Our New Year's Tea Party

I really don't like New Year's. At all.  I don't like to be around people, and I don't like staying up late.  I don't even like fireworks or loud noises.  So, it's really saying a lot to say that our New Year's celebration this year was the best ever!  David and I wanted to give our kids an experience gift for Christmas. We figure they really need time with us not more things.  The downside of an experience gift, though, is the price tag, especially for a family of seven!  So, we ended up gifting our kids a home-made tea party. Everyone played a part in the preparations: Mary and Maggie decorated the butterfly cookies; Matthew and Jonathan helped make heart sandwiches; Josiah supervised pretzel making; and David ooed and ahed at the appropriate moments! We got dressed up in fancy clothes, pulled out the fine china, and ate and drank to our belly's delight!  Below are some pictures of the celebration.  The kids enjoyed it so much that they have already requested this be a New Year's tradition, but I don't know...I'm kinda tired...

Everyone is eagerly anticipating the opening prayer!

Placemats made out of wrapping paper and aluminum foil!

The menu!

Pretty placecards illustrating our butterfly-heart theme!

The food: pretzels, heart-shaped ham and cheese sandwiches, grapes and butterfly cookies! 

The centerpiece: twigs with origami butterflies!

Lots of origami butterflies all over the table!

Jonathan is goofy as ever!

Maggie and her beautifully decorated butterfly!

Josiah ate his grapes first!  I would have started with the cookies!

Matthew sat Indian style the whole time!

Mary being such a fine lady!

Pictures of David and me are few and far between.