Saturday, November 10, 2012

Family Traditions


  There's something about this time of year that brings about thoughts of family traditions... I imagine many of us have holiday traditions that we look forward to or even a special memory of one.  One of my favorite things about a tradition is that it brings family (or close friends) together.  And while I have many special memories of this time of year and traditions too, lately I've been enjoying a tradition that isn't even holiday related.  

I always have a helper in the kitchen...

I think I've mentioned before that having my parents nearby is a privilege we've had only in the past couple years.  Because we live so close, we do tend to see each other quite often!  A few months ago, on a Sunday evening, we all got together for supper and my mom and I discussed as we did dishes how nice it was to have relaxing family time together.  


 Since then a tradition was born.  Every Sunday we get together for supper and an evening together... we don't ever plan a time, we just know it's about supper time. 


 Sometimes our meals are simple and all we have is pinto beans and tortillas. 


Other times we go to a bit more effort... usually my mom and I have a two-minute discussion on the phone while standing in front of our fridges to see what we can throw together between the two of us. 


Our girls know it's a tradition too... after Sunday naps I start hearing, "Where's Grammy and Gramps?"  They know Grammy will give them a bath after supper and then Gramps will read a book (or three). 


 It's a tradition I look forward to every single weekend.  I don't know what we did before.  


  After the girls go to bed, sometimes we'll play a game and sometimes we just visit.  But it's always relaxing and fun.  With my dad and husband around, laughs are a guarantee.  


I am thankful every day for our families.  Not just mine, but my husband's too.  Having the privilege of a weekly tradition on a Sunday evening with all of us together is not something I take for granted.  I realize not everybody has this privilege because of many different reasons... some may have to work, some may not have family close. 


  I know I do not often share personal details on my blog, but it hasn't been until the past few months that my husband has had weekends off for quite some time.  In fact, some weekends I can still hardly believe it's true. 


So right now I'm just thankful for a simple weekly tradition.  I'm thankful for today and for family and for so very many things. 

Our girls with my parents
Please tell me, I'd love to read... do you have a favorite tradition or a memory of one?   

30 comments:

  1. Sweet Andrea, you draw me into your home and into your life with every single blog post I read. I love the tradition you have started with your parents. What a true blessing. Yes, I could say that I am a little jealous. Not because I don't want you to have this opportunity, but because I would love to have it as well. You sharing this with us makes me want to make certain that I continue to do things like this with our children and then with their spouses and children some day.

    My dad lives in Texas, my mom in Fayetteville and Donnie's parents in East TN...most all too far away to see very often except for my mama. You make me want to try harder. Thank you for that.

    Now a shout out for that wonderful apple dish. My goodness, girl, what is that? Do share.

    God bless you and your family...all of you!!! My love to you and your mama and girls.

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  2. Andrea, thanks so much for this peek into your family life. How wonderful that you and your parents have relocated in order to make all this happen. It is my dream that our grandchildren will live close to us one day so that we can establish a similar tradition. And I am practically salivating over that apple dish!

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  3. Andrea ~ what a lovely family tradition. Our family right now is in transition. Our daughter is moving out as she has purchased a home with her best friend and fiance. But I am sure that new family traditions will soon start. You really must be grateful that your husband is not working weekends any more. Enjoy your weekend AND your new family tradition ~

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  4. living nearby ben's parents and brother we enjoy weekly time together. sunday supper's together and friday night the cousins all spend the nights at one of the 3 nearby homes.

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  5. I love that you are able to have Sunday dinners together. The relationship that you have as an extended family as well as for your kids to have their Grandparents so close is so lucky. What a nice post!

    Have a great weekend.
    Pam

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  6. Thanks for the peek in to your sweet home and the pictures of your lovely family! You have really started a wonderful and gratifying tradition of spending Sunday evenings together. And I know how thrilled you mut be to have your husband there as well.

    I still have 2 daughter who haven't left the nest and two boys, one of whom is married. We all get together for dinner once a month here and I try to make something warm and satisfying and spoil them all a bit! Now...tell me how you get your family to pose so happily!! ;-)

    XO<
    Jane

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  7. Every year on the day following Thanksgiving I go to my parents house and help my Mom decorate for Christmas. We take down all the ordinary decorations and decorate the whole house with Christmas decorations! Even now that I have my own home to decorate, I still love going home to help my Mom. It's is a beautiful tradition that I look foward to every year!

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  8. I have to tell you that this post left me with a big lump in my throat. I am "the gramma" in the post and I so hope my grandkids remember dinner at gramma's house someday and all the fun and laughter that is here. What a blessing that your Mom and Dad live so close and have such a wonderful relationship with you and the kids- xo Diana

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  9. Your story is so simple and down to earth, as are your lovely photographs, but deep in meaning. It is a rest to read it, and those adorable little feet! Your daughters will remember.

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  10. If ever there's going to be a family dinner around here it generally is on Sunday as well :)

    Your mama is a beauty / I can see where you get it :)

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  11. This is what i think life is about the simple things! One pf our traditions is that we always have dinner on Sunday night. I work so much during the week its nice to have a dinner together! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend

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  12. Eileen says--Every Sunday (when I was growing up) My parents would take my sister and I to see Grandma and Grandpa for afternoon and evening dinner. Our aunt and uncle, and four cousins would be there also. It was during the 1950's when life was wonderful. Our grandmother died suddenly in 1960. It was so such an awful thing to happen to us grandchildren we never really got over it. Now I am married and have seven grandchildren of of my own. We all try to get together at least once a week. I guess you could say we have started our own traditions. I never loose site of the precious time we have together because it can end so suddenly.

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  13. That's a wonderful tradition, Andrea! I love that you have kept it easy and relaxed so everyone can enjoy your time together without a lot of fuss or stress ~ I really think that makes for the best times together! My husband has recently started making homemade pizza so he makes that on Sundays quite often. We all love it and although it (he) creates a bit of a mess in the kitchen, it's still worth it!

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  14. I so wish my parents and I had lived closer together while my children were growing up. It would have been wonderful to have more every day time together. We still had our traditions, though--some of them still in place even as my children are now teens. The kids and I always visit for a week in the summer, just the three of us. There is a small airport near their house, and we always have to go to the airport for lunch. We always have to play baseball in my parent's driveway (even though my mom once broke her ankle doing so!). We always have to take the dogs for walks. And my mom and I always have to have morning time on the back deck with our tea, just the two of us, so we have time to solve all the problems of the world. :-) It's the memories of these small things that I will treasure and my kids will remember when this kind of time is in our past. Like Amy I am a little jealous, but really happy for you that you have this kind of time with your family.

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  15. Hi dear! What a beautiful post. When my kids were growing up we were very close to my parents. Almost every Sunday we went there for lunch. In the summer we would cook out and in colder weather we would make "kid" food. Mac and cheese or our favorite, tacos. To this day when my son (now 26) comes home he requests tacos at Pawp's. :o) My parents are failing now and it's hard to watch. I am so thankful that I have so many good memories tucked away to bring out when I'm feeling sad. Don't take this time in your life for granted. It's so precious. Happy Sunday Andrea...have a good week!

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  16. Family traditions are truly the best. I am very fortunate to have my daughter and her family living close by too. We also get together on Sunday evenings as well for a family dinner. Its my most precious time of the week :). Thanks for sharing one of your traditions.

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  17. You are very blessed! What a wonderful life for your children. You're right-not everyone has that privilege! sharing a post from *November 7th*-you may have to scroll down on page- I received MANY private messages along with comments.
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rustic-Farmhouse/222458867778171

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  18. It's rather striking how much your oldest daughter resembles her grandmother!
    Brenda

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  19. The simple traditions are usually the best and the most memorable! How wonderful for your girls to be able to build this relationship with their grandparents. Priceless!!
    Mary Alice

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  20. I can't tell you how much I love it when my kids come home for dinner on Sunday afternoon. I don't always know ahead of time but there's always enough to go around and no one cares whats on the menu. I don't have grandkids yet but I know that will make it even more special! Your mom is lucky to have you close by!

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  21. Sweet traditions Andrea! I'm so glad your girls get to enjoy your parents! Cherish every moment you all have together...your apple dish looks delightful!
    My mom started many family traditions, and now I try to continue each of them. Im thankful our family traditions meant so much to her...and that my kids have fond memories of great Holidays to carry on.

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  22. CONGRATULATIONS, Andrea!!! I see you blog won the Country Living Lifestyle blog award. That is sooo awesome and well deserved. Very exciting!
    Mary Alice

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  23. Thank you sooo much for sharing!!! Family enjoying "Everyday" events together means the world to most of us!!! I love it when one of my grown children ask me over for a "Thrown together" supper ....... Wonderful ... making memories for all those "GRANDS"!!! :)

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  24. Oh Andrea!! How on earth I lived so close for 4 months and never did see your mom and dad or meet you, I have NO idea. I knew, because the apple never does fall far from the tree, that you would be a fun and interesting person. I guess I'll just have settle for reading your amazing blog. :) Warm greetings to all!!

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  25. Oh Andrea, I just saw the news!!! Congrats on the Blue Ribbon Blogger Award. I am SOOOOO happy for you. Wow, wow, and wow. You deserve it. Your blog is gorgeous and so are you inside and out. Go celebrate.

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  26. Andrea—

    It was such a pleasure to meet you and your husband today at the Country Living blogger awards celebration. Your photos are magnificent. I've added Keeping it Cozy to my RSS feed and look so forward to seeing what beautiful things you share going forward.

    All the best,
    Michelle Turner (gourmandistan.com)

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  27. Hi Andrea,

    Sorry to miss you at the Country Living award luncheon today but I'm so happy to be introduced to your beautiful blog!

    My husband and I never miss Sunday dinner with my 81 year old Dad, after which we settle in to eat chocolate and watch Masterpiece Theater in the living room. It's the highlight of our week. Loved hearing about your tradition too!
    Bria of Bell and Star

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  28. I just discovered your blog...what a delight! We had a Sunday evening tradition of meals at home with whomever wanted to drop by. We moved a thousand miles away in May, and it's one-of many-things that I miss so much...

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  29. Love your Sunday tradition with your parents. Your girls will grow up with such wonderful memories of this tradition. As a child, I loved holiday meals with all the family gathered 'round. Unfortunately, this seems to have fallen by the wayside in my own family (and our culture nowadays, I think). Glad you're keeping family traditions alive!

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  30. I love this post & your Sunday traditions!
    Where did you get the glasses set that you have on the table? I love them! :)

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