Rain, Rain, RAIN. Enough already - do you HEAR ME?
When I was approached to host the Virginia Beach Hebrew National Picnic with a Purpose, my immediate area of concern was weather related. Not rain, though - heat. Typically, weekends in my fair city in the month of May end with sunburned shoulders and noses, and a promise to try a new and different type of deodorant next time. It's HOT here, and humid and muggy.
But, for whatever reason, this month has just been wet. Today was no different. I started scouting the weather reports ten days ago, and as today approached, the forecast refined and crystallized, all the while focusing on more and more rain. I worried about many things for this picnic - who would attend, how could I get more people to attend, what would I serve that would be memorable for dessert, how would I get all of the stuff for a picnic for 80 people actually out to the park, how would we set up the park, what games and activities would be fun, how would the Seton House feel about being our charity, and would it rain the entire event out. Last night I checked the weather, and it said that Sunday would feature severe thunderstorms, several inches of rain, and plunging temperatures. I freaked out and sent an email to everyone invited, letting them know that the picnic was still on, most definitely, but I'd probably change the location - so keep your eye on your email. And then I waited until the next day.
And it POURED. Oh, man, did it pour and it was so, so SO chilly. Location change - the picnic is now AT MY HOUSE!! Yup, that's what we did. I sent out yet ANOTHER email to everyone, letting them know to come to my house and not the park - not that anyone would go to the park in that kind of weather, but just in case. I'd planned soccer games, volleyball games, bubble blowing, sidewalk chalk, sack races and competitive other stuff - now what? Opening my home to even half of the positive eighty responses meant I'd have at least twenty kids here - was I ready for that?
I'm SO happy to report that the event was a beautiful, well oiled piece of goodness. I was thrilled to welcome Christine of Starry Skye, Kathy of The Political Housewyfe, Kathy of KatsArt and Tanya of Twincere, along with many relatives and friends, and we enjoyed a great feast of Hebrew National hot dogs, watermelon, baby carrots, chips, sodas, margarita cupcakes and the dessert hit of the day, S'MORES. Except that you can't actually cook s'mores outside in the pouring rain, so we compromised and toasted the marshmallows over the gas flame burners in my stove. Yum. Burnt on the outside, melted chocolate, graham crackers - delish on a dish.
The kids had a ball tearing though the house - I had the good sense to run ahead of them and lock all the bedroom doors - and painting the bookshelves for The Seton Home. My wonderful sister in law did some of the most amazing face painting that I've ever seen, and the kids danced and sang along to karaoke. Oh, and let's not forget Wii Rock Band. My husband grilled hot dogs in the pouring rain and I owe him tremendous thanks and unlimited back rubs for all of the work he did, hanging banners and cleaning coolers and PAINTING two huge bookshelves. He was the MAN of the DAY.
We collected paper towels, toilet paper and spaghetti sauce for The Seton Home, and Marti (volunteer coordinator) was kind enough to tell us all about the shelter. The kids all were given red t-shirts, the adults went home with grill sets and coupons for free hot dogs, and full tummies and the warm fuzzies of a charitable act helped us to put a bright shine on a gloomy day.
Want to get a look at the fun? Not from me, you won't - I took NOT ONE picture. Check out the Picnic with a Purpose page on The Motherhood, written by the glorious Cooper, who wrote wonderful glowing things about the festivites like this: Carmen ROCKS and she did the most amazing job with her picnic today. Yes, we had tons of rain and yes we had to re-locate to her house from the park pavillion - but did it stop the STAICERS? No way. This family is like the Incredibles. They are all so upbeat, fun and make-it-happen. All of the sudden, a party for 80 is headed to your house? Well it was FANTASTIC, fun, warm, and lots of great connections and conversation. Carmen and her family are the consummate gracious hosts make everyone feel welcome and happy. What a fantastic, wonderful day and can I just say -- the idea of those beautiful bookshelves in Seton Youth Shelter will make me smile for weeks. Cooper was SO KIND to come to our picnic and calm enough to put up with my insanity and crankiness. AND she brought me flowers to boot, which are so gorgeous and I just realized that I totally forgot to say thank you for! You really should check out that page, where you can see a lame as heck picture of me and some wonderful video of my kids dancing and singing and playing Rock Band, and see my son model his "hotdogetarian" tee that Cooper had specially made for him.
Cooper, it was a joy and a delight to host you and I was so, so honored to be able to be one of the hosts for the Hebrew National Picnic with a Purpose! We were already fans of the brand, and this cemented our loyalty even further! Want to win your own Picnic with a Purpose? Tweet this link:
Win your own picnic for 20 ppl! RT for entry http://bit.ly/rIlMU #hebrewnational
for your own chance to win a picnic of your very own!
Make s'mores. They rock.
So fun! I wish I lived closer so I could have come...but maybe I'll have my own! I'm off to see the pics..
Now, go to sleep!
Posted by: Headless Mom | May 17, 2009 at 10:54 PM