Sofia's Teddy Bear Tea Party

Birthdays in our family are always a good excuse to celebrate. I think I celebrated my birthday month this year by going to somewhere nice every weekend, visiting Bentota (a beach outing from Colombo when we were in Sri Lanka for work), Maldives (no explanation required), Boracay (for the food and the beach) and Manila of course (because home is home).

Sofia kicked off her week-long birthday celebration with a Teddy Bear Tea Party.

Teddy giveaways and yummy Caramel Cake.

Sofia used to celebrate her birthday twice, ever since we moved to Singapore. One with family (if we made it home to Manila), and one with Singapore friends.

Sofia's 3rd Birthday: Pet Party

with her friends in Manila.
October 2010

Sofia's Dora Swimming Party in Singapore
October 2010

Sofia celebrated her 4th birthday with family at
Bar do Joarez, Sao Paulo, Brazil
October 12, 2011

My team mates also had a surprise birthday cake for her.
Sao Paulo, Brazil - October 12, 2011

Celebrating her 4th birthday with classmates at
Brighton Montessori, Singapore
October 2011

This year, we still planned to have two parties. I wrote about it here. Sofia was so excited about her teddy bear tea party that she really helped in the preparation. I was quite busy with work so I asked my mom (and Lola Yaya) to take care of everything related to the food. Hahaha, now you know why we love throwing parties, we don't do the actual work! 

We invited Sofia's closest friends to attend through instagram (reminders and teasers included). Thank God for Social Media!

Sofia's invite with just enough details for a facebook wall.

Teaser 1: with the giveaways Sofia helped me ribbon and tag

Teaser 2: with the teapot and cups I bought for the kids

The night before the party, I helped Sofia make cookie dough so her friends can make and bake them during the tea party. Sofia loves baking! She asked me to give her the instructions because she wanted to do it alone!

From sifting the flour.

To measuring.

and leveling of all the ingredients.

Cutting up the butter to make it more manageable.

Supervising her nanny in mixing the batter.

We had to take a rehearsal tea break while waiting for the dough to chill in the fridge.

We made sure that the kids could serve themselves (iced) tea.

When the dough had chilled enough, we made one trial batch to make sure the cookies were yummm (and they were!).

We made a trial batch of Nin-ja bread-men.

On the day of the party, Sofia was so excited from the time that she woke up. It sort of drove her mad that we scheduled her party for 4pm! She was looking for her friends since breakfast!

The birthday girl.

Yaya decorated our home with balloons.

The cookie cutters were ready for Sofia's friends.

The teddies were ready to go with new owners.

Sofia sat still in an attempt to get her hair curled,
but not long enough for it to hold.

Finally, it was Teaddy Bear Tea Time!

Our first guests were Mia and her Teddy (and Karl),
since Mia's mom was resting, Karl had to help Mia make cookies.

Mia works well under pressure because Karl kept saying:
"Mia! We're lagging behind!" hahaha.

Chill lang kami. Hahaha.

Karl gets points for creativity. He's decorating their butterfly.

When Ninang Ri arrived, she started helping Fi.
I think they made a lot of Ninjas with broken bones.

Alay was making cookies

while Lukey was busy pouring tea for the bears.

Lukey and Uncle Mark.

The attention span of the kids is only until they make 3 cookies max!

The winner of the most competitive cookie maker award!

The kids moved on the the room to play.

Lukey wanted to play with anything with wheels.

Achi Fif and Lukey.

Mia on the drums.

and playing with the Dora house, because hers has ipis (cockroach).

The bears were happy on the rocking Rusig.

The other kids arrived in time for snack and cake time.

Our usual party fare. Thanks Ma and Lola Yaya.

I'm sure the kids drank so much iced tea,
because they wanted to refill and refill their cups.

Mia's cookies came out of the over just in time for tea.

Father and daughter milestone:
first time to make cookies together :)

Viele serving herself tea.

Lukey had a mouthful of something.

Hmmm... cookie taste test.

Mouthful = stamp of approval

The girls and their soft toys :)

Blow the cake time:

Sofia and her girl friends.

with Lukey as the only boy.

aerial view.

Happy Birthday Sofia!

It looks like we're all the same age and height here.

Sofia cutting the cake.

Sofia and Viele probably look like this in school,
doing everything together.

Andie and Fif.

Sofia and Viele do mad faces (but it looks like they're pooping)
because we asked them to take a break from tumbling while Lukey played.

How many Chicken ala King shells did Ninang Vice eat?
More than 10!!! She's eating for two ;)

Sofia loved the cookies so much, she asked to take home some.
Uhmmm, anak, we're at home. Hahaha.

Thanks for cooking Lola Yaya :) We love you!

Viele and Fi with Lukey and family.

Ninang Jem and Yayo arrived after everyone left.

Sad because they though all the Chicken ala King was gone. 

Sofia got to open one gift.

Thanks for the Gymnast Barbie Yayo and Ninang.

Snacking on more cookies.

That was a really great Teddy Bear Tea Party.

Thanks for coming everyone! We really had a great time.