I am a Survivor!!!
 

Wow, what a weekend we have had!!!! I told you that I was having my husband's family over for their annual Easter picnic because it was too cold to have it outside and if we didn't do it this weekend a lot of people couldn't have come. We ended up having 95 people!!! All in my house!!! It was soooo crowded! My whole kitchen was covered in food! I have an eight foot bar in the middle of the kitchen and a long counter on the wall beside it with shorter counters where my sink and stove are and they were all covered! We even put up 3 folding tables to hold the rest of it! I guess that my basement was jam-packed. I wouldn't know because I never made it down stairs! We had tables set up in the garage, the living room, a folding table in the office, and tables in the basement. My husband built a bonfire in a valley behind the house and there were hay bales to sit on around the fire. I didn't know that we could hold so many people!! Everyone was so thankful that I had it and were very complimentary on the way that I decorated. It was a pretty good day and we have everything really organized.

Then today I had my Mom, Step-Dad, and my brother and his family with my own family over for lunch. We just grilled hamburgers so it was pretty easy. I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I'm just worn out! That's why I'm heading off to Mandy's house with the rest of you!!! Just don't leave quite yet. I'm getting ready!!!!

glad you survived.. sounds like it was fun.. now... enjoy a warm bath and hot coco

Wow Diana I don't think I could have ever handled all that. Sounds like you did a great job. Congratulations! Now take some time to recuperate.

Wow Diana! It sounds like you were super busy! Congrats on everything going smoothly. You definitely deserve a seat on that plane to Holland. lol

We will not allow the plane to leave util you get here :D . Congrats on everything going well. :bravo: YOU MADE IT!!!!

Thanks guys! My husband and I had the kitchen cleaned up and ready for Sunday, but yesterday we just left everything so I have cups and dirty dishes all over the kitchen. It won't take too long to clean it up though. It's just getting the energy to go and tackle it again!

I am just really amazed at how well everything went. My husband told me that I did a really good job at having everything ready for when they got here. Of course, he helped by cleaning the garage and basement and getting tables and chairs from the church. We entertain quite a bit and are used to having quite a few people over, but Saturday was so much more than we're used to. But we did it!!! Would I do it again? Probably!!!

Even thought it was very crowded...it sounds like it was so much fun. I love family get togethers (especially when there are alot of people), but our family is slowly dwindling. Not many of us left.

Maybe next time you'll have a little more time to prepare and that would cut down on the stress. :)

Actually the only thing that made it stressful was turning around and having another party the next day, even though it was only 16-17 people. I was just too tired to visit and be a good hostess but they understood that I was tired.

We have 12 people in poor mom's house if it is just her kids, their kids & husbands. When our brother & sister have families or my kids start to we will have to rent a hall just for a family dinner. :eek:

But we will still have fun:D

Come on and Join us Janet--always room for one more

very true as long as I don't throw a toothbrush :eek:

* Runs a hot bath for diana with oils and rose petals to relax* :D

WOW Diana, you sure had enough on your plate this weekend! Hope you were able to get enough rest! ;)

Oh thanks, Mandy! ---Last seen sinking into a huge bathtub filled with hot water with oils and rose petals--soft music in the background and candles scattered all around the bath tub.

I didn't worry too much about getting things back to order yesterday. I did a little straightening, but mostly took it easy. I'm in no hurry to get everything done.

That is so great that you can tons of people over Diana and not get stressed. My max for dinner parties is 6, LOL. I'm just too much of a perfectionist and have to have everything just so. I get myself so worked up over it but I really do enjoy entertaining.

But gosh, I don't think there's enough wine in the world to numb me enough for the amount of guests you entertained. :eek:

Good for you girl, no rush to get things straightend out. It will get done, if not today, then tomorrow or whenever ;)

Same here Sheryl, i cant handle THAT kind of stress at all! they would have to stick me in the lunybin by the time the guests arrive LOL

So what are you going to do when we all show up on your doorstep after getting off of Janet's plane. Did you think we were joking or something? ;) :D

Girl, what ya think :D I have that ALL traightend out, i have all the help i need, and puhleeeezzeeee ya know, i aint gonna wait on ya's :D im putting all the food/drinks out on tables, and ya'll can help yourself :D

You go girl! LOL :yelrotflmao:

What a wonderful hostess!! :)

Hahaha... well you girls dont want me to cook for ya, believe me LOL... so i have a chef cuisine come do the cooking, serving, and cleaning up after us :D

Ohhh!! :) Is he Hot like Janet's chef?? ;) Our hubbies may never get us back... lol

He is uhm.... YUMMY YUMMY :flirt: :flirt: .... good thing is, he had a few brothers LMAO!!!! :D So you see, the hubbies will really have to be good puppies, and make those promisses, and honestly mean it!! :D

oh la la!!! ;) Nice hot Dutch boys... lol

Ah yes, and they come in all shapes and sizes :D The boys that is LOL

My hubby will be jealous! He knows I have a thing for foreign guys... lol

LMAO!!! They have that "cute accent" specially when they wanna try the American english LOL

Definitely! I had the BIGGEST crush on a guy from the Netherlands once. His name was Billy and we had piano class together. Such a talented person, but he had WAY too many girlfriends...I'm glad I didn't get involved.

*Well, I am off to pick up Brendon. :) Then I am picking up the little girl I mentor so that we can hang out for a while. Talk to you later!*

Sheryl, I've learned not to worry about the dust and dirt. I try to keep things straightened up. I found out a couple of days in advance that I was having everyone over. I didn't worry about dust and dirt because once a few people come in who's going to notice it? I swiped my bathroom and cleaned the toilet. Then I put away a lot of things that I had on the kitchen counter to make room for food. (Which I didn't have to worry about because everyone brought food and we cooked hotdogs.)

As far as room for everyone, I have a full size basement (I have a 2,300 sq ft home not including the basement) but we were crowded. I was praying that it would be fairly nice outside where some of the kids would go outside and play and, thank God, it was.

When everyone got here I just relaxed and enjoyed my self. After everyone leaves it all cleans up and everything goes back to normal.

You have such a wonderful attitude Diana. I stress out over everything. sometimes so much I can't enjoy things.