Our House

Yesterday was a typical Sunday in this house. I went to 9:00 mass and then my family came over. But let me explain...

What started out different ended up the same. The boys had gone to their biological mom's in Ohio for the weekend. So they weren't here. Kenny was working and my niece had spent the night at her girlfriend's so they weren't here. And my oldest nephew was out with his friends. So after church today, instead of a full house, there were only a handful of people here: me, my parents, my brother and SIL and 2 of my nephews. My dad bought cupcakes and we enjoyed some coffee and conversation. Then Kenny came home. And then the boys and their mother. A few minutes later, my nephew and 2 of his friends showed up. Then Gina came home. Within a matter of minutes there were 15 people here.

Kerry (the boys' mother) started laughing and said there are always a hundred people in this house. Yep, pretty much. And it really kinda makes me smile. Sometimes it can be overwhelming but most often it makes me smile. My home is frequently filled with people. At any given time of the day you'll find someone extra here. My aunts stop over. Friends drop by. Cousins and friends of friends. I've even had friends of my nephews come by asking if they were here. And normally, if they're not at their own home, they're are here. My house is party central. Where you can find good conversation, loved ones and friends and something to put in your belly.

There's a sign hanging above my front door that reads: May all who enter here know peace and love. I hope that's the reason people drop by. Because they know that they're always welcome. So while not everyone stayed the entire day, they knew they were welcome to. The guys played football in the back yard. Gina and I putzied around on the computer. We ordered pizza and drank a few beers. Well, I had Pepsi One. But you get the picture. Gina even got her shower here last night. The game came on finally (I hate Sunday night games) and we all sat down to watch, munching now on chocolate I keep in a glass pumpkin. No one stayed until the end. But no one was asked to leave. It's comfortable here. People flop on the couch. Sit on the floor and roll around on the computer chair. I think I have a nice home but it's not a museum, that's for sure. Kenny says our house is lived in. That used to bother me. I used to think that a nice house meant perfect order, pristine surroundings. But now I think that a lived in house is a good thing.

Did you have a house that you went to more than others? Not to say that you weren't welcome somewhere else. But did you ever just feel more comfortable at a particular place? You know my girlfriend Holly's house was always that way. A million people at that house morning, noon or night. And I used to want the same thing. A home where anyone can drop by and know that they're not intruding. Somewhere fun. A gathering place of sorts. Austin bought me a cookbook one year for Mother's day. It's Rachael Ray's 30-minute Get-togethers. As I opened it he said it's perfect, Mom. There's always people here.

So, drop by. Kick your feet up. Have something to eat. Stay a while. You're always welcome at our house!