Family dinner

Family dinner nights seem to be some of Hope's favorite times because she's surrounded by her favorite people, who also happen to be her fan club. She's also still riding out the 'only grandchild' splendor, so she's inevitably the center of attention - a place she loves to be!

But I don't blame her for enjoying family get togethers. We have a special family, and everyone does special things for her. For instance, Grandma made these yummy fruity drinks and was sure to have a special little cup just for Hope too.


Aunt K ran around the yard playing ball and chase, giving Hope some special one-on-one time that was right up her alley.


Grandpa, who has spent all summer landscaping the backyard and getting the deck and patio just right, lets Hope explore it to her heart's content and do pretty much whatever she wants. Here, she's playing "drums" on a bush while holding a breadstick in her mouth (a multi-tasking move she inherited from Daddy).


And Daddy, of course, was Hope's adventure buddy. He followed her around the whole time she played before dinner, brought out his "crab hands" to make sure she actually ate some dinner, took her upstairs to play doll house while we cleared the dishes, then shared his cupcake (that Grandma made special just for me, btw!) with her afterwards.

Uncle E couldn't be there for dinner that night, but I'm reminded that when he and Aunt K first got together, he said that in the world of dysfunctional families ours was "oddly functional." A blessing I'm very thankful to share with Hope!