the crowded dining table

We crowded 10 people around our new dining room table last night. It was one of those very rare moments in our current stage of life where there were 3 times as many adults as there were people age 5 and under. That being stated, we were able to actually eat our dinner together, and talk, and laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. I savored each moment just as I did the delectable zucchini brownies for dessert. I knew the gathering around our table would be rare as our visitors were out-of-town family. I wanted to capture the moment in my mind’s scrapbook so I could return to that page in years to come.

I’ve come a long way in 13 years when it comes to hostessing. When we were first were married and The Narrator would suggest having company over for dinner, I’d grab an empty flour bag and start hyperventilating. By the time our dinner guests would arrive, I’d be exhausted and barely able to enjoy the dinner I’d slaved over. Not to mention the kitchen cleanup I’d have afterward, and the fretting over whether or not the food was any good (probably wasn’t).

Somewhere over the past 5 years, I figured things out and started enjoying hostessing. I think motherhood may have had something to contribute. Along the way of having babies, you figure out how to multi-task and get things done, and in general you give up caring what people think of you, and whether or not the meal is perfect. Is it edible? yes. Will they die from eating it? no. Something in it whole wheat or vegetable oriented? yes. Then it’s all good. I found some tried and true recipes that were easy to make and easy on cleanup. I learned to run the dishwasher and empty it before company arrives to make cleanup a snap. I figured out how to time the cooking of dishes so everything would be ready at the same time. I learned to do the baking first, cleanup as I go, and chop all the vegetables first. In fact yesterday, I even had time to read the kids a few stories to entertain them before they went crazy waiting for our guests to arrive.

Dinner was apparently lip smacking good, and one guest gave me 3 stars. I didn’t ask out of how many stars, however 🙂 I went to bed smiling that night. I didn’t break anything, burn anything, or forget the ice. It was a banner day for me. And whenever our home is filled with laughter and good food, I can’t help but smile. For me, it was a million dollar moment realizing how far I’ve come in this wife/mothering/hostessing business.