Dinner Time Madness

I think I'm going to start calling it dinner time madness from now on. The tittle pretty much sums up our daily dinner time routine. If it is not one thing it seems to be another. It's the time of the day I love the most because my husband arrives home from work and we are gathered around the dinner table, yet it can be the most challenging. 

It all starts when the clock strikes 5:00; an hour before my husband gets out of work. It is usually when I start preparing and cooking dinner. While I cook dinner I am constantly tripping over our lovely dog.  I feel like I'm always repeating myself to our dog during dinner time madness, "Move out of the way!" Or yet another popular phrase," Get out of the kitchen Porter!" He is a big chocolate Labrador who loves waiting for food to drop. I don't blame him. If it's not the dog, it's our 18 month old I have to keep reminding, "careful it's hot," while shes tugging at my legs. This is our 18 month old  daughter's cranky pants time. At this time she's not getting my full on attention, therefore she throws little fits and wants everything.  I love letting my daughters help out with dinner, I believe it's a great learning opportunity for them, but only age appropriate. 

Once dinner is finished and the table is set, which I try my hardest to have complete when my husband walks int he door. But it is not always easy task after battling a sisterly fight, tripping over a dog and our cranky 18 month old. Finally we are able to sit down and enjoy our family dinner and talk about our days. It' a very important time of the day. But of course can't forget the begging dog. He knows hes suppose to stay on the carpet, but doesn't always listen. Or our cat begging as if she were a dog too. We believe she gets confused at times, ha ha ha. Lastly it's not madness dinner unless one of the girls drinks accidentally gets spilled, or Helen puts her food in her hair. 

But once everything is cleaned up and put away until the next morning, it is well worth it. Our dog is getting up there in age, so I know I will miss tripping over him someday while cooking dinner. Along with our daughters growing up so quickly; I'll cherish the messes made into memories. And I will sit back and laugh at myself for trying to always have dinner made and the table set before my husband walked in the door from work, knowing that some days it was beyond impossible. I sure wouldn't change it for the world.