Christmas in July Tea Party!

A couple months ago, I got an email about Lupicia’s Christmas Teas and went a little crazy. They arrived soon thereafter—glistening tea tins stacked in my closet like treasure. I couldn’t get them out of my mind. Is there any possible way to justify breaking open Christmas teas in the summer? I mused. And just like that: CHRISTMAS IN JULY TEA PARTY!! 

Sara Michelle, Kristin, Megan and Marci—kids in tow—joined me the afternoon of the 24th (Christmas Eve!) to taste Carol and White Christmas teas, iced of course. Both are black teas. Carol has hints of strawberry, vanilla and rose; it paired nicely with raspberry macaroons and coconut-covered cashews. White Christmas smells like brown sugar and cookies; try it with the pistachio macaroons or sugar cookies. I brewed both teas with just a touch of sugar to bring out the flavors without overpowering them. White Christmas is best with a splash of milk. Both are nice with French Christmas carols jingling in the background. 

The kids were GREAT. Sometimes they all go nuts at tea time, which, honestly, is why we get together in the first place. It’s too late and too early in the day to handle that on your own anymore. Today there was some typical pesky tattling and lack of sharing, but really spectacular fun overall! It’s the spirit of Christmas! 

The kids devoured the cupcakes Megan brought, washed down with cups of “Snowman in July” [water]. I thought I was pretty funny putting a carrot and two blueberries in each pitcher. I also put slivers of carrot in each kid cup, which got classic horrified lip curls from Isaac and Madeline. 

Meanwhile, we enjoyed the caprese salad wreath Sara Michelle created. My star-shaped sugar cookies came out of the oven looking more like snowflakes, but they were delicious. And it was fun mixing the dough and cutting out shapes with Isaac earlier…until he inexplicably put his powdered sugar-covered hands in his hair and danced around. That was bizarre. I try not to ask Isaac things like, “Why would you do that?” because he’s three—he rarely has any reason for doing anything other than, “I wanted to.” But “STOP! WHY—?! WHAT—?! STOP!” slipped out anyway. Isaac blinked at me and rubbed his hands on his jammies instead. Sigh. 

Coincidentally, our Bible story tonight at bedtime was the angels appearing to the shepherds, and the shepherds running to see baby Jesus. We read a story out of the Jesus Storybook Bible each night, working our way through the Bible start to finish, and tonight’s story just happened to fit into exactly what we’d been doing all day! I love that. The true meaning of Christmas…in July…!