Tea with Memaw

Mother's Day this year was spent on a trip to Minnesota to see Dan's sister Jewel graduate from Northwestern College (not my alma mater, a different NWC).  It was a busy, but exciting trip filled with lots of great family time as some of Dan's extended family made the trip as well.  And while it was wonderful to actually be with several of the dearest "mom's" in Dan's life (and now mine) on Mother's Day, that time was really only gathered around the contintental breakfast table at our hotel before they all headed to the airport.  Sweet time, but rather rushed.  So as I anticipated that, I wanted to do something a little more meaningful for Dan's mom, our dear Memaw, blessing her for all of the wonderful things she does for us. 

And so...we had a tea party :)



I had so much fun putting this together!  I was given a tea set as a wedding gift and have rarely gotten to use it, so this was the perfect opportunity to dust it off.  My Grandma Ann has also given me several BEAUTIFUL serving pieces, including that silver tea set you see above and some pieces of crystal scattered across the table -- it was wonderful to get to use these and I felt a bit like Grandma was a part of it, too.  Plus, a dear friend here loaned me several additional pieces (like that stand above) that finished everything off nicely.  So fun :)

 Aunt Katee got to attend the party as well!  It was so fun to spend some time with her before she heads off on her next big adventure to South Carolina for the summer.  She's such a wonderful auntie!

Every good tea party needs some floppy hats!  Even Ellie joined the party for awhile -- although she mostly enjoyed puffs and milk.

Dan picked the wildflowers out of our backyard.  They were perfect, don't you think?

I hardly know how to describe to you the excitement of this little girl throwing a tea party for her beloved Memaw.  I tried to involve her in the process as much as possible -- she was the perfect little hostess!  She made the decorations, helped me bake, cleaned up her toys and even helped set the table.  

Can you feel the excitement?!

I also let her be a big girl for the party and use the real stuff instead of her plastic-ware.  Oh man, did she ever think she was a big girl!

She was all business, adding as much honey/sugar/cream/sweetner/etc. to her tea as she could manage...

...then carefully stirring after each addition.  She never took a sip, but she certainly enjoyed it :)

We had a wonderful time putting this together for Memaw, and I think she enjoyed herself.  Caroline informed me as we were cleaning up that we needed to have another tea party for Daddy "the day after Saturday".  Yes my dear, that would be fun :)  Happy [very belated] Mother's Day, Memaw!  We love you!