The first dinner party

A new dining room table needs to be 'christened' with a dinner party! So, I invited my brother, Erik, and his family, my sister, Kirsten, and her family, and my mother-in-law, Doril, to join us for Sunday dinner. You all know that I am a terrible day to day cook, but if I put my mind to it, I can put together an acceptable menu for a party.

We had 'Company Chicken' (baked in a sherry broth w/Parmesan cheese), a stir-fry that included snap peas from Bill's garden, a garden salad (w/home grown greens), an olive salad, rice, and french bread.

Oh! It felt so wonderful to have everyone gathered around the table, passing the dishes and laughing to shared conversation!!!! We have endured a year without a dining table; sitting on the couch in front of the TV instead. What a pitiful substitute that was! We endured it so long that it has become habit and I have to remind Bill daily that we have a table now. He automatically sits on the couch with his dinner.

The dinner party helped me to realize that instead of finding two small hutches for the room, what I really need is one small hutch and one small sideboard. The food fit on the table with just a little crowding, but the ice/punch bowl and drinks need a sideboard!

Doril left after dinner to go visit Crystal, and the rest of the party migrated to the family room to 'christen' the new furniture in there with a game night. While the games and conversation were priceless, the truly memorable part of the evening was watching baby Tori chase our cat, Pepper, around the room! Pepper was very apprehensive about this little bundle of energy and tried hard not to let her get him while still remaining in the room. Pepper is a social cat and likes to be where the people are. Tori did manage to manhandle him a few times and he mostly kept his claws in check. By the end, it seemed as though he had decided that 'keep away from Tori' was a fun game to play.

The final comments on the evening have to be a great big THANK YOU to Will for keeping his young Weierholt cousins, Kris and Dallin, entertained for the entire evening! Will cheerfully sat at the 'kids' table with them, then played with them outside and on the Xbox, allowing their parents to relax and enjoy the evening! Kudos to you, kiddo!!