Tea for a Three...

 The Owlet turned three with a tea party.  Her parents and grands collaborated to plan, shop, decorate, and prepare food and beverages. A gaggle of small children came with their mamas to help celebrate. Aunt Dovie gifted sweet little ceramic cups for the guests to enjoy and take home as party favors. 

Rachel made her signature three-layer chocolate stout cake with chocolate ganache. It was topped with a delightful vintage "Happy Birthday" topper that we discovered this summer at an antique show. 

The cake was as delicious as it was lovely. 

We had tea sandwiches, of course. Peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and jam, tiny pigs in blankets, a beautiful fruit bowl, hot buttered popcorn, cheese and crackers, and more. The children were all delightfully well-behaved. They played in the bounce house, giggling and gleeful. They played in the studio with all the toys. They snacked. They painted kid-sized canvas bags to take home as a remembrance. 

And then we all went out to meet the goats. 

The children boldly climbed on Billy Goat Gruff Bridge, and the goats joined them, enjoying little hands stroking them. Then the Owlet pointed to my big, contractor-sized wheelbarrow. "How about that?" she asked. We piled a few kids in, and Evans and Rachel pushed them around the pasture as fast as they could run. They all seemed to enjoy the bumpy ride, especially the baby Cygnet, who had a face-splitting grin the entire time. 

The Owlet enjoyed her special day from start to finish, from helium balloons ("boons!") to friends, cake, and gifts. She will rock this three-nager stage. I can hardly wait to see her grow and blossom.