foodstamps

Dorathea, "Mommy can I use foodstamps to decorate this?" Me- "What's a foodstamp Dorathea?" D- , "You know when you cut food and it makes a stamp."
Here she is with her potato foodstamp;

Visiting Saint Nicholas and Narnia

I am up late thinking I should be packing as we are going to Nana and Papa's tomorrow.  Then I saw these photos of some Christmas Keys happenings.  

We visited Imaginations Toy Store for a special Christmas party early in December. Santa was there and I was a little nervous about having Santa be a part of our celebration, as I've never told the kids he is real. We've talked more about Santa as Saint Nicholas and the things that man did, but not as a magical figure.  For us playing Santa is fine, and pretending along, but I don't want to have to retrace my steps later by telling them he's up at the North Pole now.  Of course my kids love to pretend anything magical so it's a nice mix of   Knowing and pretending.

I was impressed with this Santa.  He told Dorathea that love is the best gift, and much more important than any present he gives, and that he prays for the kids all over the world from the north pole.  I bet he does.

 My two played to their heart's content at their favorite at lovely Imaginations, ate cookies, hugged santa's reindeer, got a goodie bag to take home saying "Goodbye" to Santa"

Santa made another important appearance this year in our celebrations.   Ted has been reading "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" every night to the kids (and me!).  I've taken the opportunity to really get the kids into it so we have eaten Turkish delight, had a tea party with Mr Tumnis (aka Jonathan), and received gifts like the Pensieve children's from Father Christmas.  Jonathan had been begging for a knight costume, got one and is now proudly brandishing a foam sword.

When Ted reads the voice for Aslan I can see the great Lion.  I think Dorathea felt that way too.  The last two readings she would climb into her daddy's lap just to listen.  When Ted read about Susan and Lucy's ride on Aslan's back, she sat up and rocked back and forth like she was there.  And on the last reading Dorathea said,  "Now you can read the next book!".

When we went to church last week it was decorated for like a winter forest by that otherwordly place the Pensieve children found in the wardrobe.  Can I tell you it is a wonderful place to worship?                            

-

-at our church sanctuary :)

 So now I will try to go to sleep thinking of these two sweeties and Aslan's voice and be glad that their is still more Christmas to come! Happy Christmas!- Allison                    

Glen Alton Jamborie

Trying to get my homeschooling act together over here, and to get the house clean and motivate others to do the same.  It's dark today outside and I imagine in schools and workplaces all over the country.  Some friends have are also fighting for or have lost loved ones and that makes the dark a little more personal.  I've been praying for light for all of us and thought I would stop and look at a day in the fall to help me see more clearly.  

In October we went to Glen Alton, a farm donated to the forest service recently. They were having a little cute festival with lemonade and a bluegrass band where Dorathea and I flatfooted together.  The stage was taped together in front of a very old cabin.  

We traveled through a rustic gate and found the beginnings of a rural playground.  It had the best sandbox ever.

And a giant wooden tractor for climbing.

 We parents felt kind of mushy, the kids ignored us and played on.

 Parents playing in the sandbox.

 As Jonathan would say, "My love him"

Climbing fences was fun with Dorathea but better with Daddy.

There is a beautiful man made shallow pond there that used to supply the house with water.  

 Lots of chasing, giggling,  and playing in the leaves.

The wagon wheel gate and my little lovely girl. 

 Going back over the bridge to get in the car and head home.  What a lovely day together. 

 

Thank you God for that beautiful bright day in Virginia.  I know the light will shine on us again!

A Day in DC

We spent a day at the National Book Festival on the Washington DC Mall.  (not that kind of mall).  You know where the museums and capital building are?  There were some great places to play and read for the kids. 

Jonathan in the PBS Tent

Dorathea and I ran through the Tent of States getting suveniers from each state's library.  

We relaxed and read between going to the Art Museum and the States Tent

We said Hello to Buddy;

Then we listened to a storytime and won a free stuffed pony.

 Then we went by the sculpture garden and had a picnic lunch.

On to the botanical gardens!

In front of the Botanical Gardens they had booths teaching kids where their food comes from.  They asked Dorathea what part of a plant is broccoli.  "The Bloom" she said.  "Wow" they said "Your the first one to get that right all day".  I don't think most of the kids who came to that booth had a farm in their backyard.  Our kids love to ask the farmers there questions, and the farmers are kind to stop what they are doing and talk with them.  

The Botanical Gardens are sooooo relaxing.  There is nothing like breathing in a roomful of orchids.

Jonathan was fast asleep by this time.  

We love Washington DC..What a great, and free, field trip!

- Allison

Friday @ Schoolhouse Fabrics

We had a lovely day a few Fridays ago with Shalene and Abagail. We beboped over to Schoolhouse Fabrics (an old school building with three floors of fabric) after exploring their adorable cabin.  I felt like a kid with this fun loving crew. Yay getting to go out and play with Abagail and Shalene!

Crowding around a gilded mirror at Schoolhouse Fabrics

All Around Our House

Here are a few sights from our home. Imagine the sounds as you look at the pictures.  Occasional rooster crows, cows mooing, dog barking, farmers talking to each other, and children pretending. 

I am having trouble getting a good photo of my beautiful home.  The battery from my good camera is still lost from the move.  While I am trying to find it, here are some photos of us in the new house yard.

Dinner on the back deck is lovely.  

Fairy path

and fairy making her own house by the back garden.

It's wonderful out here.  Come visit soon.  Its getting colder now so you can sit by the fire in the woodstove  while we visit :)

A Day at the National Zoo

We've been studying animals for science this year, so as treat we all went on a field trip to the National Zoo (with Grandmama!).

The seal exhibit was our favorite.  

Although Jonathan had just gotten stung by a bee.  Brave boy recovered quickly,

 Dorathea was intent on sketching the animals :)

  A lovely play fountain.  It turned into a little river of flowing water.

 Jonathan jumping off the rock after the flood.

 Silly boy.

 We didn't see the real pandas but Dorathea took a liking to the statues.

 Grandmama and Ted with Jonathan sketching in the background.

 My boy being a monkey to get ready for the Hall of Apes.

 And here is an ape,

 Orangutans seem so kind.

 A baby gorilla almost the same exact age as Jonathan.

We saw everything there was to see and  had an exhausting and wonderful time.  Thanks for coming with us Grandmama!