My family is scattered around a 4 state area, so this wouldn't work for us. We do try to get together for a mini-vacation every summer, though.

By Katie on 3/2/2010 4:51:35 PM

I love the idea of my family getting together.  I may try and do this starting next month.  I get together with my friends more than my family.  Thanks for ideas.Kimi

By Kimi on 2/24/2010 11:54:36 AM

My sisters and I usually get together once a month at my house.  We cook dinner together and then we all eat as a family.  It's really nice to have all the nieces and nephews all running around the house. 

By LAHOMA on 2/23/2010 10:49:14 PM

I'm disabled so it's just too much work.. I can hardly do it on the first day of the year..

By Bev on 12/26/2009 9:14:56 PM

This is a great idea.  To prevent financial worries for anyone, try having the get together at a park or forest preserve.  Everyone can bring their own picnic lunch...or do a potluck.  Keep it simple and concentrate on just having fun!!!  Have everyone bring some frisbees, volleyball or other fun activity that easy to setup/use.

By Lisa on 12/23/2009 7:49:06 PM

Great idea, I think this could work for our family!

By Autumn on 12/19/2009 8:12:16 PM

fantastic idea!  a monthly dinner with 12 different cuisines a year!

By Lynette on 12/15/2009 2:22:08 PM

This is a wonderful idea, and much neede in my family.  I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers and we only get together during the holidays.  :(

By Mary on 12/10/2009 8:58:59 AM

We tried this idea, but didnt bring a calendar along, and it sort of died down, will try this!!Good idea!

By Rhonda on 12/8/2009 3:24:22 PM

We do this about every-other week. The key is to keep it simple and relaxed.

By Heather on 12/8/2009 1:54:33 PM

That is a great idea! My struggle will be getting the whole family to commit, but what a rewarding outcome! :)

By Amy on 12/2/2009 11:49:00 AM

Love this idea. Now to find the one to organize all of this! :)

By Stacey on 12/2/2009 11:45:11 AM

That bis a good idea.

By Donna on 11/27/2009 9:06:04 PM

Great idea thank you

By Lisa on 11/24/2009 2:57:46 PM

thank you for all your help

By Betty on 11/20/2009 6:45:45 PM

I am so happy that you have the kind of relationship with your sibblings that you can do this.  I have two older brothers and the oldest is basically a hermit at his home and the other brother is not a very nice man.  I don't even want his around my child. I feel like a only child and I am afraid that once my parents pass away it will be just my immediate family--my husband and daughter.  Really, I am glad for you!

By Norma on 11/17/2009 10:17:52 AM

This is a great idea. But there is 8 girls and 1 boy in our family.And only 2 of us agree to have gatherings at our house. The others never invite anyone to their house for anything they leave it up to just me and 1 of my sisters to have something at our house for every holiday. We have tried to encourage the others to start doing their part. But it causes such a fuss its not worth it. They always have some excuse as to why they can't do something at their house. And that in itself has caused a strain in all our relationships. I remember when we were young we got together for everything. I do miss it.

By PAULA on 11/8/2009 12:55:31 PM

Natalie from WI could not have said it better, that is the same thing I put into my adult children and teaching my G-Babies as well.  Family is important no matter what.  Grudges, mishaps, mistakes or whatever need to be forgiven the same day or no later than a few days depending on the situation.  Sure people have friends and associates but when it come down to it.  Blood is thicker than water so it is said.  If you have a bad moment make the next few moments better.  It's up to people as individuals to behave like adults and children of all ages has feelings just like adults.  So be careful what you say to them when you are upset.  Always put god first then family.
Mrs. RB of TX

By Debra on 11/7/2009 9:44:51 PM

I sure wish this was possible,but I have to say,this won't happen anytime soon. But, its a fantastic idea. My children and I do get together often,just not my sisters and brother. To be honest,I wish we could all be together like this. We use to be a close family,but not now. My sister doesn't invite me to my own mom's birthday. For years my mom thought that I just didn't come,but I finally told her"mom,I am not invited! I didn't want my mom to think that I did not want to be there,because for her,I wanted to be there. Even though my sister would not want me to be there. I don't know why,but I think its because of llies that have been told about me and she believes them. No matter what,I always think of her often. I love my family and I always will love my sisters and brother. This makes me sad so I will not write any more about it. If you pray,pray that God helps me endure this,or that he makes a way that my family wants to be a family again.

By Anna on 11/7/2009 3:29:09 PM

I agree that my family (or some sections of it) does not get along enough.  We have grown apart since my parents passed away and one sister (of three daughters) did everything to drain my parents emotionally and financially the last few years they were alive.  It has been five years now, but she burned almost every bridge there is to burn and she still thinks we (my older sister and I) were unfair to her during the settlement of their affairs.  Recently her daughter had a baby and now she isn't even attempting to make ammends by being a good grandmother to her daughter and son.  She actually has the nerve to ask her daughter to pay her to babysit.  My sister doesn't work or anything!  Since we have such a small family still living, and with the arrival of our new grand nephew and my niece, it would be nice to try to bury the hatchet, but I don't think we can until my sister grows up and/or accepts that she was not the victim.. .she comlains about the lack of money we got from what little estate was left after they passed away, yet she is the one who lived in the house while we tried to sell it - with drinking, smoking, and dachsunds using the garage as a litter box.  That certainly didn't do anything to help sell the house.  I guess I got off the family get together/reunion topic -- I just fear that if we are together for more than 30 minutes or so, things will get too stressful and get out of control.  She never invites us for dinner or tries to meet for dinner without expecting everyone else to buy her whatever she wants - expensive entrees, desserts, and alcoholic beverages!  She is 54!  I think it is too late unless a lot of things change. Any ideas or suggestions to deal with that situation?  I guess the rotation idea would work with other members of the family though. Thanks for listening.. I didn't plan on venting.  

By Stacy on 11/4/2009 4:06:56 AM

Thank you so much! I love this idea!! I plan to do this!!

By Kyla on 10/31/2009 10:46:24 PM

My family and I get together once a week. Every wensday for desert. We alternate who brings the desert and we catch up with whats going on in all of lives. Its a great way to stay in touch.

By Theresa on 10/26/2009 2:00:54 PM

A less expensive way to train a puppy without having to buy expensive training treats is to use cheerios. We have a 7 month old black lab We used cheerios everytime we took her out to get her housebroken. She loved them plus is was healthier for her than some of those fattening treats. We also used them for a reward when she would listen and follow thru on commands it really worked like a charm without breaking the bank.

By Donna on 10/23/2009 5:03:55 PM

What we do is get together for a birthday dinner. which ever one of us is celebrating a birthday we all look at our calandar's to see when we can all get together. then we set a date, email everyone for reminders. the birthday person gets to pick the restaurent, and everyone puts in and pays for there dinner. this jan. we are going to start a birthday fund, everyone will put up $20.00 a month. then we will just pay for our dinner out of there. that's because all of our meals have come up to about that amout from each of us. we have a great time, and we get to see each other more often.

By DENISE on 10/20/2009 7:43:15 PM

This is a great idea!  I have a sis that I see about twice a year so I am forwarding this to my fam right now...

By Terea on 10/16/2009 4:38:49 PM

If my family lived close this would definitely be fun!  Unfortunately all cousins and siblings are out of state. :(

By Rachal on 10/14/2009 11:23:28 AM

We are so busy these days we foreget to have lil mini reunions I miss them so much, I am grateful for the reminder maybe I will plan a Family get together. Something my Family used to besides bring a dish to pass was feed the kitty everyone donatates a dollar or $ ? to the kitty with there name on it at the end of the evening one is pulled from the kitty ^=^  I used to love that my grandmother doctored this so that the neddy one in family always seemed to Win ! :) didn,t know til I was older helped me big time for school books !  Happy Holidays everyone*

By Ruby on 10/14/2009 4:59:44 AM

this is a good idea - it is hard to get everyone together at Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving - this gives everyone a chance to see each other at some point during the year

By Jen on 10/12/2009 6:12:09 PM

The idea is probably great for those who have big families or live near reletives. It is always good to pencil in a future date before ending any get together - that's why Drs do it.

By Brynna on 10/12/2009 7:09:42 AM

Great tip!  It's always a challenge to get family together ... this makes it seem very manageable!  Time is too short not to take advantage of every moment that we can get with family and friends!:)

By Joy on 10/10/2009 2:06:31 PM

What a  great idea  I'll have to run that by the  family  thanks

By Janet on 10/9/2009 1:02:13 PM

I'm going to try this with a little twist. I think it would be a great idea to have each family member living at home - my kids are 12 and 16 plus the girlfirend 16 and my husband - to pick a night during the month where they plan the meal, fix the dinner and maybe have some kind of "family activity" aferwards. I think will be a great way to get them use to purchasing what is needed for a full meal, learning the time it takes to prepare and clean up - plus, prayerfully, bring some light on after you have done those things you really want everyone to sit around and talk or spend some time together after the meal. Thanks for the idea!CIndy

By CIndy on 10/8/2009 9:14:38 AM

such a great idea ... it's too bad that my family lives a little too far away from each other to make this work well.  but one a quarter would be an improvement over what we do now!  i'll have to sit down and find some fun places that would be equal distances for everyone to drive to.  thanks for the inspiration!

By Laura on 10/7/2009 9:49:25 PM

My family try to see each other and have dinner at least once a month. We also talk to each other at least once a month too. We love each other even though we know we have differences. My children are all adults and live on their own with their extended families and we all enjoy the time we have together.  

By Brenda on 10/7/2009 8:23:15 PM

This is what my family did when we live closer together....1200 miles apart makes it hard to accomplish without having lots of moneyto travel with a large family.

By Sandy on 10/7/2009 4:00:41 PM

THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. TIME PASSES BY SO FAST AND WE NEVER GET TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS OFTEN AS WE WISH TO, EXCEPT WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS. IT IS A SHAME, BUT YOUR IDEA IS WONDERFUL. EVEN WITH OUR HEALTH ISSUES WE CAN STILL MANAGE TO DO THIS SINCE WE WOULD BE TAKING TURNS. THANKS FOR YOUR WONDERFUL IDEA.     ALICE J., SC.

By ALICE on 10/7/2009 1:57:33 PM

This  is a great ideal even though we all live in the same neighborhood we don't get together enough.  I will run this by my family ans see how it works out.  Thanks again for this great ideal.

By Carla on 10/7/2009 1:33:51 PM

This is a great idea. We live in a small town and still can't seem to get all of us together just for a visit. A lot of us also have healthe issues that make having a party difficult, but if we all did one small thing, it would work out great. I think I'll be the first to try it....Thanks for the great tip!!!!

By Peggy on 10/7/2009 12:23:56 PM