Girls Outside in Hats

Food for a tea party

Tiny sandwiches: An array of finger sandwiches served as a lovely "grown-up" treat for the girls. "My daughter and I used mini-cookie cutters shaped like flowers, teapots, butterflies and hearts. We used cream cheese and watercress, store-bought chicken, tuna, and pimiento cheese salads on wheat and white bread.

Lemonade for the "tea:" We served the 'tea,' which was actually pink lemonade, from a tea pot. (Pictured at left: Hope Duke, in a blue dress and white gloves, at her 8th birthday tea party. The girls decorated their hats and posed for pictures in the family's backyard before going inside to enjoy their elegant party.)

Keys to the tea party's success:

"Once we seated the girls at the table and served the 'tea,' we left them alone. We checked in every so often to top off the drinks or refill platters. We were pleasantly surprised to see how carefully the girls ate, and how well-mannered and well-behaved they were (even the ones who normally fidget!). The girls truly loved the tea. They took time to enjoy the sandwiches and desserts, and more important, their friends.

"Looking back on this tea party, there are so many more ideas I could have used," says Shanee. "I could have made the party so much more 'fru-fru.' But I'm glad I didn't. The décor was grown-up enough to command wonderfully grown-up behavior from the girls. They had the fun of creating their own party favors and hats, and enjoying foods they liked."

When people ask Shanee if she would do it again, she thinks back nostalgically. "Actually, I don't know that the same magic could be captured now that the girls are older. But I wouldn't hesitate to create a party for 8- to 10-year-old girls using the same tea party theme," she maintains. "It was wonderful."

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