grateful Friday
March 14, 2008
Over the past few weeks, I’ve realised how handy it is to have my in-laws living so close.
A couple of weeks ago, I was at BaBs and one of the ladies there was talking about what her family did over the summer holidays. She mentioned a house full of people and the craziness, but she also talked about how much her kids had fun with the house guests.
And it made me think. When we were growing up, we had “family reunions” all the time. Were they even reunions if we had them every couple of months? Anyway, before my parents divorced, now and again we’d have our own house guests and relatives staying over. Then later, because we lived with my dad, we always got to go to one of our aunts’ houses and the house would be full of aunts and uncles and cousins. How stressful it must have been for my mom and aunts… Full houses to host and prepare food for and keep comfortable. At least that’s what I always feel when I think about house guests.
The thing is, as kids we ALWAYS had fun – we were oblivious to the preparation that probably went on before we arrived. We were running around laughing, playing games, exploring.
This ramble is going somewhere, bare with me. (bear, bare?)
So, what I’s saying is that I’m grateful for my inlaws. Grateful they can come over and we can go over there and Matthew and Gabriel get the chance to have those fun chaotic moments and make those memories with their cousins.
Don’t get me wrong – they still make me mental! But for their contribution to the bigger picture of my kids lives, I’m grateful 
Oh my you are a much better person than I – being grateful for your inlaws. Though I do know what you mean… family gatherings drive me nuts and with the inlaws they never turn out as good as I’d hoped they would but still… to see the kids all together running around enjoying family is almost worth the mentalness!
“Always on the go… has anyone seen my keys?” sounds like me …your boys are adorable.
I think it very nice you get on with your in laws.
Except I while I am grateful for my inlaws we don’t see them that much.They are too busy-their kids are adults ours are a teen and twin 20 months old.
I am grateful for my brother his wife their kids we have family reunions every other week – and free dinner ! The cousins love getting together .
My Little Drummer boys
Oh I remember those times when I was a kid… dozen or so cousins running amok, so much fun. Nice that your kids get to experience the same thing.