I agree with the other posters. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you know why more people don't try to give 2 parties in the same day! Basically, you set yourself up for 10 solid hours (plus pre-2:00 prep) of hosting, clean-up, re-set-up, and hosting again. Who could do their best with that kind of challenge? In addition, even though you are experienced hosts, I think you took on quite a bit here -- entertaining 75 people, including clean up and set up in between, without any paid help -- well, I am sure you must have been exhausted; who wouldn't be? And when you are that tired, it is indeed a big deal to have people stay late. If you had only one party, with either a smaller number or some sort of help, I bet it wouldn't have seemed so overwhelming when people stayed late. I am not sure why you are so outraged that people arrived at 2:00 for a 2:00 party. I agree it's nice to give the guests a little cushion and come a few minutes late, but you really can't get mad or be surprised if someone arrives on the dot. Sometimes people have to leave early because of another commitment, so they come as early as they can. (I've had people show up 30-60 minutes EARLY -- how would you like that? Once I was just getting into the shower!) I also don't understand this at all: "Almost everyone else showed up between 3:30 and 4:30 (the event was supposed to end at 5:30)." What is wrong with that? You said it was an "'Open House' from 2 - 5." My confusion isn't whether it was 5 or 5:30, it's that I don't understand what is wrong with coming between 3:30 and 4:30 for a 2-5 (or 5:30) open house -- isn't the whole idea that people come and go within the time frame? 2:00 is too early, 3:30 is too late -- and this is "laid back"? Regarding people staying late for the evening party -- well, they were having fun, so good for you! It must have been a good party. But here again, I don't understand a few things. First you don't seem to like it that many guests didn't come until 10 -- but you didn't plan to feed them dinner (and evidently were clear about that on th invitation), so perhaps they went out to dinner first or something. People come on time for a dinner party, but they don't feel they must be there at the very beginning for a munchies "shindig" -- four hours seems like a lot for that. Regarding staying past midnight: few adult parties (other than open houses; see above) set end times. Even if you'd put it on the invitation, I bet some didn't remember or even notice it. I also don't understand why you were surprised or resentful that you were in the kitchen: you invited a LOT of people to your home, and you started running low on food, so you did what any good host does: you got something for them to eat. If that happens again, spare yourself the work while your guests are there, and order a few pizzas. But as Lindac says: the most important thing is whether your guests had a great time. And it sounds like they did!

My last name is ''Large'', just like the size. I try sometimes to pronounce it ''Large-a'' long A sound, but it isn't french, it is just stupid. I tried to make my hubby take my last name, but he wasn't having it. My ob/gyn is a nice woman named dr. cave, my foot doctor is a nice man named dr. handcock, and I had a former employee who married a man with the last name of ''head'', his first name was Richard, so you know his nickname. No joke. One friend of mine had the last name of ''Bugg'', and another co-worker of mine is ''Small''.

I do have a watchdog. :) She's Teddy The Wonder Dog and she can use her laser-eyes to vaporize bad guys. At night, you can see the laser-eyes real good (as shown in photo above). However, she was IN the car with me when I pulled into the driveway Friday afternoon. She did snarl and growl at the unidentified stranger in my back yard, so kudos to Teddy for that. Here's a picture of Teddy The Wonder Dog during daylight hours. She is a good little dog, but not too intimidating during the day. But she's a good barker and I think she'll be a good watch dog.

@shelayne he's darn lucky he's so cute because otherwise he might not have made it this far! ;) @raee the cabinet was rather tricky for my builder and took a bit of finagling, so I feel fortunate that it worked out as well as it did. It's not something I would have felt comfortable trying to do myself! But then again, I'm a chicken too :)