Super Sister mentioned that people were already pinning Christmas on Pinterest, and this would be a good time to share the Christmas Teas. On top of that, Hobby Lobby already has some Christmas displayed. (What happened to displaying Christmas after Thanksgiving or at least after Halloween?) Taking everything into consideration, I figured it was high time I got busy on this post. Think of this as a belated Christmas in July post so that you will have time to plan.
One of my all time favorite things to do at our home is the Christmas Tea. We love, love, love Super Sister’s families. They are loads of fun and beyond wonderful. On top of that they have supercalifragilisticexpialidocious children. It brings so much joy into our home when we get to see and visit with them and their parents.
A couple of years ago, I thought I would copy my good friend the Queen of Teas, and have a tea party for our gang. Queen of Teas has been having these tea parties for low I don’t know how many years. They always seem to be the highlight of her Christmas season. You know that feeling when you really, really, really do wish you were a fly on the wall and could see and hear everything at her tea party? That is how I feel every time she shows pictures and talks about her teas. They are beyond wonderful with a different theme each year.
Disclaimer: The computer gremlins have stolen pictures of my teas. (They are not to be found determined Number One Son and Number Three Son.) Lifesaver Michele had some, and I am so appreciative.
When Mikel, Ashley and Michele (the grandchildren’s mothers) accepted the invitation on behalf of their children to my first tea, I was so excited. I was literally bouncing off the walls. I decided to have a gingerbread theme party when I found the cutest gingerbread men and women mugs at The Christmas Trees Shops.
Number Three Son and Hot Rod agreed to make the gingerbread houses for decorations. This has been their thing for many years.
How cute is that gingerbread sleigh? Love it!
This was year one – The Gingerbread Tea.
Last year we had a Nutcracker Tea. Again, I found the nutcrackers at The Christmas Trees Shops, but they are readily available for reasonable prices at many stores. The nutcrackers were such a big hit. The children played with them like they were puppets. It was so funny.
Sweet Aubrey and her nutcracker.
The candy striped glasses were found at Dollar Tree, and the red stripe stocking silverware holders were found at The Christmas Tree Shops. Nutcrackers and nutcracker ornaments that we hung on the chairs were favors.
The menu for the teas follows the pattern of a proper tea – savories, scones, and sweets.
Savories included white pimento cheese sandwiches, Christmas tree cucumber sandwiches, pigs-in-the-blanket, and ham and cheese sandwiches.
Scones were Cranberry Pistachio (red and green color for the season) and Salted Caramel. Clotted cream, lemon curd, and jam was served to go along with the scones. Yummy! (I will share the Cranberry Pistachio Scone recipe soon.)
Sweets included melted snowmen cookies. This was year one.
This is year two.
I found directions for making these melted snowmen many places on the internet. Using store bought cookie dough, spread the dough out and bake into big odd shaped cookies. Cool and then ice with cream cheese icing. Heat marshmallows in microwave until puffy and just beginning to melt. Working quickly and carefully (they are hot) place marshmallows on iced cookie. Decorate with pretzels sticks or icing for arms, fruit strips for the scarves, M&M’s and jelly beans for buttons, and an orange gum drop cut and shaped for the nose. We used edible eyes. The cutest thing about last year’s cookies were the hats. Super Sister took black gum drops and formed a circle for the brim. Then she placed a black gum drop on top for the crown. Too cute for words!
Pretzel turtles, chocolate chip cookies, reindeer cookies, and Christmas sugar cookies were on this tray.
The reindeer cookies are made with Nutter Butter Cookies dipped in chocolate. Add a red nose (jelly bean or gum drop), edible eyes (you can buy them at Walmart, Hobby Lobby, or a cake decorating shop), and pretzel antlers (In year two, I learned that you do not have to break the pretzels for the antlers. Believe me – whole pretzel antlers are much easier, and cute.)
This is the gang last year (year two). I am so thankful the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious gang comes and helps me celebrate Christmas. Madison, as the oldest, helps and cares for all. Hot Rod and Carson play together. Aubrey is a dear, and Sadie makes me laugh. I wish I had a picture of precious Avery as she shared the Nativity Story. Oh, it was wonderful! We remember to celebrate our Savior’s birth, but to hear a child share the story (it was her idea) still makes me bawl-eyed.
I am so blessed when I am with family.
May our teas inspire you and yours,
FYI: The children get to sit at the table, and the adults eat buffet style. Fun is had by all!