This year we kept Pearl’s birthday party small…
…but fancy.
Once she said she wanted a tea party— a real tea party, I knew I didn’t want a bunch of plastic tableware. Since my girls happen to love tea, and parties, I figured investing in 15 ceramic tea cups makes sense for us. And the environment.
They came from IKEA so they didn’t break the bank. I made the linens, which I wrote about here.
The chalkboard wall got a birthday update.
Snippets from Alice in Wonderland and tulle tea bags would keep them occupied while the Mad Hatter and friends fetched their tea.
Vivi was the Cheshire Cat (that grin!) And I wore the fluffy hat.
Last but not least, I made some face-in-holes from old cardboard boxes. As you know, I find cut-outs exceedingly entertaining.
After hours of prep(!) we were finally ready for guests.
They came in proper tea attire, of course. Our British friend wore this adorable skirt by Boden.
And the snippets were read! Curiouser and curiouser…
Alice in Wonderland Un-Birthday Tea Party Menu:
- Candy cane green tea
- Hummus and cucumber tea sandwiches
- Peanut butter and jelly tea sandwiches
- Double chocolate kale muffins with “mushroom” frosting
- Baskin Robbins mint chocolate chip ice cream cake
It took an army of us to meet the needs of our little tea-partiers. “Could you please pass the honey?” and “More sugar cubes, please!” were frequent requests. We also had to drop ice cubes in their cups so they didn’t burn their little tongues and provide lemonade for those who were tea-averse. Check out my man waiting on 15 little girls. Piece. Of. Cake.
Speaking of cake, no one turned it down.
One guest even told me the cake and the tea were “green so…. good for ya.” Each tea-partier made the health conscious choice to have both the cupcakes and the cake.
For favors, we put 3 scoops of peppermint hot chocolate in mason jars and dropped in marshmallows. At home, guests just add hot water or milk.
Pearl, aka The Loom Master, also made Rainbow Loom bracelets with “wear me” tags.
I love our neighborhood. These amazing teenagers come over for every birthday party and entertain the kids. The sugar rush was no match for them.
At craft time the kids cut out red hearts and made barrettes and necklaces.
At the end of each birthday party I ask Pearl what her favorite part was. Her answer is always: “The Piñata.”
You could fill that thing with coal (ours had fruit leather and Snackimals) and they would still rush to it. And someone always ends up in a pool of tears. Piñata time is high drama.
You already know what my favorite part was.
Eventually the tea-partiers went home. Wonderland wound down. The Mad Hatter played some tunes and Mama Rabbit put up her paws.
They get so excited about their birthdays, don’t they? Pearl had talked about this for months. Her special day. To be a whole year older. As each party rolls by we can’t believe that she’s already 1, 2, 3… and now 6. And every year my heart breaks.
The UN-birthday theme makes perfect sense… for parents.
I want to make time stop. Make it UN. Make now last forever.
