This year, instead of those lovely super mini-cupcakes baked in wax-paper ketchup cups, I was initially going for tiny fruit cups... with our budget-friendly Mother-Daughter Christmas Tea Party, I always shy away from the wonderfully delicious fruit tray with dip, to something a little less expensive. (I'm learning to plan food the budget way... still nice and tasty too... just not always the first thing that comes to mind...) And, I wanted the girlies to be able to make it. So, I came up with Nutella Mousse and Strawberry Mousse. A little Cool Whip, a little Cream Cheese, some powdered sugar and then the flavor agent, either pureed frozen Strawberries or Nutella (that my bent-n-dent store sells for only $1.19!!! Needless to say, Nutella lives in my pantry cupboard now.) Anyhow, as we piped the Mousse into the tiny containers, painstakingly sprinkled on tiny garnishes (because garnishes are Tea Party NECESSITIES) and took them outside to stay chilled, I expressed that it would be the perfect dainty Tea Party edible.
Mommy: "Yes, Honey, I made up the recipe."
Skeeter: "You're a GENIUS, Mommy. You really know how to make our Tea Party GRAND!"
(Mommy heart pitter-pattering in joy)
Of course, during Tea Party Prep, one must have Christmas music... all day. all night. I realize that this would stretch some. My friends, Christmas music is a staple here, year round, no joke. I ended up with, "Here comes Santa Claus" stuck in my head though.
Mommy: "Why do I have THAT song stuck in my head? I don't even like that song... or Santa Claus!"
Skeeter: "Mama, people turn perfectly nice holidays into stuff about make believe people!"
Now who's genius? (Just like we're not big Halloween folk, we're not big Santa Claus folk.)
We are enjoying the Christmas season, with all of it's ups and downs... speaking of up, there was one more last night. I got to read Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," out loud, with special voices, to all the girlies last night. And I read the whole thing. The whole way through! With practically no interruptions! That is definitely still one of my favorite stories... perhaps the success was helped by Skeeter playing with Sweet Pea on the floor while I read with Skipper and Scooter on either side of me. Maybe the point of this whole post is that everybody needs an 8yr old for the holidays... :)
