A Fairy Picnic

Yesterday we had our last fairy picnic in the fairy meadow. We took our neighbor friends who had just gotten home from visiting cousins. To get to the meadow we cross a sheep bridge built across the Teton River. As I stepped off the bridge an old feeling from my childhood washed over me. It was a feeling of anticipation that some wonderful pretend was about to happen. I felt that way every time I imagined anything magical. I like to believe in fairies and pretend with my children. We spread our blankets under a big tree on the edge of the meadow. The younger kids ran immediately to the fairy tree, a big pine tree whose branches spread so wide and hang so low that they can hide and play underneath them. It was in that tree many years ago that Sarah and her friends found fairy treasure on her birthday. Everyone loves a fairy picnic. It's simple, just rounds of baguette, crackers, cheeses and meat. Fairy cakes finish it off, their just Ritz crackers sprayed with whip cream and heaped with berries. Silly, but fun.

 After we were done the children ran down to the river to build fairy houses. I almost wished we were camping so they could have spent all the time they wanted. The older kids were ready to go well before the younger ones were done. Emma had a total meltdown when I told her it was time to leave. She'd built one house, but was working on another that wasn't finished. I probably should have helped her more with the second one so she could have finished.

Building fairy houses

The finished product.  She's hoping her fairy friends love it.

These girls are such good friends.  They have so much fun together. 

I love this sign that one of the boys made.  It says FARY.

I caught McKay pretending something.  He'd just jumped off a log and was in his own little world.

These guys are best buddies.