Serene's mermaid tea party

Serene turns three today, so we kicked off her birthday celebration over the weekend. Five of Serene's favorite friends came over on Saturday for a mermaid tea party featuring chocolate cake - two of Serene's birthday requests. I didn't want to throw a big party but knew she'd love an intimate gathering with a handful of friends. I blew up clear balloons to hang upside down like bubbles over our dining table. Alex drew Serene's favorite mermaid, Ariel, amid sea life on butcher paper, which we tacked onto the dining room wall. On Saturday morning, Alex took Serene to pick up dessert for the tea party. Serene's friends came over while they were gone and painted the drawing in different shades of blue and teal to create under the sea silhouettes. It was a fun activity with which to start the party (also less stress for me because I didn't have to paint it myself). It made the perfect kid-art backdrop for the mermaid tea party. Serene's friends gifted her with a mermaid crown, bracelets, a necklace, and ring, which she donned right away. The fare was super simple (i.e. less stress). The kids had starfish (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches), seashells (mac n' cheese), goldfish (crackers), and pearls (grapes). They cheers'ed all morning with tea (mango passionfruit juice). The littler girls used an unbreakable, kid-sized tea set, which was such a treat for them to pour from on their own. For dessert, Alex picked up bundt cakes from a local bakery, including chocolate per Serene's request. He drew a miniature Ariel silhouette, which I painted light blue and taped onto a toothpick to serve as a cake topper. It was a sweet and simple celebration, and our little girl was so incredibly happy. Thankful for the community we have with which our kids get to grow up.