a woodland tea party

this year we hosted heron's birthday party up in seattle in order to celebrate with family.  in attendance : grandma + grandpa garrels, aunt teal & aunt alli garrels, uncle zack & aunt gala bent (cousins ezra, solly, & caspar), uncle jeff & aunt cris ramsdale (cousins lucas & wren), friends drew & sara billups & their son asher.

we found the perfect woodland setting at kenmore rhododendron park, just down the road from josh's parents' house.  we spread quilts beneath the trees, & trekked in with two dozen teacups, saucers, gifts, cakes, cake pops, hot tea & coffee.  it was the sweetest celebration, & though we all gather together every few months, heron's birthday was such a perfect excuse for another indiana reunion--the bents, ramsdales, & billups, have all been dear friends of ours since our muncie, indiana days (we are related to all but the billups).  this is a special season to still live so near each other as our children grow.

: the birthday girl :

: heron's traditional bird nest carrot cake :

(indulgent red velvet + gluten free double chocolate cake pops alongside)

josh helped make the cake pops;

our friend jeremiah helped us make the cake pop stand from a fallen tree in our backyard

: woodland creature masks for the kids :

(inspiration found here)

: ezra the owl :

: heron the rabbit :

: caspar the beaver :

: lucas the bear :

: asher the deer :

: solomon the raccoon :

: gift time :

: party favors from this etsy shop :

: shepherd the fox :

: josh, up in a tree--his favorite place to be :

such a perfectly lovely day!  thanks marti for helping me pull all the food together (& for helping me finish up the creature masks at 1:30 a.m.)! thanks teal & alli for helping me set up the forest party!  & thanks joshy for not calling me crazy as i planned & implemented this logistically-challenging event!

& most of all, thank you, little blue, for being the daring & delightful little creature that you are!  you amaze us daily, & we're so happy to be your mama & papa!