Kyle and I have hosted Thanksgiving for the last four years, basically every year since we bought our house. We love to entertain, so we lucked out to find a house that was very open. We love it when everyone is together. We usually have between 20 and 25 in attendance. Needless to say, it’s a lot of work.
This year, starting several months ago, I began the conversation, with Kyle, that I would rather someone else host this year. I wanted a break! I wanted to go to someone else’s house and be a guest…. to eat, drink and be merry and then to simply get to go home and not have to clean up after an entire party. Kyle was completely opposed to this thought. He loves to have the whole family over and so the arguments began.
I had to really think about it and, as my husband treats me like a princess and I always get my way, I decided to give in and host with him. It really means a lot to him, and our entire family. Hooray, let the planning begin!!!
The invitations were sent and the RSVP’s started pouring in. This year our number had grown to 31, the most ever. We always rent chairs and move all the furniture out of our front two rooms so everyone eats together. We set up one really long table and then two smaller side tables. (I’ve included a few pictures of the house before the guests arrived and the craziness started) It is a really great set up. I decided to find my happy place and prepare for a party.
Turns out it was the most fun year ever. With the wine flowing, two turkeys, two crock-pots of mashed potatoes and a variety of other dishes ready, we all sat down and ate until we were all uncomfortably, yet happily full. Six of our nieces and nephews came and we got to spend some quality time with 19 year old niece, Mary, who lived with us during her first year of college. She has a busy, crazy life and we miss seeing her so much. That was wonderful.
There are 3 little ones in the family right now, all under the age of 3 and they provided quite the little show for our post dinner entertainment. My cousin’s little 3 year old boy even grabbed the metal handle off my father-in-law’s oxygen cart and began strumming it like a guitar and singing along with a Tom Petty song. It was damned adorable.
All in all it was a wonderful day and we took our time cleaning up. We are definitely not the type of people that are anal about rushing to clean up after a party. Plates, silverware, water glasses, etc. for 31 people takes a while to run through the dishwasher, not to mention all the serving dishes to hand wash. After our guests left we plopped down on the couch with the biggest glasses of wine that we own and just vegged out.
I am thankful for so many things. I have a wonderful life. I’m madly in love with my husband, I have great friends and a wonderful family. I’m still hoping for that lotto win but, in the mean time, I count my blessings and continue on my life’s journey. To eat, drink as much chardonnay as possible, and never, ever, take myself too seriously.
Oh, and as much as I thought I didn’t want to host this year, I’m already looking forward to hosting again next year.
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