A Simple Summer Meal

I am one of those people who craves beauty and simplicity. I find immense joy in setting a table with flowers, special vintage linens, and assorted glasses. I love candles and jazz and a quiet dinner with good conversation. Since I have had children, however, I find myself in such a rut that just getting place mats on the table seems like a challenge.

My kids and I spend a lot of time alone during the week, with my husband traveling a good amount of the week for work. Yesterday the boys asked if we could have a special dinner and sit out side under their favorite tree. As I thought about it, I realized that although I love to live in beauty, I am not exactly creating it in our everyday lives the way that I would like.


We got together, planned our meal, and searched around the house for what we wanted to bring to this special meal of ours.

We chose a vintage table cloth and set the table with white plates and jelly jar candles.

and the boys found some special treasures to add.

We enjoyed a simple summer meal of corn

tomatoes and avocados

strawberries and blueberries

and their favorite bean and cheese tacos

We broke out the wine glasses and enjoyed wine and apple juice, which to their delight looked the same.

We sat for a long time, through twilight and into dusk. Then the boys told me that they wanted to show me their forest fort. I was pretty excited, since I had yet to be invited into this special world that they have spent weeks creating.


We took our jelly jar candles, gathered some books and headed into the trees. I was amazed by what I saw when I entered this magical place. There were chairs, shoes, costumes and play silks. Treasure boxes that sat in the trees, and special bags of goodies hanging from branches. It was what I needed to see in that moment, that my children were taking their imagination and creating special places to "travel" to.

We read books, sang songs, and watched as the moon rose (which was pretty magical itself). then the bath was drawn, the teeth were brushed, and the kisses given. I would like to think that they drifted off into a pretty peaceful sleep, and dreamed vivid and magical dreams.

Whatever was going through their heads, I know that these are the moments that shape all of us. It was so simple, and just taking those extra steps made the meal and the conversation seem so much more fulfilling. Our lives are slowing down, and this is why. I want many more of these moments, and I feel like I now have the time to create and enjoy them