When I was growing up, my mom was a crazy lady before guests came over. I couldn’t figure out why.
Now. Now I know why.
We had my husband’s family over for Lily’s birthday party today, and we’re such a small family that it really should be easy.
I get a little bit crazier with each party anyway.
It all begins with the meal planning. Lily suggested that we have hamburgers, and I thought that would be a great and easy thing to have. At the store, the pre-made burgers didn’t look appealing to me, so I thought I would make my own burgers. I brought home ground beef and eggs, and made a simple hamburger recipe. However, making things from scratch makes a messier kitchen. Egg shells, a whisk, measuring cups, and a big dirty bowl now littered my counter. I plopped the burgers on the grill and stuck the Tater Tots in the oven.
When my father-in-law said he had no idea what Tater Tots were, I was a little dumbfounded. Sure, he’s 84 years old, but he’s never had Tater Tots before? Well, tonight was going to be a new experience for him.
When I went outside to flip the burgers, I discovered that the grill had run out of gas. We have two extra gas canisters…but they were empty. I grill a lot. So I threw the burgers in the oven with the Tater Tots. This is when my craziness really came out, and I snapped at Lily for making a hamburger bun tower. I had simply asked her to put the buns on a plate, NOT make a tower of buns!
The burgers came out great despite the gas shortage, the bun tower didn’t fall to the floor, and the salad was tossed.
But then…I still had to make dessert. I know, I’m crazy. Lily wanted strawberry shortcake, and I hadn’t had time to make it beforehand. It’s really easy to make…but it makes a mess in the kitchen. I threw even more dirty dishes on top of the hamburger ones.
Thank goodness for paper plates! Amazingly, I had bought a huge package of paper plates this afternoon. I usually forget the paper plates.
So now the guest are gone, I’m finishing my glass of wine as the dishwasher runs its first load, and I have pajamas on.
Nothing is better than pajamas after an exhausting evening of being hostess.
Not going to lie, but party or not the best part of my day is indeed pajamas. So couldn’t agree more 😉
Janine Huldie recently posted…Ornaments with Love Feeding My Christmas Decorating Love
I can relate. Before we retired we had my sons and their families for Thanksgiving. I was a nervous wreck because I wasn’t accustomed to cooking for more than two people. Years later I said something about it to my daughter-in-law and she said I never showed it.
To this day, I still get stressed when we have guests for a meal.
Ila East recently posted…Sleep Number Bed
I totally get it. I think it is easy to make something and of course it’s a lot better as well, since you know what is in it. But the work! And the dishes afterwards!! And I don’t have a dishwasher either. Fortunately the result is usually fantastic!
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Isn’t it amazing how it SOUNDS like such a great idea to host a little get together but then they always always end up being so stressful! Happy birthday to Lilly and running out of gas on the grill happens to us all the time. We need backup containers for sure!
Kristi Campbell recently posted…Oh To Have Two Extra Hours Each Day…
Oh goodness, PJ’s at the end of the day is a must – before bedtime! Congrats on pulling off the party minus the grill. That would have flustered me terribly!
Jenny recently posted…Cutting the Apron String
I’m sort of the same – I turn into crazy lady. I’ve finally gotten a bit better about picking recipes that I can mostly make ahead of time and trying to keep things simple so that i can actually enjoy the party/event.
Glad you introduced your father in law to tater tots!!!
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