Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Tea time and a parade

Saturday afternoon, I attended our church's annual Christmas tea. 
This is hands down,  MY most favorite event of the entire Christmas season. Christmas just wouldn't be complete without it! A quiet afternoon, sipping hot tea with my favorite girls,  surrounded by Christmas elegance...yup it's the ABSOLUTE BEST!
From the moment you walk into the room, you are encompassed by Christmas elegance. All eighty tables that fill the space are beautifully decorated by ladies from our church.
Each table is completely different, unique, and special.
Oh, how I just LOVE walking around the room, admiring all the lovely Christmas decor. It truly is a beautiful sight to behold!
 My mom and I have been decorating two tables together for several years now.  We really enjoy doing it, and now it's kind-of become our little Christmas tradition.  We always need a little extra help though, so my Grandma (and sweet sisters) decorate with us as well.
It's truly become a family affair;)
 The first table we decorate in a FUN whimsical gingerbread theme. My favorite part of the entire table are the little gingerbread man mugs. We found them at Old Time Pottery several years ago, and every Christmas as I pull them out and place them on the table, I smile.

The second table is MUCH more elegant.
We use my Grandma's beautiful china, which has the prettiest winter landscape on it. My friend, Melanie graciously allows us to borrow her lovely lantern each year, and it serves as the perfect centerpiece for the table.
We enjoyed delicious food, sweet fellowship, and a wonderful Christmas message.
I always leave feeling refreshed, uplifted, and encouraged.
 With my heart focused on the why and WHO this JOYOUS Christmas season is ALL about, I'm ready to CELEBRATE!!!
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And what better way to celebrate than with a...parade!
Sunday afternoon, the kids and I (minus Corban and Shane who were at home watching their beloved Carolina Panthers) headed to the Indian Trail Christmas parade!
It's a small town parade with a small town feel, but it's AWESOME!

The kids love waving as the floats, firetrucks, motorcycles, lawn tractors, and...garbage trucks ride by.   Yes, you read that right...the town garbage trucks are IN the actual parade;)
Our sweet little friend, Leah was also in the parade this year too and it was so much fun to see her walk by!

And once again, I found myself tearing up as I watched AK jump up and down with excitement as she watched each float pass.
 Her excitement and JOY were simply contagious and another reminder of what a sweet Christmas this is going to be;)

5 comments:

Caroline said...

The table looks beautiful! And it looks like so much fun!

Melanie said...

Always LOVE this event! And your tables are always gorgeous! The Gingerbread one is one of my faves because it is so fun & pretty! I also love your grandmother's china, it is gorgeous!
Oh.my.heart what Christmas cuteness at the parade! The girls look absolutely adorbs! Looks like it was SO much fun!

Courtney said...

The tea looks wonderful. My aunts old church had a Mother's Day tea and did the same thing with decorating the tables. It was so much fun to see how everyone decorated their tables.

You girls look adorable in their dresses. I am so excited that my niece Madison can still wear the apron dress you made 2 years ago as a tunic this year. We have gotten lots of use out of it and I always think of you when I see her in it.

Brian & Ashley said...

Love the girl's dresses! Also, beautiful tables! I'm sure that is a lot of fun.

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

So much cuteness in one post!