Tea Party

Riley has tea cup in his lap, you just can't see it

We're having some fun in the midst everything else. We had a totally random tea party on Saturday morning. It had to be that way. It's the only way I can get anyone to drink hot tea with me in the little tiny tea cups that require you to hold your pinky up. The tea was delicious - loose leaf Masala Chai but the company was the best. Even Riley enjoyed some with a little cream and Truvia. This is exactly what the tea I bought in bulk at Wegman's looks like, but I can't find it on their website. It maybe sold in sachets.

Finding fun without the iphone, xbox, kindle, phone, or television is my focus. I want to spend time with my kids with their attention. Chatting about various topics..the kind that are so easy with a 10 year old, but not so much with a 14 year old even with his full attention.

Tomorrow after parent-teacher conferences, we're going to the movies or bowling. Riley doesn't want to bowl but might be willing if a friend can come. Reid will go along with anything. Also, Reid is a good bowler which explains why she likes to go and Riley doesn't.

pretty little tea cup, and
Reid loving having her picture taken

When we're at Gramma's house in Delaware where we are all gathering for Thanksgiving, the ladies will make Christmas cookies (can we make them in November, freeze, then have delicious cookies in December?) and the boys will head to the Par 3 golf place in Rehoboth.
Ladies = my mom, Reid, Aunt Denise (mom's brother's wife), Natalie (brother's wife) and Lily (2 year old neice)
Boys = Tim (husband), Billy (brother), Dannyboy (Uncle -childhood name given by his mom), Riley and Liam (4 year old nephew)

For Thanksgiving we all have food assignments. Does your family do this too?
Our Family - regular stuffing, apple pie, pumpkin pie, cranberry relish
Brother's Family - fancy stuffing, vegetable dish probably broccoli with cheese sauce, maybe a ham
Uncle & Aunt - mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and collards
Mom - the turkey and green beans cooked all day long

We will not be getting together with Tim's family for Thanksgiving this year (they live nearby and we see them all the time). Even though my mom lives in our house right now and my brother comes every week for 2 or 3 days to help with her care read: keep her company because she gets tired of me. Christmas will be special time with the Brennan family to include the traditional Italian Christmas dinner which I will tell you all about later, Christmas program at church, and school program for Grandparents. We tend to do Thanksgiving with the Ennis family and Christmas with the Brennan Family. But it's flexible enough to have Christmas Eve festivities with one and Christmas day with the other. We will have Christmas Day laying around the house this year, which I believe is the first time ever! I'm planning a breakfast all day menu. I cannot wait!

How do you work out sharing extended family time as well as time with your immediate family?