The Preschool Barbecue

I'm hosting a lunch-time barbecue for Thing 1's preschool class mommies and tots tomorrow. That's right, you read it correctly. I sent a mass e-mail to the entire class (17 students) to invite them to MY home for a barbecue that I would host and at which I would serve food, drinks and snacks of all kinds. Me, the only mother in the entire school whose four year old is the oldest sibling - to TWO younger ones, one of them being a baby! I had become friendly with a few moms over the course of the year and really wanted to hang out with them a bit and see if we could continue our new blossoming friendships over the course of the summer. But I didn't want to leave anyone out or hurt anyone's feelings, so instead of just inviting my friends, I invited the whole group. And then (as if I'd been kicked in the head or lost consciousness for a minute) I suggested they bring along other siblings too.

Admittedly, it isn't going to be as big as I feared. Obviously the whole class can't come, many of the parents work during the day or have other commitments. So I think I can handle the seven or so parents coming, each of them bringing Pete's preschool buddy, and another sibling (yes, two of them are babies and clearly I don't have to cook for them). Another mom suggested a pot-luck lunch so several ladies are bringing some yummies of their own to add to my hotdogs, sausages, chicken burgers and veggie burgers. And I'm selfishly thankful that the egg and dairy allergy children can't make it . . . as I just finished smushing together 22 ice cream sandwiches.

They are *so* easy to make and uber yummsters. Take vanilla ice cream, mix in some chopped peanuts and chocolate chips (the ice cream needs to be slightly soft). Squish the ice cream mixture between two cookies, then re-freeze so they set. Delicious treats for kids of all ages! I'm hoping they're a big hit . . . and I'm demanding that they be eaten outdoors.

Speaking of outdoors, the masterminds at the Weather Network have really been toying with me today. We and our Things live in a small house, so having a large number of people over to my house IN THE RAIN is not my idea of an ideal post-preschool bash. Thursday's forecast has been changing faster than those fast-forwarded previews before a movie . . . one minute it says cloudy with a chance of showers, and within the hour it's changed to just plain rain. Well, the force must be with me tonight because the latest change is now in - an official forecast of 25 degrees (Celsuis) and sunny. How the weather can change from rain to sun is beyond me, but I'm busting out my sunscreen, floppy hat, and cute sandals!

As I'm finishing up my last minute tidying and snack making this evening (and I somehow managed to vacuum and mop floors and mow the lawn this afternoon while Thing 3 snoozed for hours and I conned P&D into thinking mopping and mowing were FUN) I realize that I am a bit nervous about this whole activity tomorrow. I don't know these people tremendously well. Although two of the moms got together when Leah was born in January and gave me the most beautiful and generous baby gift and completely blew me away, reminding me that friendship and caring are sometimes hiding in the places you least expect it. But, I digress. What if these parents don't like me? What if I do something wrong? Or totally offend them? What if I make some grave error in judgment and say something ridiculous because I'm nervous? What if I serve a burger to a vegetarian? What if my dog or children do something crazy that embarrasses me? (If you're a regular reader you know it will likely be the dog . . . eating human poop or something of the sorts again). But I refuse to give in to my insecurities and will take comfort in my belief that if I am nervous, then they are too. They are not coming to judge me, or what I'm wearing, or my home, or my children, or my food . . . they are just coming to get together with a bunch of parents who all have kids who are four years old and just finished their first year of preschool together.

Right?