"Mabel, Mabel if you're able, Get your elbows off the table."

Last night was etiquette night for our youth at church. We cooked, we decorated, we set the tables and then they came... All gussied up and ready to learn. Jeff's mom is an expert on what you should or shouldn't do while trying to impress someone at the dinner table, so she came to impress us with her knowledge. (This is a picture of her with her knight in shining armor.) The kids were all on their best behavior and listened really well (they deserve a pat on the back for that.), there was none of the typical ornery teenager attitude displayed.

We tried to make it as difficult as possible for them to eat. We served soup with lots of ingredients that aren't appreciated until one starts to wear their big girl (or boy) panties. Then we served a salad with lots of cherry tomatoes, red onions and chunky pieces of lettuce in it. They were successful! The main course was bone-in chicken that was Shake-N-Baked (sorry Mama Belle, we just don't quite know how to make REAL Southern Fried chicken here yet), Fettuccine Alfredo and a dinner roll. Finally, the dessert. Brownies with ice cream and whipped cream, caramel and chocolate drizzle and a cherry on top! Holy crap, am I glad that night is over!

Now there's no excuse for the kid who claims to be the human suction machine at the dinner table. Or for the girl who never can seem to close her mouth long enough to chew that last bite of cookie. Yep, we're all manner-ified now and I'm purdy darn proud of those kids! Mostly I'm proud that they were game enough to play along and do everything that Jeff's mom asked them to do. So thanks, Jeff's mom! And thanks, teenagers! It was a great night. (But I'm super excited that I don't have to cook for 30 people again today!)