I’m relieved to share that the air conditioning was repaired at minimal cost, the party was a hit, Monkey finally broke his fever and we all slept happily through the night.
I have about eleventy million pictures from the last few days of the insanity leading up to and culminating in the boys’ first birthday party, but I’m too lazy busy hanging out with my friends and family here in Texas to sort through them.
I’ll get to them this week before I leave for Kansas City, but I had to share today’s organized chaos with you.
We were so proud of ourselves for surviving yesterday, for juggling 24 kids, 14 adults, a swimming pool, a bunch of food and a piñata without any broken bones or visits from family services, I guess we figured we’d celebrate today by cramming at least half as many people into the kitchen with two giant pans filled with boiling oil.
It’s this kid’s fault. He asked for fried chicken and fixins, and that’s what he got.
I made at least three jokes about cutting the cheese, and he didn’t get any of them.
Anyway, we started with a healthy breakfast.
We bought Wal-mart out of chicken pieces, shortening, peanut oil, and potatoes and made a grand mess out of the kitchen while frying, boiling and mashing up lunch.
Behold the fried chicken breast. Soaked in buttermilk, battered and fried to golden crispy perfection.
Pop provided home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers, a healthy compliment to our starchy grease-fest.
My aunt found some cool cups with name tags on them.
After ensuring that the men and children were in a semiconscious post-smorgasbord state, the ladies began to sort through my grandmother’s tin of buttons, collected by four generations of women who knew their way around a sewing machine. These days, we’re handier with Cricuts than Singers.
While we were raiding the buttons for scrapbooking spare parts, my aunt began to nod off at the table. For some reason, my mom asked my grandmother about a computer mouse she had loaned her.
My grandmother leaned over my snoozing aunt to peer through the curtained French doors into the den, and after noting that Monkey had fallen asleep in his play pen, declined to go inside to get the mouse.
“Ok,” my mom said. “Don’t let me forget the mouse is in the den.”
My formerly slumped and sleeping aunt startled at the word mouse, jumped up and yelled, “OH SHIT!”
It took us a minute to realize she hadn’t suddenly developed Tourette’s, but had overheard wrong that there was a mouse in the room with the baby!
Now, my grandmother, who used to scold us for saying the word “fart,” or for even being so bold as to pass gas in her presence, didn’t bat an eyelash at my aunt’s profane exclamation, and instead began cracking up with the rest of us.
Where has my grandmother’s sense of propriety gone?
I blame this guy.
Hahahaha! I would love to hang out with you, your family and that amazing looking fried chicken.
There’s always room for one more at the table around here!
I guess when you get to a certain age, you can’t be bothered what people say anymore. Rather, just sit back and have fun. WHat a lovely time you had with your family.
They’re a blast! (Most of the time!)
Hilarious! I feel like I was there!
You should have been!
Thank you…I was already starving and then I had to look at these pictures! It sounds (and looks) like you are having a great time, funny girl!
Maybe we could have added in some Sam Adams for a better time?
So jealous of the gorgeous fried chicken.
It is my nemesis in the kitchen. But not in my mouth.
Everything looks delicious, and I agree with Karen: I feel like I was there. Thank you for sharing.
The secret is deep, boiling Crisco + peanut oil!
Fried chicken sounds and looks AMAZING!!! Golden crispy perfect is right. I so want to come over for fried chicken. As a matter of fact, you could bring me some when you go to Kansas City, I’m only a few short hours away from there. The tomato and cucumber salad looks super yummy too, even if I would just pick out the cucumbers to eat.
Where are you in relation to KC?
I totally read that as tornado and cucumber. Living in the midwest is warping my brain.
That santa is awesome.
I’m glad to hear the AC is working again.
He’s wearing fishnets. Dead sexy.
Yeah – I think you can totally say fart now. Grandmama opened that door wide open! HAHA Loved this and love that Santa. I must find me one! I have one that moons people but it’s so much better seeing a cross dresser.
That last sentence is hilarious.
24 kids?? Dang girl! Fried chicken sounds awesome right about now…
Ages 6 mo to 15 years. InSANE.
Sounds like you had a great time with the family! That Santa? Awesome!
And now I’m hungry. Thanks!
My family is hilarious. And annoying. Sometimes at the same time. The Santa pretty much sums them up.
From this moment forward, I will always count things as eleventy million. Do you watch “Parks And Rec”? If not, this will make no sense, but if you do…. my favorite day of the year is Maytember Oneteenth.
HAHAHA!
Oh wow! What a hoot! That chicken looked wonderful. I think you should pack up a batch and bring it back in the cooler you toted down with you. YUM!
Oh, it’s totally all gone!
I love it! I think you can definitely say fart now.
I’ve always wanted to try and make fried chicken at home but I was afraid I’d burn down the house. Maybe you can make me some now!
I’ll trade you for some lobster!
i would like to submit an application to be part of your family. =)
I don’t know if you’d survive the audition process. It involves being locked in a room with some really annoying people.
OMG…THAT was hysterical. I have family just like that. Congrats on making the top 12 and I honestly believe that in your blog…I have found one of my favorites. Good luck and I look so forward to reading more!!!!
Thank you, Lisa! Stop by for some fried chicken and old people spouting profanity any day!
That fried chicken has my mouth watering, girl!!! And those buttons. Oh Lordy, those buttons!
There’s a whole cookie tin of them. Some really neat ones, too! Miss Megan of Declutter Daily fame would not be happy.
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#1 I’m still waiting for your baby to arrive via fed ex
#2 I’m going to need some deep fried chicken now.. send that with your child
#3 Love those cups!! Seriously
#4 Santa is hilarious
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