Cookout in Shafferland

Ryan and I both really love to entertain, but these past...well...eight months of marriage...have been SO crazy busy that we have barely had time to feed ourselves, let alone have anyone over! So last Sunday, we invited the first round of family over for a cookout!

The day was GORGEOUS, so we were able to eat out in our pirogi, which was SO much fun.

We set up the long table and used our new dishes we got for our wedding...along with some fun polka dot napkins, held down by the silverware. :)

 Ryan did the grilling honors - burgers and brats for us!!

 We set up a little buffet table in the pirogi with all the food on it - and I'm not gonna lie - it was some mighty good food.

 The veggie tray...green peppers and onions, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles.

 Brats, burgers, and buns. {My first time to have a brat. Ever. Can you believe that?}

 And at Ryan's request - a batch of broccoli salad and macaroni and cheese. They were yummy! {Ryan was landscaping while I cooked on Saturday...so I had to chop the broccoli myself. That is usually his job and I'd forgotten how much I hate to chop. I'll be glad to welcome him back to that!}

 And for dessert....peanut butter chocolate bars, which were perfectly soft and delicious!

 We sat around the table forever, talking, telling stories, laughing, picking on one another - it was truly lovely. And before everyone left, of course, I had to take pictures.

Let me tell you the perils of photographing my mother. You begin a pose, and as you're snapping the photo, she begins to state directions. {Don't get below the waist...only one chin...are you done yet?...That sort of thing.} This results in a photo of her talking.

Which, of course, results in a do-over.

I had everything all set and her mouth was shut and it was perfect...until I pressed the shutter and she said, "Why did you move the camera down?"

Which led to a talking photo and my Dad's heavy sigh.

Take two.

This photo was of Mom with her head down, laughing so hard, with her hand up for me to not take another picture.

Which, of course, I did.

Finally...this take. Not the best, but I knew I wasn't going to convince them for a fourth try.

 My in-laws are MUCH more cooperative in the photo department. :)

 And since my mother-in-law was there to take a photo...we had one taken too!

It was such a beautiful day...I enjoyed it so much. Loved it that our families get along so well together, that all the food turned out well {whew!} and that the day was so gorgeous! Looking forward to having more family over soon!!