Family Dinners

Saturday morning and a multitude of events conspire to fill the day. The eldest announces he's travelling up to Barrie with his girlfriend. The 17 year old already promised to drop by. The 14 year old is coming up for the weekend. The thirteen year old has a soccer game. The ten year old dances, prances and sings. The two year old wants "Bee" and shakes the remote control at "Nan" and "Da'ee" and whoever looks competent enough to put "Toopy and Binou" on.

There's a meal to be prepared and lots to do in the meantime. Simone and hubby must drive down to Toronto to pick up the 14 year old and then hike back up to Barrie. The two year old and puppy join them. Simone prays that the 13 year old and the 10 year old refrain from physical attack. In fact, they manage to get along for the two hours that Simone and her husband are out of the house.

Then it begins, the dance that is dinner at Simone Maroney's house. Hubby grabs two of the kids and sets them to tasks. Simone feeds Baby B, changes him and brings him to bed, accompanied by the dog. She then takes this opportunity, while everyone appears occupied, to wrap all the remaining Christmas presents. Only 20 of them, not so bad...

She then takes the dog out for a walk and returns to find the 17 year old making a credible dent in a huge bottle of red wine. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Simone pours herself a glass of the swill and immediately regrets it. It would taste better as part of a vinaigrette!

Simone pops out with the 13 year old, the 14 year old and the 10 year old so they can all go to the soccer game. The 10 year old is in tears, a typical event, because she lost her money. Now she won't be able to buy junk food at the soccer dome.

Upon her return, Simone gets to see the 19 year old and his girlfriend as they have braved freezing temperatures to walk over to her house.

Dinner is a whirlwind affair, complete with mock-chokings and arguments, discussions of bodily fluids and why it's better to use freshly squeezed orange juice in a Fuzzy Navel than the carton variety. After dinner, the kids gather round the Wii system and play Guitar Hero. Hubby's had his fill though. He stretches out on the couch and falls asleep to the umpteenth episode of Toopy and Binou...

Ah... Family dinners!