Thanksgiving OCD

I volunteered to host Thanksgiving this year for several reasons. One of which was to give my MIL a break from doing everything. That failed she's still doing too much, but I tried.

I have the turkey, thanks Butterball. Other people are supposed to bring other thing, I don't really know what here's what I got as far as a list:

Me: Turkey, sweet potato casserole, canned cranberry stuff (thanks Laura)
MIL: apple pie, cheery pie, sweet tea, rolls, dressing and gravy, roast or ham
Grandma K: salad and salad dressing and corn
N: dessert
M side dish
L: asparagus casserole and another dish
S&A: something

I am also hosting a Leftover Thanksgiving for lunch the next day.

I'm having to adjust to my traditions getting merged with their traditions. I'm trying to take store-bought anything in stride. Spending the morning making pies and rolls is the only way I know how to do it. I guess I can save that for Leftover Thanksgiving, though. I don't even really like the green bean casserole, but I feel like it needs to be present for Thanksgiving to be complete. I know what you're thinking, mashed potatoes aren't represented. Not to worry, they will be there I assure you. Kids are good at mashing and they like to be included in things like this.

I'm thinking I'm a little Thanksgiving OCD.

PS... Kevin volunteered E to make the centerpiece, I hope he knows he volunteered himself to help her. :)

October Dinner Party

My friend Laura is leaving for Chicago this month and I couldn't let her leave without feeding her. It's what I do, I feed people.

So, without much planning this time, I'm hosting her "come back soon" party this Sunday. Yes, folks, I said Sunday, three days. This last minute thing is not like me at all.

She picked the guest list, she picked the theme, she picked the... well everything almost. I just offered a house and a date.

Yes, my house, which means I have to clean it. Kevin said not to bother, but I was raised that things had to sparkle when you invited people over. I like sparkles. So, I have to clean my noticeable bits by Sunday.

I just cleaned the stove. I used Clorox Green Works All Purpose Cleaner and was simply amazed. I started with a FILTHY stove top and it's white again. Don't worry, I'm not a product review blog. (I might could be persuaded to start one. :P ) I just thought this product needed a thumbs up. Seriously, my stove is never that easy to clean.

Next task, the rest of the kitchen. I'll save the yucky bathrooms for last.

Labor Day

We're throwing a very last minute Labor Day grill-a-thon at my place. Invitees have been instructed to bring their own meat. We'll provide sides.

The thing is, I do not know how many people to provide sides for. This sure will be fun!

Labyrinth Dinner Party

Well, it did not go smoothly, but we still had a good time.

The grill was left "on" so that when I went to light it, there was not even a build up for a huge fireball... which would have been fun, in an ER sense.

So, the thawed pork loin went back in the freezer. Dinner failed. Thank god I fed the kids earlier.
Plan A: refill tank. Curtis was trying to fix an outage at work. Timeline failed.
Plan B: bring home take out. FROM WHERE? Choices failed.
Plan C: order pizza. The girls and I had pizza for lunch. Preparation failed.

I finally sent Laura, Kevin and E out to acquire food and bring it home. While I went to get a shower and wash off the 'failed.'

{deep breath and a shower}

Dinner acquired. Movie ready to go. 'Failed' washed away.

E loved the movie. She LOVED it. I LOVED that she LOVED it. I glowed. She even went to bed afterwards very nicely.

I think Laura liked it. Curtis and Kevin and I quoted a lot of it. Can you tell we're fans?

Oh yeah, and 1 more fail: 3 pee puddles that day (1 from my 1 yr old. 2 from Teela (dog.) Carpet failed.

Labyrinth win!

More Labyrinth Dinner Party

I'm thawing the pork tenderloin in the fridge. Well, not yet, but when I get done with this post. Promise. No, Really.

The DVD has been successfully borrowed and is patiently waiting for showtime.

Kevin and Curtis will be late tomorrow, so I have to feed E&M and start cooking the adult dinner. I will also need to bathe the girls and get 1 nicely tucked away in her bed. I think I can do it. I think I can. I'm so excited to show E the movie, that everything else will just flow. I'm hoping babbling brook instead of raging river, though.

More Labyrynth Prep

The Chef brought the Pork Loin over yesterday. Oh yeah, looks yummy. I'm going to soak corn cobs and find something green to add to the mix.

I need to get the movie still, but I might be having a mommy dinner with my friend who is going to let me borrow hers and some other of my friends, so I figure I can get it then. No worries, I will come through on my job, I just might have to use a little Dance Magic.

Labyrinth Dinner Party

This month I am hosting a Labyrinth dinner party. However, I am delegating tasks this go around.

I found a volunteer to cook. I nominated 1 person to fill the propane tank and another to provide dessert. I'm going to clean the house and get the movie.

Labyrinth is one of my favorites and 1 guest has never seen it. I'm going to put the baby to bed at her normal time and let my 3 year old stay up until she's had enough.

I'm looking forward to introducing another person to the wonder that is David Bowie in a codpiece. I suspect there will be a lot of quoting and singing and overall goofiness.