Flexible Entertaining

I am prone to impatience and Type A control freakishness. If you did not know this about me, now you do. Yay. I bet you want to keep reading this post now, don't you?

After reading Sandy's Coughlin's book, The Reluctant Entertainer, I've really been making an effort to remember that just because we can't afford to host a cookout and serve 30 guests lobster tails on gold plated china, doesn't mean that we can't still host a barbecue.

We started small and invited our local family members over for a 4th of July cookout. T worked up until dinnertime, so I spent the day at home making the girls clean up all their toys and hiding stuff I didn't want people to see.  Aside from the weeds in the flower bed I didn't get to, we had a nice greeting for our guests.

I even made a quick wreath for the front door with a Dollar Store garland:

Things were going well; both sides of the family were visiting nicely, babies were swinging, sisters were getting along.

I tried to dress up the ratty old picnic table (the one we stole from the trashy ghetto neighbors), while Michaela Byrd, who insisted upon wearing her winter patent leather dress shoes, performed an interpretive dance while she recited the Pledge of Allegiance. We are nothing if not patriotic.

The girls also insisted that their Statue of Liberty "torches" from VBS be centerpieces...so we worked them in...

We had just set the hamburger buns out when the rain started.

Instead of throwing a hissy fit (which is what Natalie did), I got everyone to help cart things back indoors and we had a lovely "cook-in."

We were eventually able to go back out for a bit to let the girls play with sparklers, and I noticed how much happier I was by not getting all worked up about having to bring everything inside.

Because enjoying the time with our guests was what was most important!

And in case you don't remember how it goes, here's a video of my 3 year old saying the Pledge. Her sister, ever the enforcer of liberty, was quick to point out that she forgot the "justice," but I say give her a break. She really seems to love that flag, after all.



{How did you spend the 4th?}