Tonight my sister, niece and I gathered to celebrate my dad’s birthday with a dinner at my parents’ house. To our surprise, when we arrived we learned we were having prime rib for dinner complete with baked potato and garlic bread sides. My sister also brought along vegetables to make with dinner which completed the meal. As is tradition at our household, the meat simply would not get up to temperature and required an extra hour or so of cooking. But no one seemed to notice because of my hostess with the mostess mom.

My mom has always been someone who could really throw a party. Between her outgoing personality, impeccable manners and refined cooking skills she makes any gathering one to remember. She always ensures that her guests feel welcomed and entertained, with a spread of delicious appetizers and drinks ready to go. You’d never guess that she wasn’t a stay at home mom with the incredible meals and perfectly curated ambiance she creates in her home. Walking into her house is like stepping into the pages of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine, complete with stunning decor and an inviting atmosphere.. She has always been this way, even when working a full time job, and I never really appreciated it until I started a family of my own. I think she partially keeps the house looking so spotless because how often she wants to take pictures.

My mom insists on pictures at every gathering where the whole family is present and even bought a tripod phone stand to be able to include everyone. Tonight’s picture was a little unique in that my mom secretly handed out stick-on mustaches to everyone so we could surprise my dad. My dad has a thick, wonderful mustache that he’s had basically since he could grow facial hair and he’s always been the prankster of the family, so he got a really good laugh out of seeing us all (including the baby) adorned with mustaches.

When the meat was finally cooked to perfection, we sat around the table where good conversations flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and wonderful memories. A highlight of the evening was when my sister and I jokingly enforced the rule that my mom had to eat all her broccoli before leaving the table, just as she once did to us when we were kids. It was great to reminisce and have playful banter while enjoying a meal together again.

Celebrating my dad’s birthday with family, delicious food, and laughter made for an unforgettable evening. It’s nights like these that remind me of the simple joys of love, family, and a perfectly cooked prime rib!