The Great Birthday Tea Party

Every once in while, something goes really right, and Issa's tea party was really right in every way. The decor...

 

I made teacup cakes:

 The view from the top:

 The tea cup candles were a huge hit, and the cups matched two of the cups on her plates.

The tea party buffet:

 We made build your own tarts:

 The shells were pie crusts cut with flower cookie cutters and baked in muffin tins. The girls then put vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit inside.

Cheddar biscuits and princess punch:

 And a big empty table for the party:

 The big activity was making their own tea party hats:

 Issa was very excited to get everything laid out for her friends:

 We had fabulous flowers, feathers, ribbons, and birds. Let me tell you, there were some fancy hats.

The empty boxes looked very cute around our big tea set:

 The boxes were on standby for the pinata loot.

And most importantly, the birthday girl:

 This is what the girls saw as they entered:

 Please notice the pinata!

As the girls arrived, they set straight to hat making:

 It is very serious business:

 Very fancy:

After the hats were finished, we decided to let them dry while the girls (and Evan) pulled the pinata:

 Thank goodness for Daddy:

 The bottom of the pot ripped off just as planned, but the treats were stuck inside. Oops. He shook everything loose, and only one child got bonked with a bubble ring. The girls found this process hysterical. Somewhere in here I was declared the best mom ever. It made my heart very happy.

Once the loot had been examined and squealed over, the girls had their tea party and opened gifts. It was fun to see how the gifts paralleled the relationships Issa has with each girl. Dance, art, dress up. Very cute.

Then, it was time for cake:

 And then the real highlight. Shelby and Miss Crystal gave Issa a glitter tattoo kit, and Issa decided everyone needed tattoos:

  Miss Steph also stopped by and got drafted into helping:

 And Daddy got conned into participating:

 You have to love a man with a sparkly pink unicorn on his bicep.

The girls ended the party playing dress up upstairs and just being them. It was lovely.

When the party was officially over, those that had to leave did, and Daddy decided that the neighbors should stay for pizza:

We sat at the table in the kitchen and listened to the girls play and laugh in the other room. It was just a purely perfect day. Issa declared it the best birthday party ever, and nothing made me happier than seeing her smile. Happy birthday, sweet girl.