Blake and Bennett (our nephews) finished up their visit from Texas with a weekend at our house. To say "thank you" to their Nana and Papa and their Aunts and Uncles, I suggested that they invite them all over for a home cooked meal planned, prepared and served by the kids. Wow... little did I know that they would get into it so much! We discussed it briefly on Friday night -- Blake and Bennett loved the idea. On Saturday we made handwritten invitations, decided on our menu, grocery shopped for all of the items, wrote and decorated our beverage menus and prepared our dessert "Strawberry Surprise," which then needed to set in the freezer. Jason assisted with the restaurant name, each word represented one of the six kids: Jake, Dane, Blake, Bennett, Bryce and RaeAnn. Cute, huh?
On Sunday we set the table, made our restaurant sign, made menus for each person, cut herbs from the garden for garnishes and for cooking and watched Ratatoille to brush up on our kitchen and dining room skills. (Of course, they were told to focus on the humans in the movie and not the rats, but I think our execution was a bit more like the rats.)
When the guests arrived they all jumped into action, eager to please everyone -- kids screaming, scrambling, bumping into each other. Total chaos. Just like a real restaurant. Needless to say, everyone had a great time and complimented the team on the food -- shrimp cocktail appetizer presented in margarita glasses, mini-chicken pot pies and the frozen strawberry dessert.
After the dinner the kids went for a dip in the pool, did a little dancing and posed for some photos of the cousins as a group. It was fun, but I am exhausted. I was the Gordon Ramsay of the weekend, but I wasn't as tough on my team. Maybe, we've got a future Executive Chef on our hands... you never know.
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