!
Rock: "Mimi, will you put the shrimp on the hook for me?" [Rocky loves to fish, but hates it when the shrimp jump around in the bait bucket...of course, neither do I but I did it for him]
Michael: "Mimi, will you cut my hair tonight. I don't want my other grandma to do it." [smart kid...of course I cut his hair...we can't have that other grandma doing it]
Paige: "When we go to North Carolina, no boys will be allowed in the new playhouse...only Papa." [smart girl...since it was Papa afterall who cleaned, fixed and painted the playhouse]
Jared: "Mimi, I like it when you volunteer in my classroom." [spoken while hugging me...ahhhh, I love those Jared hugs]
Mia: "I love you Mimi." [spoken out of the blue, for absolutely no reason at all...my favorite 'kid quote' of the night]
Liv: "Elmo!" [while pointing at the character on her placemat--this is a big deal, as Liv is only 18 months old and just beginning to talk...AND recognizes muppet characters...another genius, what can I say]
Here's to Sunday night "Dinner at Grandma's House"...or in my case, Mimi's House...
