Dinner at the Ritz.....

Hello! Yes, I do acknowledge that I still have a blog, and I also own up to the fact that I've neglected it as of late. I guess I was just waiting for something fun to tell about, and now it seems like there are several things that have built up all of a sudden. But for now I'll start with the most recent, which happened on Saturday night.

Kelani got asked to go to a stake prom with one of her friends in Nampa, so for part of the date they decided that they would come here for dinner (along with the couple who doubled with them).

You know how we are - food is not just for eating, it's an experience! Not to mention I think that Mom and Dad like getting to spy on any dates we have, therefore they invite them over. Just kidding!! :)

Anyway, Malia had to work that night so it was up to Mom, Dad, and me to get things ready. We set up the basement to be the restaurant and I got the fun job of creating a musical playlist to serenade them while they dined; it including everything from Vivaldi's "Spring", to Elvis, Disney love songs (classic ;), and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" - and much, much more. It doesn't get much better than that.

Everyone got here around 7:00-ish and dinner was served.

 Dad got to live out part of a life-long dream by becoming a tuxedo-clad waiter. Ok, so he bought a tuxedo shirt a few hours before they got here, and to top it off he wore his formal Samoan lava-lava. To complete the ensemble he also scored a sweet set of fake moustaches and everytime he went down to check on the fine diners, he wore a different style of facial hair.
   The evening started off with a basket of fresh, hot rolls and honeybutter (I found a tasty recipe for it in the Best Bites cookbook - love it!!). 

  Gretchen died laughing every time she saw Dad, and I'm pretty sure there are no waiters around here who are quite like him...it's up for debate if that's a bad thing, or not....

    For their drinks we made Aunt Lisa's tasty "ambrosia", which is just lemonade with fresh limes squeezed into it. Then we thought it would be fun to dip the rims of their glasses in ambrosia and sugar for a decorative flair.

  The appetizer featured the popular "Party In Your Mouth jello", yum!!

  Now we get to the main course of the evening - Hawaiian haystacks (or Chinese sundaes). Mom made little menu cards for each person and it had a list of all the available toppings to go on their haystack. Once they checked off which toppings they wanted, Dad brought the lists upstairs and Mom and I assembled them. It was really fun!
  There's Dad in his Rico Suave moustache! HA!

Mom also whipped out a tasty white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for them and it looked quite lovely (are you starting to understand why I hate shopping for clothes?)

 Then as the meal was wrapping up, Dad had Mom and I both put on a moustache and we all went down for one final check on the group. Those things are not easy to smile in, they peel off and feel all bleh.

Once everyone was all filled up it was time for a couple of those awkward pre-dance pictures and then they headed off to the dance.

In the picture it is:

Preston, Nani, Gretchen, and Jacob.

 David was the one who started the whole prom thing in our family and we've had fun serving different groups over the last couple years when they'd stop by before the dance. Kelani is carrying on that tradition quite nicely and I'm sure this isn't the last basement restaurant we'll be seeing! :)