The Dinner Table

So, I'm sure we are like alot of Americans. The dinner table is the one place that we can enjoy each others company at the same time. We actually bought a new table recently to accomodate our growing family. It's rectangular in shape with 4 chairs and a bench. Drew and Sophia were both originally occupying the bench, but one fall backwards landed Drew right next to me in a chair. So, we've got Sophia on the bench sitting solo across from me. Drew to my right, Bradley in his booster seat to my left and Mark at the opposite side from Bradley. We've figured it's best to not have any children side by side. Like most evenings, you're cutting food into small pieces, blowing on it because "it's too hot mommy" and watching as your own food becomes lukewarm. You can almost bet money on it that Drew mid chew will need to go to the bathroom. He grabs a magazine on his way there. He's only 4, but he already realizes that that's just what guys do. In the meantime, Sophia competes to win the award for slowest eater on the planet and Bradley makes grunting noises when you don't shovel the baby food in fast enough. After a few minutes of the grunting and slow chewing, Drew will return to the table to then devour his food. Mark and I will sometimes attempt to have an adult conversation, like 'how was your day?', 'do anything exciting today?', but that's about as far as that convo will get. Interruptions begin with Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy. It's time now to see who can get the most attention from Mommy and Daddy while Mommy and Daddy are trying to talk.

In between the shoveling of baby food, Mommy does get in her bites of food and before she's finished is being asked about dessert. Cookies, cinammon applesauce and ice cream have been the favorites lately. The oldest two will get theirs while poor Bradley stares at them and drools. To entertain him while the others eat, the newest game at the table has been that everyone at the table takes turns saying the word 'Quack'. The baby busts out in laughter after every 'quack'. No matter the size, little quack from Sophia with the added arm movements or the big quack from Daddy duck, they all get the same appreciation from Bradley. These 'quacking times' are the moments that I sit back and look at this awesome family that God has given me and I thank him for it.