Winter Tea Party

After a few very nice January days outdoors for walks and ball games we found ourselves “stuck” indoors once again out of the freezing cold rain.  We spent the later morning hours mixing up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, the three of us donning our aprons and letting tray after tray of them cool on wire racks in preparation for our afternoon “tea party”.  Sometimes our impromptu tea parties consist of water only but not this day.  We needed some fun and just as the first fat flakes of snow came tumbling down outside of our windows turning the bushes and trees into great clouds of cotton candy we were ready for the festivities.

The children each brought a baby, we spread out a blanket on the floor of the living room, turned on a little soft classical and Kaitlyn brought out her tea set.  After a brief discussion about being polite as well as gentle we got down to the business of having fun.

There was a tiny pitcher of cream, a sugar bowl with a teeny tiny spoon and a pot of apple cinnamon herbal tea.  I don’t know if people usually put those things in tea but my kids really like to add these.

Curiosity got the better of Sandy and we found ourselves with another guest at our tea party as we giggled.

Sandy thought it was very sweet of the children to set up a place for her too!

Kaitlyn showed Nathan how to be very careful and gentle with the tea set.  She is a good big sister to him.

Kaitlyn did not forget to share with her baby.  Nathan LOVED spooning sugar into his cup.

They used polite words with each other as they passed and shared.

All too soon the tea party was cleared away and Sandy seemed a little disappointed as she sat on the sidelines.  Kaitlyn washes each piece carefully by hand and sets them out to dry before tucking the set back in her basket again.  The children had lots of fun as they had practiced some important life skills.  Fleeting childhood at its best.

Kaitlyn’s Grandfather recently asked her if she was going to be a doctor when she grew up.  She thought a moment and then said “Hmmm!  No… I think I’m going to be a Mommy when I grow up”.