A Full Birthday Celebration

We decided to have a Tea Party Birthday Party for #4's 5th birthday this year. I thought it would be fun for the kids to decorate their own tea party bonnets and purses. Then we accessorized: pearls and feather boas. The girls learned the proper way to curtsy and how to drink from out tea cup (pinky out). And then her brothers and my godson served their lunch with finger foods. My grandmother used to make these rolled up sandwiches for showers and receptions when I was growing up, so I thought they'd be fun for this party. Unfortunately I could not find a bakery to color the bread and make the long square loaves my grandma used to use. But luckily my aunt and uncle who own a Great Harvest came to my rescue and were able to provide some custom cut bread for me to use. For their tea (a number of the girls told me that "we can't drink tea"), I had hot chocolate and when we asked how many lumps they wanted, we meant how many marshmallows. And I made individual cakes with the first letter of their name atop. The girls had a lot of fun! Phew!

Food

 

  Friends

Decorating fun

 Etiquette training

Eating and presents

More than half of the girls stayed after the party and played the rest of the afternoon at our home. My niece came up with a play for all the girls to perform for us. And then they played beauty shop with my niece painting nails, and my goddaughters using the vanity they gave #4 for her birthday.

 The after party

And the celebrating didn't stop there. For her birthday present, Mr Dreamy took her to a Daddy Daughter Dance. They got to ride in a limosine, enjoy dinner and dancing (Mr Dreamy even competed in a dance off!)

 
She slept well that night. 

And then on her birthday, I woke up really sick, so daddy made her special (family tradition) breakfast in bed. She chose waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. And then she got to hang out with sick me in the morning until I felt like going into work, so I put a #5 in her hair and we brought a candy gram to her daycare (since they would accept homemade treats. i just couldn't buy cupcakes... boring.

Oh, Romeo

#3 has caught the acting bug. It's pretty contagious in our home, since his two older brothers already caught it. His first role, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Why not start big? He memorized his lines super quick. And I was impressed home much he understood of the dialogue. I got to go in for two days to help out the class with their staging and giving them tips for their performances, which was pretty great. There are some really characters in his class. I had a lot of fun with them. Here's some pictures and videos if you want to see him at work. Mind you, this is fourth grade, and the stage was built in their classroom - needless to say, the actors aren't miked. Listen closely. Yes, both are "killing" scenes.

 

 

Mr Dreamy and  I caught their final performance

And the family caught the opening performance (my mother was in town as well, so was able to attend)

Soccer

#3 and #4 are now enrolled in sports near our house. #3 has been asking to get into soccer, and you know I can't oppose that request. He's really enjoying it.

And #4 is in a sports class, where she'll learn a few sports. They spend two weeks on each activity.  Right now, soccer.

The kids have the same coach (a really awesome neighbor who provides non-weekend sports for kids. I love it.) This is the pose required in all levels to show you are listening and ready.

And trying to dribble the ball.