Planning a party is lots of fun.  You get to choose a theme (or at least a color scheme), select decorations, and decide on a menu.

Cooking for the party is fun too; I enjoy making my list of ingredients, shopping for them, and figuring out the time frame so I can get everything ready to eat all at the same time.

Last month we hosted a big party for our older kids' graduations and younger son's First Holy Communion.  We had about 90 people here, and I spent more than a week getting things ready.  We have an enclosed back porch, so I was able to set up food tables out there and we wouldn't have to worry about insect invasions.  Also, I could bring out the party supplies bit by bit and get them ready.  They weren't in anyone's way out on the porch.

But once the party's over, you have to put all that stuff back.  In my case, that meant leftover soda, unopened bags of chips, extra paper goods, decorations, and cooking equipment.  I used three crock pots and four roaster ovens for the party food, not to mention umpteen baskets and bowls for chips.  And let's not forget the coffee urn, because that's not the kind of thing I need to keep on the back porch.

Somehow, putting everything away after the party is way less fun than getting ready for the event.

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