Surprised by a birthday tea party!

Today is my 51st birthday, and I can't help being a little proud that my family actually surprised me on Saturday with a birthday tea party! Because I am suspicious by nature, a mere hint of surprise in the air usually gets my attention, but I had no idea my visit to see my dad on Saturday would involve anything but a normal day of shopping with Aunt Jane.

I did ask why Amelia had a dress on when it was Saturday, and she just smiled and walked into the dining room. That's her above with Aunt Jane and my sister, Rhonda.

Rhonda set the table with some of my mom's Old Country Roses china, and I somehow think our mother would approve!

I certainly wasn't expecting a lunchtime treat of tea sandwiches, fresh fruit, hot tea and …

Daddy's famous coconut cake, the closest thing to the old Rich's Coconut Cake this side of heaven. Oh, is it good! For years now my dad has been the chief cake baker in the family, and he always lets each family member choose the kind of cake he or she wants. His specialties are chocolate cake, coconut cake and strawberry cake, although at my niece Cari's request, he recently added Red Velvet cake to his menu of offerings!

My sister told me even nephew Matthew helped, and although he was away playing (and winning!) a ballgame, he helped assemble the cucumber sandwiches and was very interested in creating patterns with the cucumbers. (Future engineer or programmer, maybe?) We also had egg salad and pimiento cheese sandwiches, all delicious, and I learned my sister puts a little bit of garlic salt and onion in her pimiento cheese, which gives it just a little extra zing that is just wonderful!

Amelia had even written a birthday greeting on a white board for me. It was a great way to kick off birthday week!