Tea Party--Not a Political Statement

This past Wednesday, my daughter asked if I could keep Kate because Noah was having a friend over to play. Noah seemed to think that Kate might interfere with his fun day. Since that was also Kara's nap time, she came as well. The girls and I had a yummy lunch of macaroni and cheese, PB&J, and strawberries! It was then time to put Kara down for a nap. For a while all was quiet.

I have been promising Kate a Tea Party for a while. I had told her that when she was born and I held her for the first time, I had told her that we would have Tea Parties. I have wished several times that I hadn't told her that, because I always think I have to do things up big, and was dreading the whole thing. I had visions of making scrapbook invites, finding "dress up" clothes, making cupcakes, cleaning house, decorating, well OK, can you say PERFECTIONIST! I was trying to think of something fun for us to do and Lindsay suggested making cookies and letting her frost and sprinkle them. That sounds fun--well the "frosting and sprinkle" part did. I had had a busy week and was REALLY tired. So--Vanilla Wafers--here we come!

It's amazing what can make a four year old happy! I decided that if I just bought some Sprite (a special treat) and used tea cups, we could turn this thing into an instant tea party! She was so surprised when I put Kara down for a nap and I told her we were going to have a Tea Party. She had a blast putting canned frosting on the vanilla wafers, using pink sugar and pink sprinkles, and licking the spoon--the BEST part. She is so sweet. She made cookies for her neighbors--an older couple that live right next door--and for every person in her family. I let her drink out of my best tea cups, and we "crossed our legs like ladies". Then she informed me that to have a tea party, we needed tea--and a tea pot. I have lots of tea pots, but since this was a spur of the moment, fly by the seat of your pants tea party, I hadn't thought that far. I assured her that next time we would have real tea and a tea pot.

Meanwhile. I don't think Kara ever went to sleep. I kept hearing her calling my name and "talking". She didn't get loud, so I just let her be--who wants a 2 year old and frosting in the same room? Kate and I moved on to the Play Dough and when Kara started getting louder, I decided that I should go get her. I opened the door and instantly thought--frosting and a 2 year old in the same room really isn't that bad. She was standing in the crib with her diaper off and there was brown stuff--ALL OVER MY WALL!! I yelled K A R A J O Y C E!!!!
She instantly squatted down and didn't move--her body or her head. I went to get paper towels to start the clean up, and when I came back she hadn't moved a muscle. I started wiping the walls, and decided I really should deal with her first. So I took her out of the crib, holding her under her arms. I was saying, "I am NOT happy with you right now." She still had a dazed look on her face. About that time Lindsay and Noah walk in the door. She knew something was wrong because Kate was in the front room looking TERRIFIED. She has NEVER heard me yell like that! Poor baby was scared to death! We finally got the mess cleaned up, and Kara was still a little unsure of where she stood with me. We finally kissed and made up. Now she goes around saying, "Mimi, NO NO, Mimi, NO NO!

I hope that Kate remembers the fun that she had at the Tea Party.