Party Planning

Well, I posted one thing today that I know will make my mother cry, so I had to post something else to make her laugh.

Last Saturday was my husband's birthday, and this year we decided to throw a little party at our house with both of our families in attendance. I don't know why, but "small" parties always seem like a good idea to me. I always think it'll be no big deal, (People. Food. What else could you need?) and then I wake up the day after and every muscle on my body hurts like I've been hit by a train.

How do I always manage to do this?

Really, it should be easy. After all, it wasn't completely my responsibility. Other people brought things. Other people help set up. Other people helped to clean up. Where does all this pain come in?

I'll tell you where - I inherited my mother's "stress" gene.

My brain says, "A simple party. That sounds nice."

To which my mind replies, "A party? Oh my God. We have to clean the house. We have to really, really clean the house. Cabinets need to be reorganized! Are all of my files in order?! They might LOOK through those! Right?! Right!"

So then, I spend a week neurotically cleaning my house, but by the time the party comes around, its gotten messy again because I can't be cleaning the drawers out in the bedroom and vacuuming the living room. (Because, obviously, you need to choose the obsessive small things over the normal, big ones.)

Then my brain says, "We'll grill. It'll be sooo simple. Give other people things to bring, and then I'll only have to do one thing!"

But my mind butts in with, "I know I was only going to bring the buns and hamburgers, but what about baked beans? Oh! And, potato salad! We can't have hamburgers without potato salad! Oh no, wait! Don't forget the wheat buns! Someone might want wheat buns. Oh... and a cake. I need to make a cake for my mother-in-law because its her birthday too, and she's making my husband's birthday cake so she'll need her own!"

This causes me to spend a whole day cooking - which also makes me revert back to cleaning because I am a very, very messy cook.

It turned out to be a wonderful party - really, it did. I was glad everyone got to come, and my grandparents even managed to make it out. I got to show off a piece of furniture that my husband built for me, and we got to spend a few hours talking to the people we love the most.

I had today off from work anyway, so I've taken it easy for the most part. Now, I'll be ready to start the day tomorrow, and my husband has a memorable birthday.

For my family reading this, I love you all, and thank you again for coming. Next time, we'll have it at Mom and Dad's! ;)