Teddy Bear Tea Party

I can't believe my baby girl has turned 5 years old! For her birthday this year, I wanted to do something she would really love. Since she loves to dress up and loves to play with her dolls and stuffed animals, I decided to make this year's party a Teddy Bear Tea Party.
We set everything up on my parent's screen porch.

We had treat cups with teddy-shaped cookies and gummies:

 We had teddy-shaped PB & J sandwiches. I used a cookie cutter to cut out the bread teddies and laid them flat in gallon freezer bags to freeze them. I did this about a week ahead, which saved lots of time. I didn't make the sandwiches til the morning of the party, though, because I was afraid the jelly would seep through the bread.

And of course, there was a teddy bear cake:

On the invitation, I asked each child to wear her (or his) favorite pretend dress-up clothes and bring a favorite stuffed animal. When they arrived I took their picture in an old rocker covered with a quilt. I am using iphoto to antique the photos. I don't like the way my printer prints, so I am sending them off to be printed. I will give them to each child when they come back.

The first game we payed was "Musical Bears". The children stood in a circle passing a bear around while we played music. When the music stopped, the child holding the bear came out of the circle and got a treat cup (pictured above). I gave them something because a party should be a happy time- being "out" is NOT happy. :) The last child in the circle got a new teddy bear as a prize.

Next, we made teddy bear necklaces. I found the kits online (cheap!) at www.orientaltrading.com.  (This is also where I got most of the decorations, along with my local Dollar Tree. Birthday parties should be fun- but they shouldn't leave you broke!)  The necklaces were a big hit.

Finally, came the pinata. We hung a teapot pinata (also from Oriental Trading) from the apple tree. I had filled it with toys (yes, also from oriental) rather than candy. 

I think everyone had a good time. (I know I did!)

Oh- and a highlight of the day-

My husband found a blue-tail lizard. Kids LOVE lizards! (Well, ours do, anyway...) Here they are stalking the lizard:

Of course, they let him go...eventually....

He is probably off under a rock somewhere warning his lizard buddies to stay away from birthday parties......