On Thursday last week, my 15 yr. old niece asked MyDadLovesMeBestSister if she could make dinner for her and 10 of her friends on Saturday night for the Christmas semi-formal. Of course, MyDadLovesMeBestSister said yes, but she was in a panic because she didn’t have any Christmas decorations up, she works full time and she was attending The Nutcracker on friday night. So, I didn’t say it, but I was thinking “Good Luck with that!”.
On Saturday morning, as TheManoftheHouse puts it, the APB for help went out, LOL. MyDadLovesMeBestSister didn’t really ask for help, but things weren’t going particularly well, so TheManoftheHouse, MeMum and I all went over to help with the preparations. When we got there, my first assignment was to finish the table, in particular the napkins. She gave me the napkins and candy canes and told me to do something with them. I thought “Where is that napkin folding book (that I don’t own) when you need it?” But wait. We have the internet. And the internet has everything on it. (I love you internet.) I told my 10-year old niece to google “napkin folding techniques.” We needed ideas. She was back by my side before I even got the word “techniques” out of my mouth. She found this fun site and we used the “candle” napkin idea.
We all had a great time and decided we should help each other clean and decorate more often. After a break to go Christmas tree shopping (can you say “picked-over”? — it was only the 8th, what’s up with that??? –I know nowadays that’s late, but back in the day (and I AM still back in the day) that was early) I went back to take pictures of my niece and her friends. Her date brought her a pretty little corsage for the evening.
I had a fun time watching the kids. And especially watching from the girls’ family perspective. I told MyDadLoveMeBestSister, in spite of all the work and panic, how lucky she was. I’d always wanted to make dinner for the groups my boys went with, but that seemed to be something that the girls arranged. The boys did the asking, the girls did the arranging. This group was pretty cute. The original plan was for my niece and her girlfriends to go to the dance together. Then this boy asked her. What to do with her friends? She just invited them and a few other boys along. My niece had the only official date — there were 7 girls and 4 boys. And what really cracked me up was when it was time to sit at the table they lined up — all 4 boys sat along one side and the girls were at each end and down the other side. So funny!
So, anyway, not much decorating got done around here. But it got done somewhere! Here’s a cute set of ornaments from MyDadLovesMeBestSister’s tree.
She has two little poodles. We call them TheYappers. Put them together (8 lbs. each) and they don’t even weigh as much as TheEmptyNestChild (17 lbs.) I’d love to see the three of them together. A family portrait: TheEmptyNestChild with a Yapper sitting on each side of him.
Sharon suggested that I’m so late decorating, that maybe I should just bag it this year. Sharon! I’m appalled! I’m working on it. Really, I am!
XOXO,
Anna
well it does look like a fun time was had in the preparations..love the candle napkins and those poodles are very erm retro!
I was JUST trying to be of help!!! LOL!!! I’m there for you really I am. You know I think Boo your new nephew might have his tree up. You could go over there and celebrate with him.
That table was beautiful. I’m inviting you to my next dinner.
It’s so nice when you can arrange the table properly and I love the way you folded the napkins. It’s been such a long time since I hosted any fancy dinners. How much fun you must’ve had! And when you mentioned about the “awkwardness” at the table when they all sat down, it all came back to me. I think we were all like that at fifteen.
Another lovely family story! The table looks gorgeous and I’m sure the girls had a great time helping.
You have brightened up my day with yet another lovely family story! You are so funny!
I think MyDadLovesMeBestSister should now come over and help you ~ remember she owes you bigtime!
Love the dinner party story Anna. We never used to decorate the house until quite close to Christmas but this year I thought we would bring it forward a week as I am always so desperate to get it all down fairly quickly after Christmas Day! And the children are at school until the Friday before so there isn’t the same amount of time to do the preparations and enjoy the build up to the big day. I’ll be tearing my hair out at all the added clutter soon! Lucy x
Hehe – I love it – good job with the last minute candy cane napkins. Thank you Internets!
Meanwhile, I’d do the exact same thing with the sister – “Sounds rough – enjoy!”
Does it count as sibling rivalry when you’re grown-ups?
Anna, the table looks just beautiful and the idea of the dinner is wonderful.
I guess it won’t happen at our house either (all boys), but maybe I could start encouraging it now.
The little dogs are so cute too.
Wow Anna that table is beautiful, do you rent out your services, LOL. I was lucky enough to do that with the older child’s group once. It was for Valentines Day and that was a fun time to decorate a table. I think I got the chance because the girlfriends Mom wasn’t interested. Hey it worked out for me and it was so much fun to watch the kids. Of course this was before they could drive and they were trapped with us until we could take them to the dance.
Hang in there, you’ll get those decorations up.
Hugs – Karen
I love how you all came together and helped to create that bit of magic for your niece and her friends. This is really a sweet story, Anna.
I love the way the table looks, and the napkins are the thing that really makes it look like a special occasion.
I’m the mom of a son too, and it’s true, the moms of the girls have more fun at times like this, but the boys can be pretty sweet. I love seeing them all dressed up in tuxes and such.
TheYappers! Too funny!
The table looks just beautiful, and that was great that you all went over and helped. I’ll bet it was fun! And I like that she didn’t ditch her friends just cause a boy asked her out – good girl!
That table looks so pretty and I love the poodles! You’re not so late decorating, I’ve got my head in the sand about it all and by way of diversion (!) I’m now painting a room in the house – I must be mad!
Kimx
good luck with yours
What are you doing this coming weekend? I have a table that needs decorating for a dinner party! You did an awesome job!
wow! The table is gorgeous!!!!! You all were loves to help MDLMBS get it all pulled together…
And your niece? Sounds like a very poised, very conscientious young woman. I *LOVE* that she didn’t ditch her friends when she herself got a date. She sounds like a good egg…
Very nice pics there! The flower corsage is lovely.
I am sure you will make the deadline on your decorations! Good luck!
I love how you all worked together in this “crisis.” And your napkin solution is brilliant and I’m so glad you posted about it because I needed a napkin-folding idea for this coming Saturday.
I didn’t get “homecoming” b/c my son’s date “handled” everything… Hmmmmm… but I DID get PROM (when my son was a Senior)… YIPEE… I was SO HAPPY… had a nice little shindig for the couples before Prom… THANK goodness I now have a daugther… :o) So I WILL eventually get Homecoming someday!
LOVE the tablesetting!!!
Lala :o)
I loved your blog today. Well, I like it everyday… but LOVED it today!! The table looks great. I love the candy canes tucked in the napkins. I think I’ll use that on Christmas day.
Oh… sisters!
Joni
Yes, well I don’t have a sister. (Or grandchildren.) But that’s a lovely story.
Want to be my sister…?
It looks beautiful! And a corsage for your neice from her date! Now that is very “back in the day” isn’t it? So sweet. :)
This is the funniest story! I loved it, loved it loved it! I can picture the entire thing! The napkins take the cake, so to speak!
What a great story! Such fun for the kids, and I love the fact the boys sat on one side, and the girls on the other!
If you’re late with your decorating, then I must be, too, because I just finished mine yesterday! I even baked one batch of cookies – I think I’m catching up!!! LOL!! I mean, HO HO HO!!!!