Yesterday temps dipped into the fifties and we had to close all the windows in the apartment for the first time in three months. Today as I write this, NFL football blares from the TV.
Just like that, fall is here.
Yes, it feels like fall, it just doesn't quite look like fall yet. The leaves have yet to turn, and the weekend has been dreary and chilly and dark. Today is one of those days when it just feels good to not have to leave the house.
It's true – I said I'd be going to the grand opening of Discovery World today but alas, I'm not there. My need to have one day of rest for the week trumped my "blogger duty."
Last night was the gathering at our apartment that we named the "Measuring Party" in the weeks leading up to it. Since we're getting the tuxes for the wedding at Christi's mom's bridal shop in Burlington and not everyone can get there easily for measurements, we decided to have a little pre-wedding gathering at which all the guys could be measured. We had 13 people at our place, including us – my parents and their significant others, Dave's parents, Carlo and Penny and Preston, and Christi and Tara.
It's the first time I've ever entertained a group larger than two people in my apartment – and I gotta say, planning and hosting a party is a really big job!
Friday night, Dave and I went to Metro Market and spent way too much money on way too much alcohol and food. We baked and started to clean when we got home, and when we awoke yesterday morning, we were faced with more of the same.
We spent literally the entire day, from 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., cleaning the apartment and preparing food. We commented that our place was the cleanest it's been since we moved in, and when I took one last look at everything just before people were about to arrive, I felt very satisfied that everything looked really nice.
We served spinach dip and salsa and homemade guacamole, cheese and sausage and crackers, baked brie with cherries and almonds, bacon, onion and cream cheese crescent roll-ups, seven-layer bars and assorted cookies. We also had champagne, wine, beer and margaritas. It was all really good.
I was very excited for the party, and I could tell that our families enjoyed themselves and were impressed. I was happy to see everyone, but I didn't have as much fun as I'd hoped I would – it was hard to relax. My dad had never met Dave's parents, and Carlo and Penny had never met either of my parents. My dad had a new lady friend with him whom I'd never met. Mom came with Dale, and seeing both of my parents with other people and having them all sitting on the couch together was a bit strange. They've only been divorced a little over two years, so such occurences are still odd to me.
Toward the end of the evening, I finally loosened up and had some food and a few margaritas. Christi got all the guys' measurements, so we can check another thing off the list.
Everyone was gone by around 12:30, and I hit the hay right away. When I woke up this morning, I felt just exhausted. I realized that since I'd left work on Friday, every minute had been consumed by this party, and I decided right away that I was in no shape to deal with big crowds – or to leave the house at all for that matter – today.
I just finally took a shower a couple hours ago, and we've been grazing on leftovers and vegging on the couch most of the day. Tonight I think we'll tune into the movie on ABC about the events leading up to 9/11.
So I didn’t make it to the grand opening of Discovery World. Oh well. My post will be more informative and worthwhile after I'm able to visit on a normal day anyway, and it'll be a good outing to have in my back pocket for when the weather gets too cold to do anything else.
Pictures of our party are in the extended part of the post. Have a good week.
It looks like the party was a hit - the food looked great, a very nice array of drinks, and everyone with smiles on their faces. I've never held a party of that size in my own home either, and I can imagine it's quite an undertaking. Glad that everything went well for you!
Side note: how adorable is that picture of Dave and Preston?!
Posted by: Amanda | September 10, 2006 at 07:10 PM
don't forget that the 9/11 was a movie and NOT a documentary - they made a bunch of stuff up to help dramatize it. Like it needed more of that.
Posted by: Kell | September 10, 2006 at 10:30 PM
You mean Kevin Arnold's dad wasn't really the Director of the CIA. Call your local congressman we've been duped again!!!!!
Posted by: Dave | September 10, 2006 at 11:50 PM
Happy the party went smooth. Looks like fun!
Posted by: Tracey | September 11, 2006 at 08:55 AM