Hey there! Today I wanted to share our Sunday evening dinner tradition with you. Not sure when we started this, maybe a year ago, but it's become one of my favorite nights of the week.
We eat all of our dinner meals during the week at our breakfast table which is right off our kitchen and then opens to our family room. So in between busy practice schedules, after school activities, and late work nights, it's often rushed and sometimes involves the TV. And if we are running to back to back activities, sometimes dinner is in the car. I don't love it, but it's just the reality of our lives right now. So, we decided that every Sunday evening (and holiday meals) we would eat at our bigger, nicer dining room table. No TV, no rushing, just a slow paced meal all together working on manners and enjoying each other's company.
It's been
really fun to plan our meals, doing different little themes and just enjoying an uninterrupted meal together with just us four.
The kids help set the table and we use our nicer glass plates and drinking glasses. We like to put on a little background music and then as soon as we finish our prayer, Lyla is quick to jump in with an opening toast which is always cute to hear what she comes up with. Once the kids are finished, Grant and I usually linger a bit longer finishing our wine, while they entertain us by practicing their piano which is right around the corner in the study.
Our meal is nothing too fancy, but a little nicer then our week night meals and involves a yummy dessert! This blue and white very simple setting was my table for last Sunday. I love fresh white flowers for the new year! Next Sunday we are doing a Chinese dinner complete with fortune cookies and chopsticks (which the kids are really excited about!)
I used to have big goals of us eating every single dinner together, but it's just not possible. And most nights we are all together eating, but just in more of a let's hurry and get it done mode. I think you have to do what works for you and your family at whatever point you are in your life. Right now we can't do a focused sit down for a long meal every evening, but we can definitely do once a week and holidays. And I'm okay with that. And maybe in the summer and on school breaks we'll throw in a few more. But for now, I love our special Sunday dinner :)
Have a lovely day.
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