Dinner Rules and Marc

A couple of weeks ago Jeff surprised me with an overnight er to the Seattle Marriott waterfront. We ate dinner at Anthony's, a scrumptious seafood restaurant, walked to the movie theater and had a great time being together, enjoying the sunshine and waterfront. Marc was a great sport and watched the kids overnight. He took them to the park, got them pizza and had a movie night with tons of snacks. He was the best uncle ever! At dinner he resurrected an old family game that we used to play in order to keep everyone at the table longer. It's called "Rules." You go around the table and everyone makes a rule that has to be obeyed while at the table eating. For example some of the rules were, every time you ate a tomato you cried like a baby... you had to eat your Spaghetti with the handle side of your fork... when you ate a piece of sausage you had to yodel... when you ate your salad you couldn't use your hands at all, etc. Of course the kids never left the table thinking that was the funnest game ever! So, when Jeff and I got back we played the game again everyone making dinner rules. The one rule that was called back from the night before was no hands when eating salad.

So, if you're looking for some creative ways to keep your kids at the table or to have some family bonding at the dinner table then just go around the table with each person making some RULES.

I can't go a moment longer without speaking a moment about my brother, Marc. He came out while my mom and dad were here in August and just found himself staying on and on and on. We actually strapped him to a doorknob every time he thought about leaving us. He was at a point in his life when he could stay with us for as long as he did and we LOVED it! Marc was fun! He was silly! He was helpful! He was the garbage emptier, the dishwasher loader and emptier, the story reader, the floor sweeper. He was Kaden's best buddy! I loved how Kaden would run from down the hallway into his arms saying, "Maaaaaaaarc!" They played "fighting" or football or basketball." Marc was my house-boy and made my life SO much easier. He picked up the kids every day from school and walked home with them making friends with all the neighborhood moms. The ward was wondering if his church records should be sent over to our ward. He even changed a poopy diaper on his last day here. WOW! Marc got me so used to having his help I was teary-eyed wondering how I could go back being a mom without him. Marc is proud to say that he is the new record holder for the family member to have stayed the longest... 5 weeks and 2 days. It went by so fast and we did SO much while he was here. The challenge is now out for anyone to try to top that record. I personally challenge any family member to come on out and top Marc's new record. Some people can come and visit and you're ready for them to go when it's time to go, but I was scratching my fingernails in the dirt hanging on to Marc for him not to go. He treated me so nice. He wouldn't let me do lots of things so I could be freed up to do other things. Marc only came with enough clothes to stay for a few days --4 shirts to be exact. The kids begged him to go home to get more clothes and then come back. They wanted him to live with us so he could be their brother. Not many people have such a nice brother as I have... I know, I'm lucky! Thanks Marc! Love ya! You're great! He actually had to go home to have a vacation and rest up from all the work we put him through here.