Giggling, my four-year-old twin daughters sat down with me for a tea party picnic. Each gal had plucked a few stuffed animal guests from a cozy spot in their toy chest. Wide eyed, both girls took in the various treats, as well as teacups filled with warm fruit infusions. My kids and I love a fanciful picnic, and during winter months we have them indoors.
I adore tea and cupcakes, but quite honestly I’ll make a celebration out of just about anything. I’ve thrown my children hot chocolate soirées, ice cream socials and s’mores shindigs. Just last Tuesday for Mardi Gras I brought the festivities into my daughters’ preschool classroom.
To mark the occasion, the teachers and I planned a jamming jamboree. As jazz is the first true American born music form, I started off with some audio examples. The class listened to zippy clips of famous musicians very intently. Soon our mini parade started, and each little participant got an instrument to play. As the group rounded the arts and crafts table, our version of Bourbon Street, the tambourine section kicked it up a notch!
Once everyone had gotten their wiggles out, it was story time. I had chosen two of my twins’ favorite Mardi Gras themed books. Dinosaur Mardi Gras, by Dianne De Las Casas, is a fun read. The kids got to “chomp” and “stomp” along with the dancing dinos. In The Bourbon Street Band is Back, by Ed Shankman, we learned about the healing power of music. I love that joyful tunes bring the characters in this story together.
The children in my daughters’ class are such a great group, and I’m always happy to be a part of school activities. I also feel that being involved in their classroom events shows my kids that school, and learning, is important. The next big class party I’m putting together is St. Patrick’s Day. Each and every nearby leprechaun should have fair warning…we will be creating irresistibly shiny traps to try catching them!
Toasty Berry Celebration Infusion
Ingredients Per Teacup
3 strawberry slices
2 raspberries
Hot water
First place the strawberry slices and raspberries in a teacup. Next pour water over the fruit. Let it sit for about five minutes before drinking. Repeat all steps for the desired amount of cups you want to serve.
(You may want to eat the fruit in the cup before drinking the warm beverage, as it might get in the way as you sip!)
