Sisters: the Next Generation

Since 1991, the Linford women have had a sisters' weekend each year. This includes me, all my sisters-in-law on my husband's side of the family, and my mother-in-law (nine of us when we are all there). We get away for a long weekend, typically from Thursday evening until Monday morning, without husbands and children (only nursing babies allowed). We usually go in March, although it changes occasionally to accommodate various family events such as weddings, births, and missions. It is a time we hold sacred on our calendar, and I for one do everything I can to be there.

Now that three of us have grown/married daughters of our own, we have begun to have our own little sisters' weekends of our own. This weekend was mine, with my daughters. We did it once before in 2007, when Austin was just 6 weeks old, and the men all went Scuba diving at Cozumel. We haven't had one since, but hope to now make it a regular event.

It was so fun! Because of work and school for some of us, we had a compact version of the weekend. We started Friday evening, and ended on Sunday when everyone else came for dinner.

Friday we met at the bowling alley, and bowled. I did better than I usually do in my league, and we all had a blast.

(Audrey, Beth, Madeleine, and Debra at the bowling alley)

After bowling, we ate at Paradise Cafe and Bakery. Then we came home and played the first of several games of hand and foot. Once we got our game fix, we decided to open our Sisters' gifts (another tradition passed down to this generation - we each bring a gift that we give to everyone). I got a little carried away this year, but we all gave/got some very fun stuff:

(Audrey's gift: a brown sugar disc. It keeps your brown sugar soft. Debra's gift: a fun notepad with elastic to keep it closed. I used it to keep notes about what we did this weekend. Beth's gift: a Flipper measuring spoon. It has two ends, and can flip inside out to give four measurements. I gave: some lotion, shoe liners, a notepad for keeping lists, the book Alfie Gets in First, and a book journal. )

After the gifts we were tired and went to bed.

Saturday we got up and Ray made us pancakes with fresh strawberries on top. (Ray was the male exception this year - he got to stay. We did it at our house, and he just pretty much stayed out of the way except when preparing delicious meals for us.) Then we played hand and foot. Then we watched the movie 27 Dresses. Then we ate lunch and played another game of hand and foot. Then the project time began. Audrey and I worked on sorting, alphabetizing, and putting away many DVDs. Beth and Debra worked on our family photo album for 2007. Meanwhile Singing in the Rain was showing in the background. Lines were quoted and songs sung while we worked. While we were working, Ray made us Sopa de Lima for dinner. We ate our dinner while we played another game of hand and foot. After the nourishment we went back down to finish our projects, then we watched the movie Enchanted. By then it was definitely bedtime.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early, and went to church. We got home from church, and started getting dinner ready. The men arrived, and we were able to get in one last game of hand and foot before dinner. What a fabulous weekend! Thanks girls, for being so wonderful. I love you!

Audrey, Diane, Beth, Madeleine, Debra

Audrey, Debra, Madeleine, Diane, Beth