Coming Home -- Week 2 Part 1: Siblings Unite

 

 

My sister Emily's house is the definition of a home.  Walking in the front door is like putting on your favorite pair of sweatpants after a long stressful day.  Instead of the standard meaningless decor found on a Pottery Barn clearance shelf, the rooms are filled mainly with family snapshots, little mementos, and keepsakes from our childhood.  The cushioned stools that line her breakfast bar facing the kitchen practically scream for you to sit down, relax, and catch up -- often while Emily is getting something in the oven or setting up a tray of veggies and dip.  There is always a Yankee Candle on the counter, and always with a corresponding seasonal lid on it.  The sofas are big and soft, and it's OK for my kids to cover the whole house with Star Wars stickers if they want to.  Her big screened in back porch encases a farmer sized family table and is lined with Christmas lights.  There are rooms with sewing materials tucked aside for a rainy day, and cork boards with inspirational phrases pinned to them. 

 

 

They are a family that waits for everyone to sit down at the table before they eat, and listens when someone talks. My niece and nephew, aged 11 and 9 respectively, played with our little toddlers for hours in a kiddie pool, and took them by the hand at the park without anyone asking them to.

 

 My nephew let Evan touch his impressive Lego city, and, as we left to say goodbye, ran up to me to ask if Evan wanted to take his extendo-claw arm toy with us on the plane... "because Evan likes it". They are just really. great. people. And I get to call them family.

 

 

 

It was a super bonus when we realized, after I introduced Chris to my family soon after we started dating, that my sister's husband and Chris had so much in common.  Needless to say, we love spending time with them, and couldn't wait to spend our last week of vacation at their home. 



 

We arrived late Saturday evening.  Their kids were already in bed, and our kids were sleeping in their car seats, so we headed straight upstairs to our room to lay Evan and Mia down for the night.  Walking in, we found a stack of fluffy white towels with assorted washcloths on the dresser, a fresh package of diapers and wipes (Seventh Generation because she knows I'm a sucker for natural baby products), and a basket next to the bed filled with toiletries like razors, bandaids, medicines, and toothbrushes.  See?  This is how my sister rolls. 

After we tucked the kids in bed, we headed out to their heavenly porch.  I was pretty happy to be where I was at that moment.  The four of us sitting in a circle on a chilly Berkshire night with the glow of the Christmas lights all around us.  Made even better by the cold beers and great conversation.  We had a bit of a USA to-do list going into this week, so we used this night to talk it out and make a plan.  Always up for a challenge, our hosts were happy to accommodate the requests (sadly, many of these included eating). 

OUR LIST:

1.  Go out to an American breakfast
2.  Grill.  Often.
3.  Start a quilt with my sister
4.  Make smores
5.  Go fishing
6.  Go to Six Flags
7.  Order Chinese food

I have a fairly large immediate family -- two sisters and one brother. My brother lives in  South Carolina, so it isn't too often that we all get together as a group, especially now that I am living abroad. However, with some careful planning, and some last minute adjustments on my brother's end, we managed to coordinate a family party with all of us while we were home in the US -- just in time for my sister's 40th birthday! 

With the family party on Monday evening, we had some prep-work ahead of us.  The first order of business -- cupcakes.  Emily insisted that the children help her...because she always knows what will put a smile on my children's faces.  She speaks kid. 

My sister has always been a baker, and as a little girl I remember dragging stools and chairs into the kitchen to watch her as she baked.  Watching her with Mia reminded me of this...she was so patient with her, insisting that Mia help even as she flung red velvet batter around her kitchen all the while smiling, snapping pictures, and encouraging her with "great job!!!"

Emily's birthday party was awesome.  As I said before, I rarely get together with my entire immediate family due to distance.  On this day, however, it was exactly what I always imagined a large family would be like.  The four of us there with our families -- cooking together, laughing together, and talking about old times as the kids played in the back yard.  Not that we are Leave it to Beaver all the time -- we are a normal family with our own squabbles and drama -- but it felt good set any differences aside and just genuinely enjoy each other's company.




Me and my two sisters -- Emily holding her "middle sister" wine :)




Mia and Grammie (my mom)

Daddy and Mia (and dinkie)




My handsome nephew...his brother is too hard to catch on film!

We were excited to meet my brother's wonderful girlfriend, Ann, at the party. 

We loved her for many reasons, but perhaps what sealed the deal with us was the fresh mint, fresh blackberry, and gin drinks she whipped up. 

You are welcome anytime, Ann :)



My brother's amazing caprese salad



Auntie Mer and Mia

 The night ended with a bonfire, more gin drinks, and hysterical fits of laughter as we tried to think of ghost stories.

  It was the kind of night that will bring a smile to my face every time I think about it....Happy Birthday Emily!  We all love you, and it is only fitting that your day of celebration would bring us all so much happiness and joy.