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?                            

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-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