Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Courtesy & Manners for 10 Year Olds

Any excuse to throw a party... Last night's activity was a formal dinner at which we would discuss and practice good manners and courtesy.
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I set the table with flowers and candles, two forks, two spoons, goblets, the works... We all came dressed in our Sunday best. We had a 4 course meal with soup, salad, raspberry chicken, and chocolate cake. The girls loved it. Granted, they did not eat a lot and I was pushing culinary envelop for 10 year olds by serving minted carrots, but they ate up the whole idea (pun definitely intended).

We practiced eating "American Style" and "European Style", tore our bread before we buttered it, and discussed their favorite topic: boys. I told them how my grandmother grew up on a farm, and ended up with a knighted husband who regularly hosted ambassadors and other sundry VIPs. She had perfect manners and was a perfect hostess. Boy could she throw a dinner party!

I pointed out to the girls that you just never know what will come your way in life, and I did not want them to be the one at the table in the comedy who doesn't know which fork to use and who drinks out of the finger bowl. Parties are way more fun when you are not being humiliated.

After the gate ritual, we piled into the car where I was blamed at least 9 times for "making" them hyper. I didn't get any irate phone calls so I assume the sugar high wore off before bed time.

9 comments:

Amy Lynn said...

Next time you have a meal with such a yummy smorgasbord of foods can I come? I'll take my plate and go hide out somewhere where I can eat with my hands and lick my plate when I'm done. You are wonderful! I don't recall ever once going to a youth activity where I was served mint carrots and drank from a goblet.

It is 2:01 a.m. Are you in bed yet?

Melissa said...

I wish they had had Activity Days when I was a kid. Although I probably wouldn't have had as cool of a leader as you.

Suzie Petunia said...

You never cease to amaze. I wish I could throw a party like you (or at least a Beehive activity, like you!) How lucky those girls are to have you for their leader, personal party planner, Martha Stewart, and Emily Post all rolled into one.

Amy, since when did you start staying up until 2 am so regularly? I thought that was MY bag.

JP said...

Man, you are cool. I think it's safe to say that you ooze coolness...those gals are dang lucky!!

LOVE your activities you plan and love to hear about them...SO FUNNY.

mo said...

Well, all I can say is that it must be all the formal dinners with flowers, candles, goblets, lots of forks and minted carrots that you were served as a child growing up. What other explanation is there for such gentility and class?

Alice said...

Oh to be 10 and sitting at your table… or how about 30 and sitting at your table. I can’t wait for my next visit back to Utah and a dinner party at your house… I’ll provide you with the guest list pronto =).

Christian F said...

I'm with Sarah when it comes to placenta vs. mint carrots and I don't even like mint that much.

Carly said...

Sarah, I am still reeling about the placenta thing....

Carrie Ann, you truly ARE a good leader. When I was Acitvity Days leader, we made paper coupon books for our family members.

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