For Avery's birthday my friend Allison bought us tickets to Belle's Tea Party, which was at the local youth theater. I told her about it about a week before we went, and she was looking forward to it all week.
Well, today was the big day. We started by getting dressed in a beautiful white princess dress (thanks to our neighbor Gracie for letting us borrow it and bringing me to the realization that four-year-old girls need a bin of dress-up clothes). We went and picked up Allison and Maddie and were off to our date. We showed up and a woman was dressed up in a beautiful dress and introduced herself as Mother Nature. We were escorted into the main room and there were several tables set up and decorated beautifully with white table clothes, napkins, a centerpiece and party favors. We also had scones and strawberries and lemonade waiting for us and a cupcake with a sparking candle was delivered after our brunch.
We were served by big forks and dishes from Beauty and the Beast and Mother Nature began to introduce all the princesses as they came out one by one. As they did, they formed a big line all the way around the room. Music began playing and they all went around the room in a circle singing Be Our Guest, and invited the little girls to get up and dance with them. I was shocked to see that Avery wanted nothing to do with it- she was so shy! Eventually I made my way with her toward Ariel (the Little Mermaid which is Avery's favorite) and all three of us danced together. Avery warmed up to her and let her lead her to the next room where they were going to get to meet everyone one by one.
All the princesses, princes and other characters were sitting up on a stage and the little girls were sitting in front of it. Then the director announced that it was someone's birthday and had Avery come up on stage. She sat in the middle of all these characters like a little bean and let everyone in the room sing happy birthday to her!
After that all the characters found children to dance with, and Ariel went straight for Avery because she knew she'd feel more comfortable with her. They learned a little dance, and it was so heartwarming to see Avery twirling with her favorite princess.
Then it was time for all the girls to meet the princesses and princes. They had little coloring books that served as autograph books and they went around to have them signed.
Snow White
Cinderella
And Prince Charming trying the glass slipper on Avery
Ariel and Belle
It was such a fantastic morning, and I'm so grateful to Allison for giving Avery such a creative wonderful gift. I know she'll remember it for a really long time.
Christmas Eve we made fudge and left it out for Santa with a glass of milk. Of course, we left carrots for the reindeer because they get hungry too. The next morning we all woke up and went downstairs to find the tree surrounded by gifts. Being on a budget certainly did not stop us from being creative and receiving gifts from friends and family. Each of the kids got a scooter, Avery got tons of dolls and Asher tons of cars. His favorite gift was a remote-controlled airplane from Granny that he chased all of us around with. One of Avery's favorite gifts was a roll of masking tape. That is what she asked Santa for, and apparently she knew what she wanted. She spent all day folding bits of paper and taping them together as letters and maps to her friends. It was snowing that morning, so we all awoke to a truly white Christmas.
The day before grandma left we all went to the Olive Garden for dinner. It was an absolutely wonderful dinner and I had a good time (sometimes that's a little iffy with the kids).
Before dinner:
Here, Avery is spending time with Nana, who gave her a dollar for letting her stay in her room through her stay (incidentally, Avery LOVED sleeping on the floor in our room).
