Tea Party Delight

What's better than tea for two? ...tea for two little girls!

I love watching little girls play "ladies" in a real tea room being served delicacies on little plates with hot tea!

We've been to the tea room numerous times but this was a first for my niece and we celebrated her birthday, just girls, together and undistracted.

Ok, so we weren't completely dressed for a tea room visit but it was still good...because they didn't even notice! But, when asked what hat they would like to wear, they swarmed the hat basket to pick out the perfect match. So cute!

Here we had an array of choices. I can't even begin to describe these beauties of food the way our wonderful server described them. She threw in lots of adjectives and careful instructions on what was the best way to eat each of them. Then she left and we just tried it all. Who knew food could be so delightfully rich and tasty? ...well I guess the tea room knew!

Ok girls, go slow, I promise the server will not take all your goodies away until you are finished with them!

I have to say the cucumber sandwiches were a real hit, along with the melon balls with mint, and the biscuits with chocolate spread. My mouth is watering~

And here is what satisfaction looks like! After the tea room visit, we strolled outside the gardens and enjoyed the contentedness of a full belly, good conversation, and relaxed environment. So wonderful! Cherish these moments while your girls still want to be around you!

Pom-Poms, Baby!

Pom-pom city, baby! My daughter is working on her project that she got for Christmas. It's a pom-pom scarf, one for her and one for her doll.

It's an American Girl product that I got at our local Hancock Fabrics Store. It's the cutest thing on earth. Super easy, bright colors, wonderful directions.



We got out the instructions and tape measure. Lots of measuring going on to ensure that each pom-pom is the same size (to begin with anyway).


She got a little excited about the scissors and the shaping, so some pom-poms came out a little smaller than usual. I feel her pain, when I trim...there's one piece and then one more piece, etc.



These are the awesome forms that came with the box. The larger one is for girls size pom-poms and the teeny one is for the doll's pom-poms.

I think the challenge here is not how hard it is to make pom-poms (because they are really easy and sort of fun) but it's the amount of pom-poms needed to make these scarves. So along with the lesson of sewing and crafting is the lesson of patience and diligence. We have to be patient to give all 26 pom-poms the same amount of care and we have to be diligent to do ALL 26 pom-poms. I guess there are hidden lessons inside of everything you do and I want to teach her the joy of finishing the project along with the journey to get there.

Birthday and Parade

The little guy is growing up! He's getting big and strong. He informed me that he was now a tween and that I need to get used to it. It's hard though because I remember when he really thought he was Peter Parker and Spiderman. Boy, those were the days.

To keep him young and spry and continue with the toy theme before it gets weird, we gave him what I thought was a very cool thing.

That's good, bud...read the card first.
Now you can dig in!

The emotions set in.

A LEGO CLOCK/RADIO! I love this! I really think he loved it too, because through the course of the weekend, he kept unplugging it and taking it around the house wherever he was so he could see the time. I wasn't sure if I should tell him that they have invented the watch. Nope, I just smiled at the excitement. I guess I should add a quick side note - my family is completely behind the times on technology...and I love it. I mean, this kid is excited about a clock. It's the first form of technology in his room except for his fan.

After the fun times of the family birthday party (friend party to come this weekend) we had a wonderfully relaxing time watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We watch it every year.

One of the kids seems to remember us "being" there so the annual show must have sunk in.

Playing School

Ah, the joys of playing school. Do you remember acting like your teacher? ...using a pointer to touch the chalkboard? My daughter and I played school last night and she was very good. When she left the room, she made me class monitor (for no one else but me) and I loved it. We did phonics and math and a little bit of manners, including proper tea setting. It must have been a finishing school.

The math was quite difficult.

We didn't start with plus and minus just moved straight to mulitplication. She's working on 0-6 so that was the topic of class.

Little Miss Teacher...

Secret Messages

Who doesn't love the idea of secret messages? I got this wonderful idea from my dear friend, Hannah. She does this with her lovey bug and I thought it was such a great idea, I decided to do it with my kids.




Each of the kids got a blank book in their Easter baskets and since then we have been writing notes to each other. Sometimes we sneak it into school bags or purses and sometimes it gets tossed in the front seat of the car just as they are going to school.

I love that these little ideas are chronicling our everyday lives and positive thoughts to each other. Each of their personalities shine through these pages!

Surprise! ...it's a puppy.

Who wouldn't love this cutie puppy? It was discovered yesterday at the ranch. We have had dogs dropped off in the country for years by people who don't know what to do with them. I've always thought that was a cruel thing to do. At least at the pound they have a chance to survive, but out in the country they are left to fend for themselves and often die of starvation or become prey.

So, here's the fam to the rescue. The kids decided to name her Bethany. My daughter read a school story and just loved the name.
Here's our cat, Kimmie, sizing up the new addition.
So, we have a keeper. She's cute and good natured so far. The kids can't wait to take her back to the remodel house and make her their own. I think she will work out great!

Creative Play

Don't forget the value of Creative Play. My daughter and I played "Bookstore" together where I was the customer and she was the clerk. I loved hearing what she had to say about selling me certain books and how wonderful they were.

Who couldn't play with this little antique register? My son painted it the original red to make it brand new looking! It has a bell that rings when you open it and we decided to use real money. ....just sliding in a good math lesson on correct change.