Sunday, August 17, 2014

Talks over breakfast....


Sunday BreakfastOne thing I've always expected from everyone in my house, is that we share meals.  I don't care what anyone is doing otherwise, but meal times are when we all gather at the table and sit down, sharing about our days and reminiscing about days gone by.

During the week, breakfast is eaten at whatever time the person wakes up.  Usually I am up every day at 7am so I have mine alone, my husband doesn't really eat breakfast just has his coffee, Nicholas is up around 8am and makes himself something to eat, and Miss Jasmine is the teen who will sleep all day, if we don't fight with her to get up.

She is also not a breakfast person at all, doesn't like eating in the morning and goes many days with just lunch and dinner.

Lunch during the week is also eaten at different times, it just goes by whenever one gets hungry.

But dinner, week or weekend is eaten at the table, every day at 5:30pm, no ifs ands or buts about it.  And if you're not very hungry, that is perfectly fine, but you will sit there with the rest of the family.

I find it imperative that meals are shared at the dinner table.  In this day and age where everything is so fast paced and families seem to move more and more away from each other,  doing things together is dwindling....for that reason, I think we need to make sure that we keep the lines of communication open.

Even if just once a week, sit down with your family and talk, really talk.

Sunday Breakfast

Sunday breakfast has always been a pretty big deal for us.  My husband and I fix it together, we chat, we flirt, we pick on each other, we laugh, it is just time for us to connect.

We tend to make a pretty big breakfast, actually it is more of a brunch.  For the past year since moving out of Arizona, and then having the family with us for 8 months etc, we stopped doing the Sunday breakfast.  With 8 people it wasn't doable.

Since moving into this new house, we also haven't been doing it, we were busy moving in and getting settled and just never got around to it.

Today, we decided it's time to get back into the game.  I usually make the majority of the food, but my husband does the omelettes and I love them.  He makes really good ones, on the griddle.  Yes, on the griddle.

I can't do it, but he can.

Sunday BreakfastDon't ask, I have no clue, but he has mastered it, and the best thing is that he can make a few at a time, and as they finish, he pushes them to the side and leaves them on the griddle to keep warm.  The man is a genius, I tell you!

This morning as we sat down to eat, we all started talking about days gone by.  The conversation actually veered onto old cartoons that the kids used to watch.

I fondly remember Jasmine really loving Sagwa the Chinese Cat, Rolie Polie Olie, Bear in the Big Blue House, Blues Clues, PB and J Otter, Miss Spider, Little Bear, Franklin, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast and many more.



It almost brings tears to my eyes because I remember these so well, can still sing the theme songs and even tell you about some of the episodes.

As Nicholas came along, 4 years later, the kid cartoons started changing, and not for the better, mind you.  At the time he was obsessed with Dora (never much cared for her), but Blues Clues was already finishing and many of the others that Jasmine had enjoyed, were gone for good.

We were talking about how much cartoons for little ones have changed over the years, and how the current cartoons are horrible.  I am quite glad that my kids are both much older now and not into the little cartoons because I honestly don't know what I would let them watch, or if they would even enjoy any of these.

The only show that I think my kids would enjoy, would have to be Peter Rabbit.  But then, that reminds me of the older shows so that might be why. 

We sat at the table, we enjoyed yummy food and we talked and laughed and reminisced.  The kids still remember quite a lot of the episodes from their favorite shows and they told us about them.  Some were so funny, I still remember them.  My husband still enjoys cartoons with the kids, and they all had a blast talking back and forth and laughing as they remembered funny episodes from shows they all sat down to watch together.

Sunday BreakfastI love it.

I sat there quietly for a moment, just taking it in, just watching them interacting and it was almost like I was transported back in time to when my kids were toddlers.  Times that have gone by, times that will never return, but times that I will forever be etched on my heart.



Sometimes that is all the kids want, just some undivided attention, some reminders of their childhood and the good times they had.  Kids are so pressured nowadays to be the best they can be, to behave a certain way, to do certain things, it's stressful for a child and I think as parents, if we can just keep them grounded and keep them connected to the real meaning of family, we are doing them a huge favor.

So next time you're all sitting at the table, bring up days gone by, you will be surprised what the kids remember and what they will tell you were some of their favorite things about their childhood.


It's going to be a quiet Sunday for me.  I don't know about you all, but I am not into big outings and going out all the time, I much prefer to be in my house, especially on the weekends.  There is nothing better than doing whatever I want to, without schedules, without appointments or places to be, just moving along and doing whatever strikes my fancy.

Here's a look at the rest of my day:


I plan on getting into the kitchen and baking up some goodies.   I've mentioned before how Sundays are my baking days or replenishing days, I look through the pantry and anything that is running low, I replenish.

I also make any dessert that I've been either craving or wanting to try, or need for review etc.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Shortbread
Sugar Cookies
Lemon Bars
Orange Cake

Not sure if I'll get to all of this, but at least some of them, definitely the Chocolate Chip Cookies which the family have been begging for the past few days.

I should do laundry, but I am going to leave it for tomorrow, I honestly don't feel like tossing laundry around today.


We had a big breakfast and that will keep us until this afternoon.  I'm sure I'll snack on something around 3pm or so, usually I have a cup of green tea or coffee and a cookie.

Dinner tonight will be Chicken Ham and Cheese Rolls, Mashed Potatoes and Salad.


Curt and the kids watched the first Lord of the Rings movies.  Jasmine still hadn't seen it, so she enjoyed it.  This afternoon, they are watching the second movie.

I'm not a huge fan, so I am going to take that time to do my kitchen baking.  I'll probably watch a documentary while I'm doing that.

Last night I watched Hampton Court Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace, it was fascinating.

For today, I plan on watching The White Queen (Carrie had asked me if I watched it, and yes I watched a few episodes but not all, so thank you for reminding me of this series).

I also want to watch the second episode of the Outlander.  Loved the first.

Not sure what I'll watch tonight, but probably something still along the lines of Henry VIII.  I know, I know, I'm still so into it at the moment.

12 comments:

Our Home Grown Adventures said...

Oh wow! The Omelette in the last photo looks amazing!

I hope you have a great evening!

Conny said...

I lover family meals and I love omlettes!! My hubby makes a mean breakfast as well - in fact, he worked at our college's cafeteria for a while and learned to crack 2 eggs in one hand - impressive! LOL!

Oh and I so agree with you about cartoons. The old ones were the best - hence we have many DVDs of cartoons. Miriam likes Disney Junior and I find most of them are still educational and decent, thankfully.

HOpe you have a great week ahead. See you at HHM if I can make it to link up!

Wendi said...

I love conversations around the table. I agree about cartoons... most of them are not good. Nick Jr still plays Miss Spiders Sunny Patch and Little Bear. At one time they updated Franklin and it was still okay. I am not sure if it is still on as I try to limit the amount to television the kids watch. I also made chocolate chip cookies today. Yum!

Have a great week!

Rachel said...

Your kids used to watch the cartoons that Rebecca used to watch...Now in our house, the kids tend to watch Disney Junior, as I don't like most of the cartoons on Nick Jr.

We try to have at least dinner together every night, but it is hard with my husband's and my work schedule. If we can't have dinner, we try to have lunch together, which is easy during the summer, but not so much now that school is getting ready to start back. I agree that we feel more connected when we have dinner together.

Hope you had a nice Sunday!

Mari said...

It sounds like a perfect, family day! We always had supper together too. I agree with you on kids cartoons. I don't know why they can't make anything decent anymore.

Deb J. in Utah said...

Sounds like a nice family Sunday at home. I love it! Enjoy the week ahead.

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

Oh love the memory of those sweet innocent shows too! We also loved Little Bear. Miss those days.

I saw the Outlander series had started & need to check that out. I've always wanted to read the books. They sound so good. I hope you enjoy the rest of the white queen! ;)

I LOVE how you prioritize family dinner time! We have far too many sports commitments these days it seems & I need to encourage my crew to get back to true " sit down and share" dinner times. Thanks for the inspiration Sandra. God bless.

Amy at love made my home said...

It sounds like a lovely Sunday! I think that you cooking breakfast together and then sitting down and talking sounds like a great idea and a lovely way to spend some weekend time. I hope that now you are back in the breakfast groove you will be able to restart your tradition again. xx

Christy said...

Family dinners have gotten near impossible with everyone's work schedules, but I get to sit with some of my kids at least. We have had some good conversations lately and a lot of laughs. Recently they have told me about a couple of things they feel we have done right as parents (fortunately they haven't talked about the things we've done wrong!), which I really appreciated hearing and seeing the maturity in my children that gives them the perspective to see these things. From what I read here on your blog, you are doing a wonderful job of raising your children, and there is so much joy in seeing the incredible adults they become!

Tina Leigh said...

Sandra meals are very important to me and my family also and the 5:30 meal we call "supper"...is like an unwritten law in our home! Sundays has also become a big family time for us but usually it's dinner (lunch time) or supper time for us. Sunday is "fry" day.. My husband usually fries fish, chicken, pork chops, shrimp, or quail. Yesterday we had fried chicken, pork & rice, purple hull peas, cream corn, biscuits and my mom brought a caramel cake. Southern food all the way!

It is funny you mentioned cartoons because last week I was thinking about one my brother and I watched as kids called Rikki Tikki Tavi. I was able to find it on Amazon and it came in today. My son and granddaughter have movie night here every other Friday so I can't wait for us all to watch it.

I love Peter Rabbit and all the cartoons you named. I watched them first with my granddaughter. Now I am watching new ones with my grandson but like most, we watch Disney jr and I'm still selective.

But what happened to The Bugs Bunny Roadrunner Show?! Lol

Have a good day!

Mahek said...

WOW!!!
SUCH A SUPER DUPER POST
So well written, I relished each and every work and felt what you felt
Sandra.. wonderful...

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