That's right. We're doing a do-it-yourself baby shower. My daughter and one of my nieces will both have babies in May, and I wanted to do showers for them. Unfortunately, trying to get my extended family together is one of the more impossible tasks of all times. Getting them together twice in March was a total impossibility.
I talked with the girls and they were willing to share a shower. My oldest sister and I have planned the simplest of evenings: a potluck supper and shower! We'll decorate the tables and set up a table for the gifts. We'll put together one complete meal and let everyone else bring what they'd like. One of the girls is eagerly planning appetizers, one is bringing a decorated cake and another dessert.
The men of the family have been invited to this party. We'll gather about 6:30 on Saturday night for our dinner. We plan to serve buffet style, but there will be a seat for everyone at a decorated table. I have to rent about ten chairs, but I have all the china and silverware and glassware I need. I think we'll need to seat about 28 people. (I'm probably lucky that at least 16 members of my family live too far away to attend!)
We've already been shopping, so I have gifts to wrap, and little last minute things to do. I'll shop for the meal on Thursday, and finish the cleaning on Friday. Saturday we'll set up tables and cook.
Sooooo...if I'm conspicuously absent for a few days, it might not be AOL's fault this time. I'll let you know if it was a success.
Comments (5)
I'm very sorry Buffy.. I read the bit about girls willing to share a shower and didn't get any further...bad Legomen.
Posted by Legomen | March 17, 2004 9:10 AM
Posted on March 17, 2004 09:10
What are the men going to do at the shower?..Oh there's food...I forgot!
:-)
Posted by Dr. D. | March 17, 2004 6:02 PM
Posted on March 17, 2004 18:02
Leg...it's amazing the pictures you can paint with so few words! Now....go put a hose to your ear!
Right, Doc...FOOD! Those who can't stand to watch the girls opening gifts will probably sneak off to watch sports on TV.
Posted by Buffy | March 17, 2004 8:52 PM
Posted on March 17, 2004 20:52
Buffy, in the olden days I remember that the men sat around the living room at my great grandparents' house yakking about farming and gossiping about who was doing what while the women bustled about getting food on the dining room table. We have so little family that gathers at our house that there is no division by sex. Our most frequent family are WD, Dudette, CK and her beau. We all pack into one room (I refuse to serve food that takes last-minute preparation since I can't pay attention to a conversation while doing food--and guess which suffers?) and yammer at one another. Occasionally a splinter group forms, but not usually one marked by homogeneity by sex. The next most frequent are my elder brother and his wife. He is usually in the guest room on his computer (or asleep) and she is at my heels, with only scattered periods of our all being in the same room.
Posted by Cop Car | March 18, 2004 7:59 AM
Posted on March 18, 2004 07:59
I remember those days, too, Cop Car. Generally, when we have large family gatherings the women still do the preparation because there's simply not enough room for the entire family even in my kitchen. My husband works in the background, making sure there are enough chairs at each table, taking coats, and getting drinks, which is an incredible help. After we've eaten, the guys often pitch in to help clean up. I try to float from group to group afterwards, catching up on some of the news and gathering hugs. As we all get older, paper plates are sounding better and better. I guess I'll start using the china for every day meals. *G*
Posted by Buffy | March 18, 2004 12:01 PM
Posted on March 18, 2004 12:01