Month: June 2018

The Peter Rabbit Tea Party

Once again, the time came upon us to indulge the children with an afternoon garden party. My mother lives for this type of thing. If you have followed this blog for any length of time, you may remember the Peter Rabbit Tea Party she hosted a few years ago. Looking back at those pictures really got me reminiscing. I can’t believe how much has changed over the years! I’m so thankful my mom and dad take the time to make their grandchildren feel special. Actually, it makes us all feel special. I honestly feel like, for a moment, we are transported back in time to something very nostalgic and meaningful. Simultaneously, I am capturing the present moment; my pre-teen son not wanting to smile for the camera, and my baby’s bandage from a very fresh wound… Oh, it all goes by in a blink. I urge you: take the time to make special memories. Children really are our greatest investment! Okay, okay I’ll stop before I get emotional. On to the party!

Upon arrival, Peter Rabbit himself greeted us and led us toward the party…

Along with Jemima Puddle-Duck (and her basket of eggs; i.e., sidewalk chalk so the kids could jump right into play.)

As well as, other various characters from Beatrix Potter’s classic stories…

And just like that, the mood was set for surprise and delightful anticipation of what lies ahead. Naturally, one would want to dress for such an occasion. Therefore, the ladies and gents alike were given opportunity to adorn themselves before attending the luncheon.

The table was arranged with finger sandwiches and tea cups; which were in reality filled with chocolate milk and juice- since our kids don’t actually prefer tea. There were chocolates, and Peter Rabbit themed party “crackers” filled with prizes. (Hence the crowns…) And, if you know my middle son, you know why it makes complete sense that he was the first child sitting at the table.

Baskets were hung at every seat, which were to be used for an egg hunt. Each child had to find an individual egg brimming with candy and other hard-boiled eggs to be used later for an egg toss.

There was also a fresh fruit option, that I’m not sure any kid tried.

Lemon bunny cake for dessert. (How cute are the carrot forks!)

I think they enjoyed themselves.

It’s a party dah-ling, “too many accessories” does not apply.

Rascals? Nah.

The attention to detail was noticeable everywhere.

Inside, the adults didn’t fare too badly either.

Enough eating… Let the games begin! (And maybe a little butterfly catching if time permits.)

The hunt is on.

When all of the eggs had been found it was time for a little relaxation… and a photo op!

Then the egg toss. This is serious…

But not like “set down your lipgloss” or “use your dominant hand” serious.

However, there were prizes at stake. So the bigger kids had to take a few steps back.

Prize time! Everyone got a little something… But, can someone please tell me how she won?

Next, we were off to the races!

We’re ready.

Nope. Now we’re ready.

Wait a minute. Get back to start, you little cheater.

Ok. Now we’re really ready.

Some people just can’t handle the thought of losing.

And some people have to stop mid-race to get a drink… She wins again!

Next up…

On your mark, get set…

Go!

And the girls win it again!

That was hard work. I think we deserve some cake. Time to spread out our blankets and listen to tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, and Mrs. Puddle-Duck. Not a bad way to end the day.

Actually, the day ended with more food, watching the Peter Rabbit movie and a sleepover.

Thanks for the memories Granny and Gramps. You’re the best.

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Where Does the Time Go?

I was sitting in the corner of the orthodontist’s office this morning while my oldest son received his braces. The orthodontic assistant was kindly making small talk, asking my son what he did over the weekend. “Nothing,” he said in that awkward moment of being polite while his mouth was full of metal dental tools, “just stayed home.”

“Just stayed home?” I thought to myself- trying to remember what we did. Honestly, it feels like we’ve been going non-stop. “What did we do this weekend?” I questioned myself. For a moment I was completely blank. Oh! We worked on the beach yesterday. I weeded for hours, trimmed trees along our path, and we finally burned that stump… I guess we did ‘stay home’ yesterday… but what did we do Saturday? Oh right! It was my daughter’s first ballet recital- I was scrambling all morning with preparation: tights and costume ready; hung upside down for more poof; hair sprayed stiff in a left part/low bun. I also had volunteered to be stage mom without a clue of what I was doing… Then we took her out for ice cream, before we went back to our house to meet up with more family to celebrate my father-in-laws 72nd birthday with pizza and cake. But I knew there was more we had done… Oh yeah, we had a mural (which we had acquired upon purchase of our home- although interesting, not my taste), sanded, skimmed and painted on Friday. I weeded the whole front yard while he was working, mopped the kitchen and living room floor, did several loads of laundry and washed dishes… After he left I picked up the kids from my sister’s house. They had stayed the night because the day before, my mother had thrown them a “Peter Rabbit” inspired garden party. It’s all coming back to me. That’s why I had so many dishes to wash, I had made food for the adults at the party, Magnolia Table’s Curry Chicken Salad and Lemon Bars, Pioneer Woman’s Pretty Fruit Salad and a lemon cake for the children in rabbit molded cake pan. That night my husband, friends, and I played in our co-ed volleyball league. I remember worrying about my son’s teeth because just the day before, Wednesday, he had his spacers put in to prepare for the braces; that was the same day of my daughter’s ballet rehearsal (where “stage moms” weren’t allowed in backstage). My husband had to meet us at the rehearsal to take the boys home because the traffic during his commute was awful. It was chaos- like the night before when we had invited my in-laws over for dinner. Dinner was easy- I highly recommend the slow cooker Korean Beef Tacos from Skinnytaste. I had marinated the ingredients Monday evening and thrown everything in the cooker in the morning, before I took the kids to Costco to load up on our paper goods supplies. But, I had double-booked myself that evening and felt terrible leaving my family, because I had arranged to show our rental house to some friends that are looking to buy a home… Monday I grocery shopped… Sunday was Father’s Day… Saturday was Incredibles II… Friday we kicked off the beginning of summer break with a pool party at my sister’s -and a trip to ER because my youngest son jumped into the pool and crashed heads with my oldest…

And then it occurred to me, in the chair in the corner of that orthodontist office, that this might be the first time I sat down in over a week… Time goes…

Photos of the Summer Kickoff:

And the trip to ER:

Magnolia Table’s Chicken Curry Salad (because I love taking pictures of food).

A glimpse of the yard I weed (my part time job) and you can just catch a view of the pond area at the bottom- it’s a weedy beast. And beach we work on regularly. (Two words: goose poop).

My ballerina after the Performance:

Peter Rabbit Party Pics to come! (When I have more time.) 😉

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