Happy Labor Day!!!
For those of you who were able to come, WOW did we rock the house or what??? For those of you who couldn't make it, we are sorry. We missed you, but ate your helping of dessert. I was SO excited about this party. We had a lot of Newbies this time and it was a blast. Our friends from Turkey gave us this AMAZING hand embroidered table cloth that matches perfectly in my dinning room. It is beyond gorgeous! I also received some of the most fabulous dessert topping ever created. No I won't share it. It was a lucky thing I got it in the first place.
So for dinner, we had beef brisket, pulled pork shoulder and chicken; lots of it. My macho-man got up at 3am and began the smoker. I started late (slept in til 5!! Wee hoo!) and began with snicky-snacks and sides. My friends brought desserts. We laughed and basked in the sun, giggled under the stars and kept it up during breakfast the next morning. I made pear stuffed French toast with pommegranate sauce and of course....meat.
I was told it was all so "FAN--say" but you know what? I love doing it; from start to finish it truly makes me happy. I love nothing more than to spoil my friends, my family. I am exhausted and my kids are too. Ben made it to 5p and started out the door to ride his bike...he never made it; hence the photo. We found him half an hour later conked out on the rug. Poor Boo. We woke him, fed him and carried him upstairs to bed. I don't know that he'll remember any of it.
And my kids? They were the BEST! They helped me set up, take down, decorate...they worked their tiny fingers to the bone. They helped me wrap silverware, clean.... I love em so. They deserved the cake they had for lunch; every wonderfully unhealthy bite.
This was a really important party, a special party for me. I needed this party. I needed my friends to be around me and for all of us to laugh until we cried or take those quiet moments to talk; console each other. The weather was perfect, the food was good and the company was impecable. We gave out our party bags (as any good host/ess would) which included a pork pack and a chicken PLUS veggies from the garden (you KNOW how I worry about not enough food!!) Not many desserts were left since we attempted to devour them at breakfast...of course no pieces cut, just grab a fork and dig in, but remember there was no lifeguard on duty (or they have a fork too!) so it was eat at your own risk. ; ) I have a some straggling items: a pillow, a sock, and some stuffed animals but we'll regroup soon.
I missed a few faces but know they would have come if they could.
It was a FABULOUS time; many more to come, I hope.
I love you, thanks.
Tess
