The Phoenix: Epicuriousmothering Rising

If any of you know me even a little, you will know that we have a REALLY big family and that our family gets together a LOT. Today was a perfect example of this . . . I had two nieces and their significant others from my brother, a nephew from my sister, and a sister and her two sons (and a girlfriend) over for dinner.  Not to mention my own five (Phoebe is in St. George with her boyfriend). We ate outside (yes, it was a little warm . . . but having all 16 of us sitting around the table outside in the fresh air laughing and talking to each other as usual, was just the exact thing I needed today). Here's us on the longest table on earth (two long tables put together .  . . ) Shot from above . . . don't you wish you lived closer?  Because you'd be more than welcome! Benny, sweet Benny and Finn.  Best part of my day . . . holding this beautiful baby girl in my arms and listening to her tell me life's secrets . . . AND introducing Shelby and Chase to the mag

I told my friend during yoga this morning that I was going to send out my go-to meals for entertaining . . . but then, well, I got distracted as usual. So that's for tomorrow. For today, I'm going to talk about being a mama. I (John and I) have five children.  Henry Grey, 19 (on a LDS mission in Calgary Canada speaking Mandarin Chinese--he'll be gone until July 2017), Phoebe Laine, 16 (Junior), Celia Bangs, 14 (9th grade), Piper Jane, 11 (precocious 5th grader), and Finnegan John, 9 in three days (tiny 3rd grader).  They are my joy and my pain.  My greatest achievement and sometimes my greatest failure.  There is nothing like kiddos to humble and awe you.  Sometimes it's all humble.  Rarely it's awe.  But when it is, I'm telling you, AWE is pretty much the only word I can describe it. I'm not sure if it's genetics or my absent minded parenting, but my children are SUPER independent.  They were making their own meals honestly when they were like 5