We are growing by one little Key.

Forgive me for not posting in a while, I've been sick lately (since June God help me) for a very good reason. 

Meet baby Keys #3. When we told the kids Jonathan immediatly started referring to this new sibling as his brother.  

"When I am nine my bwotha can pway legos with me right mom?" 

I tried to tell him we wouldn't know if it was a boy or girl for a while.

Dorathea has told me many times that she is really excited about this little one. One day I asked her why and she said emphatically, "Because it's going to be a member of our Family!!" She has just started cooking for the family, and is excited about being my post partum chef. I can relate because when I turned ten I learned to cook too because my mom had twins that year!

Without further ado;

 Can I tell you Jonathan did a Ninja-type victory dance in the ultrasound room?  Then he said, "I win!".

 Thanks for celebrating with us!- Allison

Accessories for your cc Foundations Guide

 I am so excited about my new to me, tricked out Foundations Guide!

Last year when I was getting ready to tutor Foundations I had an old sorry 2nd Edition. This year a friend sold me her pristine 4th Edition and I wanted to keep it that way!  I worried about it's fragile cover coming apart from the spine and getting dog eared. 

 I wanted to cover it so I looked through some old office supplies and found this; A letter writing set my dad brought home from Egypt back in the seventies!  Now, the guide fits perfectly in it, It lives again!

I slid the guide into the place where paper is supposed to fit. 

My timeline cards fit perfectly in the pouch!

And it's Egyptian, perfect for studying ancient cultures this year!

Now to Cover the spine!

I had this lovely duck tape I scored at the Dollar Tree that matched (mostly).

I loosely measured the spine and cut two pieces then overlapped them parallel long wise.

Then I turned those two pieces over and put one piece in the center.  

If I were to do this again I would have used two pieces overlapped. It sticks just a tiny bit.

Still it works nicely enough that I'm not starting over!

I taped it carefully on the spine, then trimmed the extra tape at each end.

Im amazed at how lovely duck tape makes a notebook look like a  book book.

Bookmarks! 

I always floundered in class trying to get to the memory work, then tin whistle section, then science quickly.

This year I added 4 satin ribbon bookmarks for fast flipping.

I cut four ribbons about four inches longer then the book.

Then I opened to the last page and tied them to the second spiral. 

Very easy!

I also used this idea I picked up on Pinterest, you can follow my cycle 1 board here,

She used washi tape to edge her pages (again they have it at the Dollar Tree and Walmart).

I thought this would help me find the different cycles, and subjects, plus ITS SO CUTE!

I'm not quite finished yet though. So many washi tapes to buy.

I can't tell you how pleased I am with it.  Not only does it function better for me, but it looks like something the captian of a ship would use.

Hope some of these ideas work for you too, Enjoy! 

 

On the care of Bunnies and the prayers of children.

Meet Beatrix Benjamin Bunny
or Benjamin Beatrix depending on her sex

The kids have been pouring over tutorials on keeping pets for days. Dorathea made a long list of name prospects in a little pink notebook that she toted with her to the Rabbit farm today.

She asked me if she could have a rabbit as a pet last week.  I told her, pray and ask God.

I did this knowing that I was giving her a weapon.  Asking God.

 A friend of mine told me she knew as a child that God answered her prayers because every time she asked for a pet one would invariably appear on her doorstep soon after.  Prayer in the hands of a child is powerful, and to a parent who doesn't want pets, a dangerous thing.

I however, have a hankering for a pet too.

Later that day she told our Landlord/ Farmer friend about her plan.  He said, "I can give you one of my rabbits."

That is what happens when a child of God prays ladies and gentlemen.

So bonus she got to go to the Farmer's farm on the other side of town and meet 30 or more happy rabbits to choose from.  I was a little intimidated for a second at that many rabbits moving toward me, but only for a second they are after all, adorable rabbits.

 The kids were watching over Beatrix Benjamin in the kitchen as I took this photo.  I heard Jonathan give her advice as he left the bunny in Dorathea's capable hands,

"Sister, JUST REMEMBER, LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING."

Bunnies and my children, both overwhelmingly adorable.
                                                                                             - Allison

Wandering; An Alice in Wonderland Birthday Tea Party

 "I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then." -Alice

First I sent out this invite;

As we prepared for the party, I gathered books for a used book table that would serve as our party favors.  We made this sign to greet guests in the front yard and D made these paper lanterns out of scrapbook paper, she also made these  jam tarts out of refrigerator dough and strawberry jam.

 Ted assembled almost every chair we own in the back yard;

The weather said it would not just rain but thunderstorm at the time of the party. 50 percent chance then 70 then 90 percent. My mood was gloomier each time I checked the weather.

And I said things to God like, "You know I prayed about this, and you seemed to say the 11th at 1:30 was the perfect time."

I was a little annoyed with myself and God.  I know that might seem silly, but there it is.

I was telling bemoaning this to my dear Ted when Jonathan piped up and said, "Mommy God says to do the party on Saturday instead."

Ok then, maybe the kids are hearing about party dates now.  So I said,
"Dorathea will you pray and ask God if we should cancel and reschedule for Saturday?"
She prayed for a long time.  I would ask did you hear anything.  She would say, "No" and I would wait longer.....aggravated a little still.  I didn't know why the first time I prayed about this it didn't stick.

This photo was taken before Halloween last year. I refurbished this dress for D back in October knowing that we would re-use it for her birthday!

Then she sighed, "God says to move it to Sat-urday" She said sadly.  We were both sad because we knew some of our guest wouldn't be able to make it.  I know I'm a little strange but I love having a large number of children partying in my yard. 

So I made the sad rescheduling texts and had about 5 kids say they couldn't come.

I invited a friend and her kids over for a playdate on the rainy original party day to soften the blow.  Her kids completely captivated mine. 

She and I spent hours in my kitchen laughing, crying, talking about real problems and dealing with deep hurts.  At some point as tears were flowing and healing was filling up the room 

I told her, 

"This is why the party needed to be rescheduled.  This is worth it.  You and the things God is doing in your life are worth the slight inconvenience of rescheduling a birthday party." 

I felt all lit up inside.  

Sometimes when  I hold on so tightly to my plans when they seem to go all wrong I think; 

Am I just bad at The Game of Life? Do I get a failing grade at adult things?Am I just really bad at reading my Life Map?

Image from http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/11/vintage-alice-in-wonderland-tea-party/
I forgot to photograph the one we made!

But it's not that. Sometimes the path wanders. I want it to be straight.  I REALLY WANT IT TO BE STRAIGHT! But it needs to wander to get where I'm going.

I didn't understand that when he changes the plan, it's because he is changing me, expanding me.  

When my path seems like Nonesense, there is the potential for me to be injected with a dose of Wonder. To have relationship with people I was destined to meet.

The day came and the sun came out.  The Mad Hatter arrived and this hat I crafted for him (no small undertaking) fit him like he was made for this role.

And he was!

The Doormouse showed up.  She was cute and also SUPER helpful with all the wee guests.  

Thank you Door Mouse!!

The guests arrived one by one, and guess what?

We had more kids come than were planned for the first party!

It was a lovely whimsical tea followed by cake (cake is not my strong point so I just followed my stick-things-on-a-store-bought-cake tactic). I stuck on book illustrations and a fairy tea set.

Then D opened presents. The Mad Hatter is good at helping with the wrapping.

Then as the Red Queen I led a few games. 

Here we are playing "Painting the Roses Red Relay race"

 I divided the kids up into two teams.

1. The person at the front of each line had to put on an apron, 2.walk across the lawn balancing a teacup on it's saucer, 3.then place it on the ground and paint a white paper rose with red paint until it was covered. 4. Then the next player was handed the saucer and would repeat the steps.

All this while I got to say "The rose is not RED ENOUGH!, OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

We also played "The Red Queen Says" 

This is just like Simon Says except when someone messes up the red queen expels them from the game by saying, "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

I found saying this to be a real stress reliever during the party. Also the kids thought it was hilarious.

Also, every time I told my little Alice Birthday Girl to do anything the day of the party she replied, "YES YOUR MAJESTY!" 

This all by itself is the best reason to throw an Alice in Wonderland Birthday Party.  I have been waiting for this party my whole mommy life!

I borrowed a game of croquet, and set it up for free play.  I also had D start a game of "Dissapear and Seek". Just hide and seek with a Chesher Cat theme. 

These beautiful photos were taken by Laura Swift Photography at my request. She is so good at capturing the spirit of an event :)

Thank you Laura! And thank you guests! You made Wonderland Wonderfilled.

More Alice party ideas here on my pinterest page.