This is a weird party - my husband describes it as two different parties happening at the same time. There's a holiday open house, where some people stay for hours and some just for a drink, where elegant apps and nice drinks are idea, and then there's a cookie decorating party for small children, and dinner. Hence the very kid-friendly ham and roast beef (I tried turkey previously - too much work and apparently more people like beef). I want to find a way to integrate them better - actually I prefer an intimate dinner for 6 or 8, with kids either fed first and tearing around my basement, or, better yet, with no kids (but I think I have another 18 years on that one...)
Actually I'm now baking a second set of desserts. This is the first no-nut allergy group in a long time, so I went nuts pre-baking and put nuts in a lot of things. My dear 17 year old nephew - who I adore - just invited himself for the weekend since he had a class trip cancelled. Actually, I suspect he invited himself for a week - which would be annoying if I wasn't a SAHM and he wasn't a very chill kid. He's very, very nut allergic (and why I almost never bake with nuts, because I hate making a dish or especially dessert he can't have). So..... now there's about to be another set of cookies and I'm adding some cakes!
Oh, and re table space - I'm renting (hopefully if they have some available!) some folding tables and chairs. They're ugly as all get-out, but I can set them up in the basement and they can be moved away from the play area easily - so the kids especially and anyone who wants to can have a space to eat.
Of course, I could just buy a bigger house! But then again the tiny house has some major advantages.
