Our communions were 10 am!!! When Amy made her communion there were 5 classes of second graders so they split them up and had one at 10am and one at 1 pm. We scored the early one. I used the crock pot for the Italian Pork as well as the wedding soup. Just set them to low when we left. We also had all the coolers filled...folks were more thirsty than humgry and for those who weren't comfortable with the whole church experience-we had wine chilled and ready to go. I rounded out the meals with salads, shrimp cocktail, antipasta and nuts. The dessert was always the obigatory sheet cake along with the childs fave dessert. For take away gift or "party favors" I had the kids make little prayer cards on the computer which I had laminated. I placed each card in a white cello bad with a wrapped homemade muffin and 2 tea bags and some white peppermint sticks. It was meant to be a little snack after you went home. The only other advice I could give is to not fuss too much over the the whole getting ready thing. If the hair doesn't go just right don't fret. Also consider going to a portrait studio a few days later for photos. The girls will be more relaxed....you'll be more relaxed and you'll end up with beautiful pics. Just remember with all things of faith, bring your own props!! Sears studio doesn't have bibles and rosarys laying around LOL!! Congrats! Susie

Is this their first apartment together, or is she moving in with him into his apartment? Guess it doesn't really matter, as I wouldn't go at all, nor would I send a gift. I don't care that I'd seem to be an 'old fogie'...the mother is of our generation for cryin' out loud!! It's in very bad form. I worked in a very small, tight-knit group and one of the support staff was pregnant with her 3rd child. Our section threw her a shower at work and invited other divisions to attend also. A few people got her nice outfits, but no one got her the new car seat, crib, stroller, bedding, etc that had been 'suggested'. In fact, the majority of the people who actually attended didn't bring anything. And fewer than a dozen people came by anyway. It didn't make things weird around the office and she didn't act put out by the lack of gifts or attendance. She seemed to be happier that her closest co-worker threw the party more than anything else. So, bottom line, I wouldn't attend this event, even if you did say yes at the initial email. Simply say something has come up (you have to give yourself a pedicure, that is something!!) and say have a good time. No gift, no apologies, no hard feelings. Her few brainless buddies (and mama) will attend and she'll get a few ridiculous gifts and be over it. Save your guilty conscience for the wedding. (insert sarcasm here!)

What a sweet place you have Moni. I like it and I hope it makes you happy. You are so lucky to have your sister there to help you out. Nothing does a big job better than two friends doing it together.

I was wondering why you didn't use your Ooni until I realized you were in LA not CC. We always parbake our crusts when using the Ooni because it makes them easier to launch in our narrow 12" Ooni. Those pizzas need some meat ;-) Cases are trending up pretty quickly in much of the country. The next county over from us has one of the highest number of cases per 100K in the country at 232. My county is at 30 per. We are supposed to start going back to the office 2 days a week in June. That may get postponed if cases keep trending up. I hope you and Kevin manage to not catch it!