Teddy Bear Tea 2015

Kate and I have been going to the Teddy Bear tea at the St. Regis Hotel now for several years.  This year would be our 6th time going.  However, when I called they were 100% booked.  I called early but apparently it has gotten VERY popular over the last few years.  I was heartbroken.  See, every year I think Kate is not going to want to go anymore but every year she is super excited.  She and her friend Eden have gone together for the last 5 years and they both say they will never be too old for it. We really love this Mommy-daughter day with our friends.After being put on the waitlist, I got awesome news that they added more teas and had a few cancellations so we got it. Whew!

I got a new camera right before the tea and I'll be honest, I have a lot of learning to do.  This one is a bit different with the settings than my last one and I am still figuring it out.  So, I had a very hard time getting my subjects in focus.  (I since figured out the incorrect setting it was on).  So, my photos of this event are "practice" ones but special memories nonetheless.  So, there will be lots of pictures:0)

Amy and Eden

We were the first ones there and the girls were so excited to see Muffy, the Ice Princess.
We love Muffy. And she remembers us from year to year.

After, seeing Muffy, they saw the Teddy Bear. Kate used to be afraid of him. 

 So glad she is not afraid anymore!

 

Eden's Dress can be found here.  I got Kate's on Zulilly last year.

The girls wasted no time getting to the hot cocoa and sweets.

Kate was excited to find a plaid cookie.  We both love plaid.

Limbo!







My fun and crazy friend, Amy even jumped in.  I love her.  She makes me laugh.

Then it was time for Muffy's Magic show....




Even though they have seen it several times, they still laugh.






Muffy chose Kate to help her out...





but Kate knew how to make the wand stay up (it was supposed to fall).






















A few Mama selfies...

And just to keep it real...I was struggling with my camera and frustrated that the lens was struggling to focus.  Kate was SICK of pictures but none were in focus.  I am asking for her patience here (in a not so patient way:)  Just wanted to show you that we are a normal family with normal bickering too.

After the tea, Amy came over for some champagne and to hang out and then Dave and I headed to a christmas party. I simply wore the same thing...

 

But it is always nice to try and get a picture of the two of us!!!

Teddy bear Tea 2014

When I first became a Mom here in Houston, I remember hearing other Moms talk about the Teddy Bear Tea.  It sounded like such a fun thing to do around the holidays.  But having two boys, I did not really have the chance to make it an annual tradition. It is more of a mother-daughter affair. My Mom and I did take Will one year though!

I started taking Kate in 2010 with a friend and her daughter.  Those friends moved and the next year, my friend Amy and her daughter Eden started jointing us.  We love spending the day with them and continuing this tradition.  Every year, I think it will be Kate's last year wanting to go but she starts talking about it around Halloween.  She just loves it.  I feel quite certain though that we have only one or two years maximum left as I have not seen any girls older than 10 at this event.

{warning--this will be long and there will be tons of photos...it is one of my favorite things we do.}

Will took this photo of the four of us just before we left...

Some people asked on IG about Kate's dress. I got it at a local boutique. You can get it here (on sale!)   And here are some that are similar (one /two /three (LOVE this one!)   My dress is Kate Spade and it is a few years old.  In fact, I wore it to the Teddy Bear tea two years ago too.

In the lobby of the St. Regis Hotel.

Kate used to be afraid of the Teddy Bear.  I am so glad she is not anymore!

And here is Will with the Teddy Bear in 2002!

Amy and I had some champagne in addition to our afternoon tea.  It was so fun to catch up and watch our girls laugh and play.


Durting the actual "tea" the parents are served traditional tea and the kids have a little buffet of fruit, sandwiches and sweets.  They also have hot cocoa and lemonade for the kiddos.

Then they have face painting....

They also decorate cookies but I did not take a photo of that.

There is a puppet show and a magic show....

This year, the girls colored an ornament (last year it was a t-shirt)....

Kate asked me to do a "side-bun."  I love how cute it looked on her.


Then the sugar kicks in and they dance around and ride these rocking horses....

And here is Will on one of the rocking horse (with my Mom in 2002).

Look at those smiles!  You can see how much fun they had!!!!


A few people emailed to ask about her dress from the last post too. This is the dress Kate wore to the Nutcracker  and her gold flats.



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