While I baked, she cleaned. And ironed tablecloths, and hung her pom poms, and arranged everything just so. At one point, as I was spreading vases flowers here and there throughout the house, she walked into the room, humming and practically skipping with joy as she had been all day long, and said, "Oh! That's pretty. But I was thinking we'd put the hydrangeas on that table."
Oh my girl. We both giggled at that one, and she said, "Isn't this just so much fun?" with a smile so wide that both dimples were visible. Yes, yes, my love. This is so much fun. There's not much that I love more than those moments just before guests arrive - when the house is tidy and shiny, when the baking is nearly complete and the house smells of the loveliness. When I've been thinking about our friends to come and how to make them comfortable and happy. And when there is time to fuss over things like ironing tablecloths and deciding just precisely where the hydrangeas should sit. It is not, I know, a thing that everyone loves. But I can't tell you what a delight it is to see that my kindred little one loves that task just as much as I do - perhaps even more. And while I tried to stay present in the moment of soaking up that joyful time with her that morning, before her guests arrived, I couldn't help but excitedly let my mind wander to all the parties we might host together in the years to come.
We had a lovely party. And we had a lovely time making the party too.