Sunday, June 9, 2013

June Themed Dinners #1 - Easy peasy picnic




When Abraham and I first met, as teenagers, we spent a lot of time having picnics.
We would head to the supermarket and load up on super cheap shaved ham, cheese rolls, orange Deep Spring (remember that stuff? Favourite drink ever!) Willy Wonka Chocolate (remember that, too?) - and head to one of the local schools' playgrounds. We would sit there for hours, talking and just hanging out. It was there that we got to know each other (and fell pretty head-over-heels).

Picnicing has been a theme throughout the entire time we've known each other.
It just makes sense that we'd share this with our kids.



We kept this theme night very simple - almost a 'night off', but not quite.
We laid out our fave picnic blanket, a beautiful hexagon quilt I found at the op shop for $5. Some of the hexies have seen better days, which makes it perfect - I don't feel bad about putting it on the ground, but I'm so pleased we can give it regular use!
We made some hot chicken and salad rolls (I coated strips of chicken in breadcrumbs and chicken stock. Nyum) and filled bowls with mixed nuts, bbq kettles and peanut M&Ms. We made soda stream with Barkers cordial (closest thing we can find to Deep Spring!).
We popped on some Ben Harper. This album is definitely the main feature on the soundtrack of our first six months together. I still adore it just as much, 13 years later.


This was our first theme night with one family member absent, which was really strange. Even stranger than I expected it to be.
Aesop chose, at the last minute, to go and stay at his friends place, instead of hang out with us. I must say, there was a twinge of sadness when he made his choice - though I didn't let him see that. He is getting to an age now, where he is beginning to go out and do things on his own. He is scooting to and from school alone, and spending more time with friends etc. Growing up so fast!
It makes me feel even better about doing these theme nights - before Aesop is too old to want to get involved in them!

7 comments:

  1. Oh SOB. Mama! They do grow up so quick. Looks like a lovely night, and that hexie quilt was a good score!
    x

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  2. Oh man! Tugging on the ole heartstrings huh! Looks like a fun night, and lovely to hear about your dating days! Cute!

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  3. I lived on deep spring and aztec corn chips (the good old style ones) for my entire high school years. I have found the odd can around in some coke machines from time to time. My kids love it and always ask me to get a can when we see it.
    Your theme nights are the bestest :)

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  4. Rhiannon, I am so in love with your themed dinners. I'm just a little bit hormonal today...but they are bringing a tear to my eye. All the work involved in being a creative mum is not always seen. It's sometimes invisible, and it disappears fast... so, from me to you: I see all the work you're doing in building these beautiful memories, and this solid family life, so well done you. x

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  5. What she said ^^ (minus the hormonal bit ;) )
    love you guys xx

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  6. looks fabulous, our kids love it when we put the tablecloth on the lounge floor and have picnic tea too

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  7. So nice to be continuing on something you guys loved so much, love the quilt too.

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