I forwarded the email about this week’s Think Write Thursday topic – to plan a dinner party, inviting 3 people, living or dead – to my mom, suggesting we collaborate. Last night, we started to talk about it. Hands down we agreed my dad had to be the first guest – he loved a good dinner (party) and he was a fabulous guest (ate everything and talked to everybody). From there it wasn’t long before we decided that recreating one of our five-of-us family Christmas Eve dinners would be fun. Family dinner was the norm in my house growing up, but Christmas Eve was special.
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| of course my mom isn’t in this photo – she was taking it! |
After much talk and looking through photos, we think the last time just the five of us sat around the table for Christmas Eve was 1987. My folks were living (back) in southeast Texas. Karen, Steve and I all traveled there (I brought Katie, aged 11 months) for the holiday.
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| there’s Katie peeking through … from her high chair |
As long as I can remember, the highlight of Christmas Eve dinner was roasted cornish game hens, stuffed with cornbread stuffing (always Stovetop) and topped with an orange glaze (thawed frozen concentrate). That was the only time of the year we ever ate cornish game hens (or cornbread stuffing). Mother is sure we also had this Holiday Salad
and of course Christmas cookies (and ice cream) for dessert.
Things changed quickly for our family. Just three years later, we were gathered in Florida (my folks’ first home here was a vacation home, in the panhandle).
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| L-R – Mother, my grandfather, Karen, John (Karen’s then husband), Lydia, Daddy, Marc, me, Steve – my grandmother took the photo |
Karen had married earlier that year and was seven months pregnant (note that glass of milk at her place). Steve and Lydia were dating. Two of my grandparents (my mom’s mother and dad’s father) were also there, as was Marc. Katie was still the only grandchild (she had her own special table).
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| that’s Marc, pouring the wine |
And we still had those game hens for dinner!
Thank you Carole and Kat for the topic – we had a fun time reminiscing about all those wonderful dinners!
mere-et-filles 
I've enjoyed your dinner party and your,reminiscing. And no wonder you look young now – you don't look any older than a teenager here :).
Oh goodness- so much fun to look back on. Please excuse the hair and glasses!
omg!! dad's pink sweater is really something. i can't believe how much paula (now) looks like karen (then) in the first photo.
You and your mother have collaborated on the very best dinner! I love seeing your happy family gathered around the table. My mother tried branching out with cornish game hens one Christmas, and all I remember was my sister and I crying because we thought she was making us eat baby chickens.
How fun to collaborate with your mom — and what a lovely trip down memory lane. XO
Great job taking this topic and making it your own. I love that you and your mom worked on it together, hope you're having a terrific visit.
What great memories and how nice that you and your mom collaborated on this. Great idea!
How wonderful to go back in time and relive your Christmas dinners with the people you love most.
This is so great! Hi to your Mom! And Lydia…I know I had those glasses. And Marc…just rocking that sweater! 🙂
Fun! Fun! I remember thsoe gelatin salads and cornish hens always a fave…we weren't big fans of turkey, truth be told…love your short curly hair…great twist on the prompt.Cheers~