Every girl needs a day to feel like a princess! So, all the oldest girls got dressed up and went to one of our staff member's homes for a tea party. Everyone was such a perfect little lady!
First step to a good party? Beautiful makeup of course!
Olivia had some help
applying her eye shadow...
...but once she got the hang of it, she started helping out some of the hostesses with their makeup!
Leah's first exposure to eye shadow was entirely too subtle.
Why go for understated,
when hot pink and bright
blue are options?
The lip gloss was definitely applied frequently and heavily.
Julia waiting like a little prima donna for her makeup.
After applying lip gloss, Julia was careful not to budge her lips a bit... for fear of disturbing the carefully applied sparkly gloss.
Admiring oneself in a
mirror... another key part
of party preparation!
Properly adorned, the girls moved on to the table which was set for a party!
We had cupcakes, that the girls decorated with different types of candy, fruit, and special tea cookies that came all the way from Sweden!
In our beautiful teapot was peach juice! And the flickering candles on the table added to the party atmosphere.
Olivia very particularly decorated her cupcakes
with all the candy on her plates...
There were gummy candies, M&Ms, nerds, tootsie rolls, and smarties. Can you say sugar rush?
Julia picked out the perfect cookie... for one can never have too many sweets.
With a little help from Carrie, Julia gets the hang of decorating her cupcake.
An M&M here, a smartie there... can you say masterpiece?!
Proud as punch (and still being careful not to disturb the lip gloss.)
Leah digs into her candy-coated cupcake.
Emily carefully adorns hers.
It's time to dig in!
This much candy in one setting is definitely cause for celebration! Normally doled out a few pieces at a time, the bowls in the center of the table proved to be a big temptation to all!
Julia's method for eating her cupcake was to eat all the frosting off first...
Yum.
Cheryl wasn't a big fan of the cupcake. She preferred the cookies and candy.
Eating with her fingertips... Such a dainty little lady!
Olivia had no problem eating the work of art she created!
As a party favor, everyone was given a little bracelet with a heart-shaped "gem" on it.
When snack time was finished and fingers washed, it was time to paint nails! We had so many colors to choose from, and some went for different colors on each nail!
First Carrie helps Emily with her nails...
... and then Emily helps Carrie with hers!
Lauren paints Leah's fingernails different colors.
Cheryl carefully applied her own light pink nail polish.
Julia has an older foster sister who frequently paints her nails and has taught Julia how to do it. As a result... Julia is an expert. She paints nearly perfectly, and she even knows the right way to do "The Blow" in order to help the nail polish dry.
Green eye shadow and purple nail polish...
Julia, you are just a vision!
After the polish dried, it was time to apply sparkly butterfly nail stickers. This added the extra little bit of pizzazz that our colorful girls needed to feel their looks were complete!
Complete the day with a five picture-perfect giggling girls lining up for a picture. Aren't we blessed to have such beautiful children -- both inside and out?!
It's time to go home! Everyone bundles up and prepares to leave.
Cuddled in the cart with all their party favors and stickers, it is time to go home! Come again another day, girls!