Showers with men…and kids, too!

I’ve mentioned before that my family is unconventional. 

Part of the reason is that our families are growing and getting together is not an easy task.  Every year it seems to get harder and harder to accommodate all the different schedules.

Did I also mention that a four hour drive is required to get from my sister’s house on the North to the sister’s home at the South end (me)?

Because of this fact, and since we still enjoy sharing holidays and special events, we combine many activities into one big event.  Since everyone brings their whole family, and no one wants to be left out, we just let everyone be included in the fun.

After our first combined event, I innocently remarked that, “I like having showers with men!” and the phrase stuck.

And that is how “showers with men” became a reality in our family..

We have learned that if everyone brings a salad and a dessert we have enough food to feed everyone who shows up, and a lot of variety., plus no one has to do all the work.  We also have enough left over for later.  Sometimes we have someone fix a meat dish, too.

Playing shower games is replaced by lawn games, visiting, or chasing kids.  The men have learned to patiently “ooh and aah” as gifts are opened, and the honorees share the spotlight.  (Yes, it would be more fun to be the only one honored, but it isn’t very realistic any more.)

We recently had a fun-filled “shower-shower-birthday-birthday-Memorial-Day party”.

These three are getting married soon. 

My niece Amy is on the left, and Brittany and Robbie (our son and his fiancé) are on the right.

Here is a rare shot of some of the kids actually staying in one place.

It was an untraditional, but fun day!

Happy Birthday Diane and Chris!

Thanks Linda and Dave for sharing your beautiful yard.

(Sorry I didn’t get pictures of everyone who was there.  We missed those of you who couldn’t make it, too!)

JoAnn

P.S.  Does your family have any uncommon traditions that your have created?