RUM PUNCH 2 large cans pineapple juice 1 large can frozen orange juice + 1 can water 1 small can frozen lemonade + 1 can water 1 small pkg. strawberry jello 1 cup hot water 1 quart gingerale 1 fifth light rum Dissolve jello in hot water. Add rest of ingredients. Chill thoroughly before serving. (I've used this recipe for years. Everyone wants the recipe.)

If there's enough time before the date, I think I would buy those gallon water jugs and drink the water. Then I would make the sangria and use a new/clean funnel and put it in the gallon jugs. Should work out to be pretty easy. The garnish (chunks of fruit/green apple/oranges) I would store in tupperware and just add to the main container as needed.

Thank you for the thoughtful answers... and Sweeby, for the equally important question! I think I have been going back and forth (at least subconsciously) about who this party is for. DS was a very difficult child in his early years (basically until high school), so we are happy, and relieved!, that he has turned out well! So in part, this party is a celebration of that -- but we would never say to him what we're thinking, which is "We never thought we'd see this day!" But many of the adults in attendance know his story and will appreciate the significance of the day. So I think I am trying to combine the "toast the parents and the kid who have (all) worked so hard to get here" and the "have your friends come too, and celebrate just being done with high school" themes. I didn't even think about having a separate area for the teens, but that is a great idea. I'm trying to keep the party mostly outside, but the teenagers can congregate in the basement. I can put coolers of soda and bowls of chips and stuff down there. I also agree with hhireno that he should be capable of a brief speech to thank people for coming. I'm sure he'd do that. I'm thinking too, instead of the collage, I can put his 'school years' photos in small frames and scatter them around the tables. I think in the end, he'll roll his eyes but let me do what I want w/ the photos.

Oh, she hasn't been yet. Our other cat was a seasoned travellor when we adopted her, she's been down with us several times and loves it. Lex hates riding in the car, and has never been more than 2 miles from our front door (she was born about 2 miles away in one direction and her vet is about 1.5 miles in the other). I'm going to wait until we actually move, and take her down just the one time. Am truly dreading putting her through that. But will be sure there's plenty of her favorite treat on hand when we arrive!