Fall Cook-Out, er, Baby Shower

We had our baby shower Saturday. I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the hard work, and I mean, really hard work that Eileen, Abby, our moms, and even G put into the day. It is humbling and makes me thankful for the people in my life. They care and do selflessly, without complaint, and with honest happiness.

When Eileen asked if she could throw the shower and surveyed what I had in mind, I requested two things: 1) A party/cook-out, which included the guys;  2) No games or gift-opening. Eileen, dear, Eileen, was the architect of the whole thing and it came together so wonderfully--better than I could ever dream of. And I don't say that smugly or proudly. I say that with humility and sincere appreciation.

G admiring his handiwork (the birthday gift necklaces he gave me the night before)

 

The invitations by Girl in Gear Studio

The shower was held at G's parents' home. He went out there on Friday to do last minute shopping with his mom and then went there a few hours earlier the day of to help his parents set up. I arrived later with my mom and sister. 

I was late arriving with my mom and sister, but was delighted to find all the little touches set up. Abby had purchased hand-made truffles for the favors...


...and wrote out all the little notes for each.

She is a very busy lawyer, who works 80-hour weeks. Where she finds the time and energy, I do not know. But I so appreciate her thinking of everything. (She also made the cupcakes and supplied all the flower arrangements.)

A sort of guest book

The morning of, I had a last minute idea to make a guest book/something for people to leave messages for the baby. I made the sign out of Kraft paper cardstock and cut out a bunch of squares. I found the diaper pin image online.

M, our niece, deciding what to write to her cousin

Eileen and Abby, the two planners

Eileen really out-did herself with top-notch execution. She can cook! She started days ahead, shopping, pre-grilling a lot of the meats, stayed up nights baking the apple tarts, borrowed serving platters, nothing was overlooked...And she works and has two kids. I can't thank her enough. And, of course, Abby. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and it seems that she's always there to lend a hand and do the heavy lifting. I don't see her enough.

Our moms helped cook and prepare

My mother woke up at five the morning of to start cooking the Vietnamese portion of the menu. She just finished when I arrived to pick her and my sister up, and barely had time to get ready. G's mom spent the week preparing the house and some surprises for us, along with making the side dishes for the dinner. Everyone gets along so well, and our families sincerely like each other. I am grateful for such a sweet mom and happy-go-lucky mother-in-law (and cool father-in-law).

The details: Simple white china from G's mom's amazing stash (she has hundreds) and flowers supplied by Abby

The guests



The kids!




It takes five men and one Eileen to do the grilling...

Eileen prepared ahead of time the lamb, steak, and brats (with all the trimmings), and grilled them while the guests mingled. Apparently, she got a lot of help (forced on her) from the men!

...and one Graham to do the slicing! I love that the guys got involved.



The "around the world" grill spread...

Eileen's grilled flank steak with chimichurri sauce

G's mom's asparagus with basil cream



Eileen's to-die-for-so-tender mini lamb burgers with all the fixings...



Feta, parsley, onion (and taziki) for the burgers...again, Eileen thought of everything



G's mom's couscous salad...to go with the lamb, of course!



My mom's vegetable fried rice



Mom's Vietnamese shrimp slaw



Mom's grilled lemon grass pork ribs...



My favorite: Mom's spring rolls



My sister supplied the sparkling wine (aka Champagne--G was happy!) and there was also beer, cheap wine, and my Fall favorite: APPLE CIDER (I love the Fall!)

Eileen grilled Bratwurst for the kids, but they were also a hit with the adults

Abby's homemade cupcakes! I love the gold sugar sprinkles!!! Perfect for Fall and a gender-neutral cook-out/er/baby shower!

Eileen's RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS apple tart and local, handmade Butterscotch ice cream. WOW.

A birthday gift made by our niece and nephew. What do you know? A chunky necklace!

We spread out throughout the house with our food. G's mom has a bazillian of these cool rattan trays, and they were perfect for loading up and coming back for seconds. While I was eating, our niece and nephew (G's brother's children) brought over a birthday gift for me to open.

They got me! A birthday cake surprise!

After dinner, I was in the kitchen talking with some guests, when one of them insisted I go back to the living room and open gifts. I told her that wasn't part of the plan, but she was very demanding...it turned out to be a rouse!!! G had to get into the kitchen to light the candles for my birthday cake (G's mom made my favorite mandarin orange cake). He, his mom, and the guests surrounded me in the living room singing happy birthday!!!!

I was so tickled by this!!!

G's sterling baby cup

G's mom took the opportunity of everyone in one room to give a special gift: His antique sterling baby cup with his name engraved on it (his mom is an antiques dealer). And there's a funny story behind it! When G was about 11 years old, he took the cup to town to see Donna, G's mom's antiques business partner. He asked her if he could sell it to her...for $5. She refused, of course!

The best part was, we later opened up a gift of a very similar sterling cup (not yet engraved) for the baby from another friend of the family's.

Guests got a kick out of the story (G has always been a business man!). It was especially funny to Larry (center), a former client and long-time friend of G's

We did a perfunctory gift opening together; G probably said something like his "work is done" (thus the guilty kiss before he disappeared)

Just when we thought we escaped gift opening, the older ladies demanded, DEMANDED, we open at least the big one (that was such a trick, because we ended up opening all of them)

My sister helped me open the gifts, thankfully

Classic books

My sister helped with the big gifts while G was gone (to eat cake and drink Champagne); and Diana took charge and noted all the gifts for the thank yous (which I finished yesterday, btw)

G came back to open more gifts--stuff that he hadn't a clue about

He cracked everyone up!

My sweet mom

I LOVE this picture of my mom, watching me open up a birthday present from her (below). She is SO EARNEST. I was mad at her for making me late for the party, but I look at this picture and am reminded of how sweet and gentle she is. She wants nothing more than happiness for her girls. She's selfless. I should be nicer and more patient with her.

The gift of a butterfly brooch from mom

I love the fake smiles on the guys. Note the guests in the back who were totally "over" watching me open gifts, including Pat, who was one of the ladies that insisted I open them!!!

 After the present-storm: A tidied up room

Afterward, I made a bee line to the kitchen to have some of Eileen's apple tart. I thought I'd come back and pick up. But someone had already done it.  Everything had been neatly organized and cleaned up. Again, I am so grateful for my friends and family for taking care of everything...They did it so quietly and unassumingly.

Kind, helpful guests

Three of our guests really made a lot of effort to help out. Diana--G's fraternity brother's wife, whom he's known since college (and whom I've met only twice)--came not only bearing gifts for baby, but for the hostesses. She also really took charge in making sure everything was written down well, and I suspect she is the one who cleaned up the room after the gift-opening. I was really touched by her kindness and hard work. She has three kids of her own, and her husband was on travel. She planned ahead, made arrangements for child care so she could spend plenty of time with us. She stayed til the very end to help.

Then there's Graham and Michelle. They're always there to support us. Michelle read at our wedding, and Graham took amazing shots of the rehearsal and even video-ed parts of it. They JUST got married a month earlier. It was the first time we all saw each other since before the wedding (which we missed as we were in China). Michelle made sure I had my glass always filled, got me desserts and everything else I needed so I didn't have to get up. Graham took pictures and helped with the grilling. It was nice to have them there to catch up. CONGRATS, Graham and Michelle!

 I have no idea what everyone was laughing at, but they were very punchy by the end of the night!

It was late by the time everyone left. Amazingly, our families were still laughing and carrying on. I guess they were light-headed from working so hard, all the cakes and sweets, and perhaps alcohol...

A very special friend.

Eileen worked so incredibly hard on the shower and stayed til the very end to help clean and pack up. I've known her since high school. She really, really came through for us. We only reconnected a couple years ago, and it feels like no time has passed. She pays attention to details and shocks me by how well she gets me.  Thank you SO MUCH, EILEEN! I am so fortunate to have you as a friend!!!

...And in fact, when I got home that night, I got these two gifts from her in the mail (absolutely perfect):

A new phone case (I tried making one but failed; bonus that this one has a CG heart!) and another way to indulge my love obsession with macarons (macaron soaps!)

IT WAS A FANTASTIC DAY. I COULDN'T WANT FOR MORE. I AM SO HAPPY AND THANKFUL. CUPPETH RUNNETH OVERETH.