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!