Every other month, or so, my family gets together to celebrate birthdays. This time it was my turn to host. We never know who’ll be able to come. Some of our family members have a three hour drive to get here. Today, I was expecting twelve adults and eight kids.
Growing up, we always had an elegant supper. It was always on a Sunday, at 1:00. There was fancy china, homemade cinnamon rolls, mashed potatoes, and something like swiss steak or turkey. My mom would usually have five different pies prepared for us to choose from. Imagine a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner for 25… that was family dinner.
My grandma is now in assisted living and my mom has downsized to a smaller home. The reality has finally hit. The “kids” are now responsible for taking on this family tradition. It’s a little more laid back now that the kids are in charge. We don’t always break out the china. Most of the time the dinner is buffet style. The floors will probably not be freshly waxed. It may not be my mother or grandmother’s party, but there are a few things that are always the same. There will always be lots of food. There will be kids running through the house, happy to have time to play with their cousins. My brother will still organize a game of some sort (most likely wii, instead of ping pong or wiffle ball like we did in our younger days). We will all be too full for dessert, but eat it anyway. It will be time for family. Some things never change.
So, here’s a glimpse of the table, from family dinner at my house. I can’t wait to post this on Tablescape Thursday, at Between Naps on the Porch.
Linking to:
The Comments
The Katzer Family
This is beautiful Becca! Your family is blessed to have such wonderful traditions!
helenabelle
What a lovely table. You are certainly right about "us kids" taking on the family traditions…just kinda happens. I'm glad you posted your blog is great. 🙂
Mid-Atlantic Martha
Welcome to TT! What a lovely table set for a family gathering — What a wonderful tradition to keep going.
Yellow Rose Arbor
This is so pretty and elegant! Love your dishes! I enjoyed your story as well!
Welcome to TT! Warning, this is very addictive! LOL!
Katherine
Mimi
Beautiful table, Becca…oh, those red plates, love them! Yes, your family is blessed to continue the "old" traditions.
Joanne Kennedy
I think it's great that the tradition lives on in your family. It's all about being together and not how perfect the house is. Your table looks lovely!
Hugs,
Joanne
Julie
Love your Table…So Pretty
HAPPY ST.PATRICK'S DAY
xoxo
Julie
Mrs. P.
Becca…such a sweet tradition and gorgeous tablescape 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
Bella
Becca, A lovely table and a lovely tradation! How fun to have so many family members close by! Bella
Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien
It's always wonderful to hear a great story with a Tablescape! Your family has a wonderful tradition, very similar to a tradition we had in my very large extended family before my grandmother passed away. Beautiful dishes, too!
Style Sisters
Becca, You did a fabulous job! What a great idea to celebrate family birthdays like that! Love it.
Karin
Debbie @ ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com
Becca, I agree you did a great job. Love the story behind the post too. We have a big family and love Sunday dinners after church! Then a big nap! big smile….
Great job…and welcome on the tablescape wagon!
Blessings,
Debbie
Phyllis AROUND THE HOUSE
Love lthe story and I think you did a great job..Welcome to tablescaping, you are gonna love it and hope you meet alot of great people like I did, have fun…I am a new follower of yours and I will be back to visit…come on over for a visit and see the rabbits…Phyllis
Millicent
Beautiful job! Would love to know the name of the dishes patterns. I love them!
Cynthia@ITLLDO
Love your table and flower arrangements. What a wonderful family tradition. Thanks for sharing.
GrannySue
Beautiful and inviting. Nothing is more important than everyone together — no one cares if the dishes or forks match.
Dining Delight
Welcome to TT! Your tablescape is very pretty! I always like the look of repetition on a table as in the vases of roses down the center. How wonderful that you have so many matching beautiful plates! Enjoyed reading about your family dinners and how you are keeping the tradition alive – so impressive in these busy times!
DD
Southern Fried Gal
How neat that y'all get together. That makes me wish I didn't live so far away from my family.
I love the simplicity and beauty of the red roses with the burlap ribbon. Nice juxtaposition! And those plates are gorgeous!
Have a blessed week!
Martha
Welcome to TT — so glad you decided to join in! Lovely dishes — love the red and white plates and what a wonderful tradition!
Erin
Becca, I just started TT last week, so we can be newbies together! I love your red plates. Gorgeous! How great that you can get together with your family so often!
Nellie's Cozy place
Your table is simply lovely. I love the red
plates on the white and the red roses. I would say you are doing a great job of carrying on
your Mom's tradition. It is always nice to set
a pretty table once in awhile, but then sometimes casual works best too. Just depends on time frame and the number of people. You have quite a crowd to prepare for. You did an
awesome job.
Very pretty!!
Blessings, Nellie
ellen b.
Hi Becca, What a great family tradition. Love those plates and how you layered them. The roses are just beautiful on the table too. Welcome to TT!
xinex
What a great family tradition! You set a beautiful table, the plates are gorgeous and I really like your flower vases with the roses….Christine
Sherry
Oh, you did a fabulous job on your first tablescape!!! Much better than mine.LOL
Love it!
Win Rachael Ray bake ware at my blog.
Thanks!
Sherry
Pat
I'm so happy to have found your blog! Congrats on your first TT ~ I haven't done that yet. I absolutely LOVE the red plates, the white ones and the red roses. I think it's wonderful that your family is carrying on this tradition ~ lots of treasured memories in the making!
I look forward to 'seeing' you around blogland again soon.
The Southern Belle
You have a huge heart, don't you? You will bless the generation to come, Becca. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Wanda Lee Of The Plumed Pen
I AM UTTERLY TAKEN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED FOR THIS YOUR FIRST,'TABLESCAPE THURSDAY'!
It is a delightful tradition that you and your family are carrying on!.., I love those white plates with the red ones; and oh my, that pattern on those fabulous red plates!..,
This is my third week in partaking with BNOTP's, "TABLESCAPE THURSDAY', and I'm loving it!~ I hope to see you next week as well!
Do feel most welcome to pop by and visit 'my little corner of the blogging world as well my dear'!
Cheers and hugs from Wanda Lee @ The Plumed Pen
Joyce
Glad you are keeping up the birthday tradition even if it means not waxing the floors:)
Joyce
Richie's 2ts Inspires
Simple? But i do love the elegancy in the way the colour mixtures.
Fabulous, girl!
Job well done.
Allie and Pattie
I love this! I grew up in an Italian family where "family dinners" were a sit-down meal for 57. You're making wonderful memories. And I LOVE your dishes!
xoxo Pattie