Tea Party Under the Tree

With the invitation I sent along a CD of the song "Tea Party Under the Tree"



The Set up


Painted by Anna







I attempted to have the most spectacular little girls birthday party. 







It all started when I heard this song.  (oh go ahead, play it, it's so good) And I fell in love with it.  I dreamed big on this one.  Living room curtains moved outside hanging from the trees, tissue paper blooms blowing the in wind.  Real tea cups and saucers, lovely background music, dozens of roses, punch bowls, and silver tea sets to serve, and my little girl twirling her way through this happy day.  But as we all know those birthday parties never quite go just as you picture.  This one was better.  Better than I pictured because all I pictured were the decorations and the outdoor tea room.  I'd forgotten the magic... fourteen little girls.  They made the party.  Their giggles, their smiles, their loving on Abigail.  Oh to watch those Kindergartners, I was loving it. 

This was Abigail 10 minutes before the first guest arrived... I put her down for a nap and she was asleep in a second.  I didn't know then but I could tell 'something was up.' The next morning she woke up with a fever. 


Seeing the set up for the first time


















Party Favors ~ the girls took home their tea cups and these cute bags with Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime "Goodnight Grape" tea and some other assorted girly things. 






Gosh ~ someone straighten that tea cup :)




And so when the clouds rolled in, the temps dropped and the wind picked up I was tempted to be bummed but all that happiness was no match for the sun hiding.  So I ran in for sweaters to cover those girls and off they ran for more tea party fun.

Their were pinkies raised, tea cups sipped on, impeccable manners, (a tea party will do that... bring out the best in a little girl) and quiet munching.







They wore the hats they made

My Mom came... can't have a tea party without her.  And she was a huge help from tying hats to nursing cut knees and serving food. 










and played dress up under the tree. 









They hunted for tea bags and wore pearls. 



Our game basically like and Easter egg hunt ~ we hid 100 tea bags all over the back yard and they each got a string of  'pearls' as their prize.


Oh yes, they ran and were silly like only five and six year olds can do





but when they entered the Treehouse Tea Room they were serious. 















It was as if they didn't know they were outside.  My favorite quote of the day, "may I walk around and eat my cookie since the other girls are done?"  "Yes, darling, you're outside, we're not worried about crumbs." 



I'm convinced that they thought they were in a lovely tea room away from the world.  Now that was awesome. 

I read stories of tea parties on a rose rug as only the teacher in me could.  They raised their hands and had the most delightful faces.  I wore a big floppy tea party hat that you just can't get away with anywhere but a tea party.







Oh yes, it was a spectacular birthday party but not because of the dreams I dreamed for it, the shopping I adventured for it, or the work that Scott and his ladder put into it.  It was those little girls in my backyard and my one and only tea party princess who I love with my whole heart. 



It was a tea party under the tree and I'll lock it away and have it forever.  Just another happy memory. 



I guess this makes it official ~ she's 6!






Too windy to keep the candle let so she basically blew out the match ~ don't worry their was a cake with the grandparents later that night... inside.










Reading her birthday cards ~ priceless




And so sweet girl, we start out sixth year with you.  I could pinch myself just thinking that I get to spend my whole life loving you.





Cake later that night with the grandparents






 You truly are the happiest girl I know.  I love you.