HELP! I need to prepare a beef dinner in advance.......

[LoveMyGirls]

I'm ok ish at cooking (i think)

I have put a joint of beef in the slow cooker with some stock (a cube and some water)

so i want to serve dinner at 5pm but have a meeting with a parent and her 6mth old plus my own children (ages 1 and 7) she is arriving and 3.30 and may still be here when i serve dinner, so spending a lot of time in the kitchen is impossible so i want to get it all done in advance so at 5pm i can produce a gorgeous beef dinner without breaking a sweat.

The plan so far.......
beef in slow cooker
potatoes, carrots, cabbage and peas in steamer
yorkshires and gravy last minute
not doing roast pots as too complicated.

This is where you come in......
what time should i put everything in the steamer? can i put it all in at the same time, i.e before i do the school run say 3pm also my dp doesnt get home from work until later, can i save it? do i plate it up and leave in the oven on low or will it go dry? if so how do i stop it going dry?

i know these are silly questions but normally i cook and then we eat but doing dinner from scrath twice a day is beggining to bug me now especially as i get up at 6 and start my working day at 7am........by 7pm i want to be sat down doing nothing not cooking and cleaning up again fgs.

So please HELP!

scratch * (and im no delia smith, when i say scratch i mean a bit of fresh mixed with stuff from tins, jars, frozen etc)

Put the carrots, cabbage and peas(along with some onions, garlic, herbs and a splash of red wine) in with the beef 15/20 minutes before it has finished cooking and make mash to go with it in advance and that can be heated up in the microwave just before you serve it.

Actually no put the carrots onions, herbs and garlic and wine at the beginning and add the rest of the veg 20 minutes before it is ready.

(i'm going to sound dumb here i know but) should i be giving a 16mth old red wine, even if it is in their dinner?

i dont have any herbs or garlic in either