You Say it's Your Birthday?

Someone recently had a Birthday. I'll give you a hint: Her name starts with 'A', she loves tea and bossing her little sister around. Have you figured it out yet?

She used to look like this:

This was the year we decided to splurge and take the whole Gamelin family to Audrey's favorite place in the world (aside from Claire's in the Mall). But before we packed all and sundry into the Horne's 15-passenger van and headed for the Oregon Coast, we had a small birthday tea party for the Audrey girl. (also recently known as Audrah, Audee or Aud-0. Who says there are no nicknames for Audrey's?)

Preparing for this party was a lot of fun for me. It was so small that there was relatively little stress involved, especially since it was just the precursor to the big shebang at the Ocean. Audrey picked out the flavor of the scones and teas that we had and also helped pick out the pettit fours at Kelley's bakery. It was nice to have some input for the first time on what kind of party she wanted.

Grandma and Grandpa G, Uncle Joe and Auntie Em had all made it into town the day before so after a morning of playing with Audrey-and-Bailey-deprived relatives, we put the girls down for their naps and decorated for the tea party. Grandma and Grandpa G also set up an incredible hand-made playhouse that Grandma G has apparently spent countless hours working on. The thing is the Sistine chapel of playhouses; it has a door, two windows (one stained-glass) with flowers in the window box that can be 'picked', a white picket fence, two dogs, a cat, and several partridges in a pear...er, apple tree. Anyone who was currently underestimating the ambitions of the Gamelin women may now slap themselves in the face.

Audrey (and more notably, Bailey) loved it. It even has a mailbox, so feel free to start a correspondence with Audrey. As an added incentive, she always includes stickers in her letters.

The actual tea party was wonderful. We decorated with lanterns and scattered ribbons, buttons and silk flowers. We also covered all the food on the table until it was time for the big reveal and I cannot tell you how cute it is to hear a 3 year-old squealing "Scones!! Croissants! Pettit Fours!!!" with delight. I love that she knows what all of those are without being told. I've succeeded in some measure as a parent then, right?

Mostly, it was just nice to be able to celebrate such a fun day with cherished family. As we were sitting down to dinner later that night Audrey turned to me and said in her best big-girl voice: "Mama, that was a lovely tea party." Be still my heart. I love that girl.