The kids knew that we were planning on a tea party in the afternoon, so as I worked on something else, two of them set the table with a blue cloth and prepared the treats. They artistically arranged Girl Scout cookies, Trader Joe’s Oreo-style cookies, truffles, and Andes mints on plates and pulled silk flowers out of the storage cabinet for a centerpiece.
The small white pot with flowers was filled with milk for the younger kids (we ran out of apple juice, which is, in our opinion, the ideal tea-substitute). For the one young tea-drinker in the family and me, they brewed a pot of PG Tips, currently my favorite black tea (a British import available at our Kroger grocery store–a little pricey, but imo, it’s worth it).Over the years, my mom has located these gorgeous Royal Albert teacups in the birthday months of the kids:
October’s flower is cosmos.
Boy, is that out of focus. Well, December is decorated with holly and a Christmas rose.
April’s flower: sweet peas. And the owner of the April cup is a sweet pea.We had a lovely tea, complete with British accents, slow sipping, and gentle reminders not to talk when one is crunching a Thin Mint. We also discovered that the Trader Joe’s version of an Oreo cookie, along with a truffle or two, turns one’s teeth black like soot.A lovely effect for a tea party.A bit like the Addams family, perhaps?Too bad I didn’t get a picture.(Then again, maybe it’s just as well.)
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Those teacups in your children’s birth-months are a beautiful tradition. I wish I had thought of that when my children were still young enough to appreciate it- somehow I don’t think my almost 16 year old son would buy into it right now!
I’ll file that away for the (distant!) future when I have grandchildren…
How wonderful! What a beautiful table full of memories your children will carry with them forever!
My mother-in-law has found these teacups for our family as well. I believe that she is only getting them for the girls, and she is still holding on to the one for my youngest–only 3. We have May-with lovely Lily of the Valley (mine) and July-with sweet Forget-Me-Nots, the same blue as my middle daughter’s eyes. I can’t wait to see what September’s brings to my china hutch! I do have to say, that I think my oldest, a son, is glad to be left out of the tradition…
As for tea parties, well, I leave that to my husband’s mom. I’d rather pull out the paints, head to a museum, or go play at a park.
I’m not surprised the girls did a good job–they’ve been putting tea parties together since they were tiny!
LeeAnn: I think you’re right–16 and male is not the ideal time or gender to introduce floral teacups.
Alana: You’re so sweet! They did it just for the fun, not fame, and yet I think the girls were also delighted to see their handiwork on the World Wide Web.
Jeannette: I like forget-me-nots, but I’m March. Royal Albert painted an “Anemone” for that month. “Anemone.” Try saying that three times fast! Also, I like your alternative fun outings. Today was a doodle day at our house. We love art.
Lynn: You know we aren’t fancy about it, but we love tea and cookies. Who doesn’t?
What a lovely idea! and what a lovely way to spend a Monday afternoon. I love that you use the fancy cups and saucers and I love the beutiful job your daughters did in decorating the table.
I read your Monday Fun Day posts and am always impressed. If I wasn’t so Hum-Drum I might be able to think of to add to the mix. Thanks for the ideas. Maybe if I get started now, I can think of something for next week :O)
How fun! And what a nice job they did arranging everything for the tea.
It looks like you had a lovely time. Thanks for sharing!
It is good to introduce kids to a great english tea like PG Tips. Try PG Tips Special Blend if you can. It is a really good cup of tea.
Observed your web blog via yahoo the other day and absolutely enjoy it. Keep up the fantastic work.