Tuesday, December 22

Lesson #31 - One Joint Christmas Dinner Is Better Than One...Right?!

Welcome to "Transient Tuesdays"...I am glad that you decided to stop by! Have a seat, kick up your feet and enjoy this week's post from The Bathroom Mommy. Mommy is in the Bathroom is an INSANELY FUNNY blog!! If you aren't already a loyal follower, I think you're missing out! Granted, she is taking a blogcation (but was FAB enough to share this lesson with us this week) but you'll be sorry if you haven't started following her here once she returns! Without any further ado...this is the story of dinner lessons (kind of) learned!

I was 21 years old the first time I cooked Christmas dinner for my family- my mom, dad and sister- and my hubby's family- about 25 people.

For your reference, I'm pretty sure Roseann Bar based the Connors off my hubby's family. Except hubby's family isn't laid back and funny. Mine is. His family thinks the Rapture and end of times will occur if everything isn't exactly how it always is.

They're Jackie from Roseann. 25 Jackies I was about to cook my first big dinner for.


It was our first Christmas in our brand new house. I wanted to show what a great housewife I would make.

So I planned. I started planning in November. I was going all out. 7+ appetizers, 10+ side dishes, 3 types of meat, desserts, the works.

My mom and sister came over the day before Christmas Eve to help me prep. My family always does our big thing on Christmas Eve at my parents house with our close family friends, so no prep would be done on that day until well into the wee morning hours.

We prepped as much as we could. We planned the menu timing so every thing would finish around the same time. We set up tables and more tables and decorations. I put out the high class paper plates and plastic silverware.

Yes, I may have over did the food, but there was no way I was going to do dishes for 31 people. I had been at previous Christmas dinners with the hubby's family. Nobody but his Grandma and Mom helped. With anything.

Christmas day his family arrived late full of presents and worry. My family arrived early to help me.

In comes hubby's mom and grandma. OH MY GOD WHAT WERE WE DOING?

Where was the corn? That's all the corn we have? There is only five cans of CORN FOR 30 PEOPLE MELISSA!!!! THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

I have 13 other side dishes hubby mom and grandma. I think we'll be ok.

NO! YOU DON'T KNOW OUR FAMILY AND CORN. OH MY GOD!!!! SOMEONE HAS TO RUN OUT RIGHT NOW AND GET MORE CORN!!!!!

What do you mean your family and corn? Are you serious right now?

YES!!!! WAIT.... OH HOLY LORD THAT'S ALL THE MASHED POTATOES YOU HAVE???

No, I have those, scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin. We peeled over 75 potatoes. I think we have enough.

YOU MADE REAL POTATOES??? NOBODY IS GOING TO EAT THAT. OH MY GOD!! DIDN'T YOU KNOW WE ONLY EAT BOXED MASHED POTATOES MELISSA?!?! OH MY GOD. PICK UP 6 BOXES OF POTATO FLAKES WITH THE CORN! OH GOD, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.

At this point, I'm biting my tongue and pinching myself so hard I look like I was in a fight with 3rd grade girl. My sister is ready to go ninja and my mom is drinking herself into oblivion.

Hey Melissa, where are the plates and forks? My hubby's uncle asks me standing right in front of the table holding the super fancy paper plates and plasticware.

Right there.

You're using paper plates?

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you needed Waterford Crystal to eat your boxed mashed potatoes and 4 lbs of effing canned corn...

Of course, this was coming from the guy who was supposed to supply the pop for 31 people and showed up with a 2 liter of off brand Cola and Diet Cola. But no one said a word about that. Instead, I only had 2 gallons of milk for 31 people. Cuz didn't I know every single person drinks huge glasses of milk with Christmas dinner??

My hubby ran to the gas station and bought 15 cans of corn and 5 boxes of mashed potatoes. I made them all.

My appetizers went untouched by his family. Instead, all 3 bags of Lays Ruffles, Doritos, and Cheesey Poofs from my pantry disappeared.

All night I listed to the unbelievable sin I committed of only buying 5 cans of corn, making real mashed potatoes, having only 2 gallons of milk and using paper plates and plasticware.

No one said thank you but my family. No one said it tasted good but my family. His family bitched I didn't have enough containers for them to pack up the left overs (of EVERYTHING, even the appetizers no one ate) and had to use ziplock bags.

No wonder they require so much corn. I wasn't only feeding them tonight. I was feeding them for the next week.

Hubby's cousins, who were our age and already had toddlers, didn't watch them.

Think back to your life before kids. How annoying other peoples kids are when you don't have any of your own. Nothing is more infuriating than watching and listening to other peoples kids scream, cry, and tear your brand new house apart while their parents sit their lazy asses on the couches and bitch about not having left over containers to take home all the food they bitched about eating.

My family left as soon as dinner was over. They couldn't take it anymore.

The following year his family wanted Christmas at our house because it's the only one big enough to comfortably hold everyone. I, with a severe case of new mommy brain, agreed. My family shockingly decided to stay home on Christmas day that next year.

But I, of course, put my passive aggressive smart ass spin on it.

I made a turkey, bought 20 cans of corn (why do you have so much corn, Melissa?), made 10 boxes of mashed potatoes (that's a lot of potatoes, Melissa), 6 gallons of milk (those are going to go bad. We should take those with us, Melissa), stuffing, and a couple bags of salad and frozen biscuits. Appetizers were chips. His grandma brought the desserts. And his family brought their own take home containers that year.

I guess lessons sorta learned?

No, lesson was learned this year, 7 years later, when I finally said, we're not hosting Christmas. We'll see ya when dinner is served.

23 comments:

AiringMyLaundry said...

25 people??? I would have NO idea how to cook for that many people.

I wouldn't want to host that either. No thank you.

Holly Lefevre said...

Funny story...sounds like part of my family! If it doesn't come in a bag or box is is considered frou-frou, and they won't eat it.

Unknown said...

OMHeck. I would hav shoved some food down their throats. grabbed a couple of unruly kids and threatened to put them on my spit and roast them for dinner, and proceeded to let it fly. GF I love my hubby but his family was smart enough to know to not push their luck with me.. OHHH Heck no

Hair Bows & Guitar Picks said...

With that many people I would never host!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Beth Dunn said...

OMG that is a lot of corn and mashed potatoes! The chips would be what eaten at my house too LOL
xoxo

SC

Stephanie said...

My heart actually ached for you as I read this post.

I have to tell you the next year...I would have ordered Chinese...

Mrs. Plank said...

Oh NOOOO They Didn't!!! I'm freaking out for you right now. I would have bitch-slapped someone. I guess it was 7 years ago, so I can relax. But really, I totally just went into fight or flight mode.

Whew!!! *fans self with piece of paper*

Mindy said...

Oh, goodness. I could feel my jaw progressively tensing as you story progressed! I'm impressed that you held your tongue.

Merry Christmas!

Virginia Mom said...

Oh that is TOO much- but it made me feel SO good to read it and know that I'm not the only person who has a pile of in-law stories that would make a "normal" person scream and run from the room! :)

Amy said...

Wow what a mess that was. I would not cook anymore either. Thanks for doing that for everyone.. Have a great Holiday..

Shandal said...

THIS is EXACTLY why I have such bad anxiety about having dinner parties. These horrid stories just add fuel to the fire! I'm SO sorry you went through that. I would've just cried and left. Ha.

Tracie Nall said...

Um....Wow....just Wow!

This is exactly why I have never invited my husband's family over for a meal...ever!

The Princess of Sarcasm said...

Hahahahahahaha!!! Melissa is HI-larious!!

Samantha said...

Oh my gosh your In-Laws sound like mine! I would have flipped my lid, and I'm sure one year I will. Hubby and I have only been married 3 years. Why corn? We never have corn at Christmas. Where does that even come from? And who prefers boxed potatoes over the real ones? I believe I would have punched someone. Seriously. I'm sympathize with you.

The Mother IN Law got pissed last year when all we got her was a 15 dollar gift card to Starbucks. The woman likes coffee, I thought it was a pretty good gift. Evidently not.

Ugh. In-Laws.

The (Un)Experienced Mom said...

HAHAHA! That is hilarious!

I think they were lucky you cooked for them. Seriously, 25 people?! We'd be ordering Chinese food here!

Tamara
www.theunexperiencedmom.com

G said...

hi! HAven't forgotton about you. Working on the guest post!

Margaret said...

That is way to many people for me!

lemonologie said...

WOW - 25 people! That's quite a number. I wouldn't even be able to order the right number of pizzas for that many!

Good for you - deciding not to host. Christmas should be joy, not so much work every year!

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

I cannot believe you peeled 75 potatoes and all you got in return was grief. Girl, you can come to my kitchen any day :) I will kneel down before you in praise!

~Elizabeth
http://confessionsfromaworkingmom.blogspot.com

Lori said...

Seriously...I would advertise this family on Craigslist..."Will sell cheap." Make sure you include a disclaimer letting people know they're ungrateful and annoying, so you don't get sued.

I think you handled things very well. If I had peeled that many potatoes...omg...you don't even want to know. I'd probably have been arrested.

Nope. I wouldn't ever host a holiday dinner for them ever again EITHER. Lesson learned? You betcha.

Curious said...

I am so glad to hear I'm not/wasn't over=reacting to the situation! These people are crazy when it comes to their holiday meals. Shoulda heard the shit hit the fan last year when horror of all horrors I had dinner catered so I could actually enjoy christmas day with my hubby and kids.

This is year is going to be a piece of cake! Thanks for reading everyone!!!

Thank you Working Mommy for letting me share my lessons. May no one else have to experience them! Have a great holiday everyone!

Ducky said...

You ever watched Everyone Loves Raymond? Yup...those are my InLaws...Marie, Frank...the works...

Somehow I'm always sick on Christmas....

Unknown said...

Sounds like you did well!

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