Fletcher's our only summer birthday amongst the Jay Boyz. This past winter, I started collecting Olaf themed items for his birthday party, thinking how funny it would be to have a Snowman themed birthday party in the middle of summer - and the song Olaf sings dreaming about summer. I even had the boyz make snowballs from the last snow of the season and I had been storing them in my freezer!
But Fletcher wouldn't have any of it! He wanted a Narnia party. He'd even assigned his classmates to the characters. Henry could be Edmund, "because he has dark hair"; Madison could be Lucy; Sterling could be a knight and Eva could be the White Witch, "because she's tall." (I love it that he's completely disregarding that she is adopted from Africa and has the darkest most beautiful skin). He, was going to be "King Peter" -"'cause he's the biggest and bravest" amongst the Narnian Royalty.
He was so convincing that when June 10th rolled around, I'd completely scrapped my idea of an Olaf Party and I was on board with the Narnia theme. I mean, seriously, be still my heart! I was the one who introduced him to Narnia two years ago when we were snowbound during a blizzard and read the book cover to cover in one day! Then the next day we made homemade Turkish Delight!
Invitations were sent to our extended family, including our cousins who were going to be in town from California - rare guests at our family birthday celebrations. And the gauntlet was laid to "wear costumes, if you dare."
We were mid way through the 12-hour process of making Turkish Delight the day before his birthday when I realized I only had a 1/2 teaspoon left of Almond Extract and needed a full teaspoon. Why go to the store for one item when we have neighbors? I picked up the phone and called our next door neighbor, Karen. They're empty nesters and adore our children. (or at least tolerate them!) Their only grandson is a year younger than Fletcher and lives in California, so I think they get a kick out of our kids. At least I hope they do. Anyhow, she was home and had some I could use so I went over.
When she asked what I was making I told her it was for Turkish Delight - and the conversation unfolded from there. Both her sons are in California in the movie business. The oldest produces movies you'll never see and the middle son does illustrations, graphic design and animation for movies. He actually created Aslan the Lion for the first Narnia movie - the most life-like, amazing, talking, breathing, walking animated lion. It's so lifelike she said the producers at Sony asked to see the hand-drawn version after watching his work. Even they were convinced! (But if you notice in the subsequent movies, Aslan looks a little off? That's because they didn't use her son to do the animation!)
As we were chatting the boyz had found me and they were running around both our yards now, and picked up sticks to use as swords. That gave me an idea and I asked her if I could use a really big limb that had fallen to make a forest in my entryway.
It snowballed from there. Then she asked if I wanted to use her Christmas trees. Mine was the type you had to assemble, hers she keeps upright covered in a sheet in her storage room. How could I refuse? Then she asked if I needed anything else. "Got a fur coat?" I asked. I'd already borrowed my mom's and was hoping to find at least one more to make a coat rack full of coats you had to walk through from our front door/wardrobe entrance. She said sarcastically, "Do I have a fur coat?" and she went to the other room and wheeled a rolling coat rack of four fur coats around the corner! She even loaned me white sheets and a few tiaras! Oh my goodness! Fletcher's party was instantly taking shape! It pays to ask your neighbor to borrow some almond extract!
I did my magic and Griffin and Fletcher helped me make it snow while Carter started attacking some Styrofoam cups to make snowflakes. I even saw a few coffee filters fall from the sky, too. It was quite a storm! A few moments later, Daddy-O walked in after being at a meeting for a few hours. If you miss a few hours around here you miss a lot. He was as shocked as Lucy when she backed into Narnia the first time!
Meanwhile, Carter was helping me cut some cardboard boxes to make a lantern and Kiefer was thrilled to watch me spray paint it black in the backyard.
We couldn't help but notice how Griffin kept walking out the garage door and coming back in through the front door to walk through the fur coats and into Narnia again and again. He must have done it 20 times!
I pointed out to Jim,
THIS is why I do all this. It
IS Narnia to them.
I love taking and idea and making it come alive and watching their imaginations come alive with it!
I scrambled to make a sheet cake, ice it, make dinner, put the finishing touches on Turkish Delight, set the tables for 24 people and create another Narnia in our sun room where the kids could eat at their own table. I got it all mostly done - all except getting myself ready. It's hard to do anything while chasing four little kids and refereeing their scuffles. It's all about tradeoffs. Do you want an iced cake or me dressed and ready? You can't have both on time.
My family was the first to arrive - dressed as lions in homemade costumes and knights carrying trash can lids as their shields. My mom saying, "You enjoy it more when you get into it!" Thanks, Mom and TJ. You always pretend right along with me!
They were a bit surprised to see me dressed in my running garb still wearing my baseball hat. I joked that they had arrived so early! It was 5:59. The party was to start at 6 p.m.
I dashed upstairs to change clothes and make my appearance as the White Witch. I was pleased that Fletcher was asking me to be Susan instead of the White Witch, because "Susan's nice, and the White Witch is mean." I was relieved to know that he still thinks I'm nice. (There are days when I'm more White Witch than I'd like to admit!)
The only white dress I have is my wedding dress. Kiefer has asked me to try it on to show him before, which I've done. Except four babies later, my rib cage has expanded and I can't zip it up to the top. I also didn't really feel like wearing my wedding gown to a party where I was doing the cooking and planning to serve barbecue, so I opted for a silver dress I'd worn to a Christmas party a few years ago - and I donned one of my neighbors amazing fur coats that was white (and a tiara!) and "Wallah!"
I raced outside before the kids saw me and rang the doorbell until they would let me in. Carter had seen a glimpse of me and was in full-on pretend mode and wasn't going to let me in. My knight in shining armor of a husband eventually unlocked the door and I finally made my entrance into Narnia.
I chased after the little ones saying I was going to freeze them if I caught them. That's when I was tackled from the side by a 10 year old (who knows better). If it would have been on video, I'm sure it would have won the award on "America's Funniest Home Videos" because out of nowhere this child side swiped me like he was doing a cannon ball. But as his mother, and not the White Witch, I didn't find it funny. He takes pretending too far sometimes and was out of control. My knight came to the rescue again and took care of that problem and then it was time to celebrate.
Parties at our house are always kind of crazy. It's hard being the caterer, the photographer, the set designer, props coordinator, hostess with the mistress, videographer and mother of the birthday boy all at the same time. (Not to mention disciplinarian for those in need) Thus is the life of a mom. At least this mom.
All said, I think the birthday boy had himself a good time at his fifth birthday party. The only problem was he kept asking me what time his friends were going to arrive.
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| Walk through the wardrobe into our land of Narnia... |
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| Part the furs…. |
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| And see a glimpse of our magical land... |
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| All guests are welcome…. |
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| It's always winter here, never Christmas... |
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| But the lamp post is always burning... |
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And cheerful knights are there to greet you!
(Four of them, in fact!) |
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| His Cake…. |
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| The White Witch's "Temptation Station" complete with hot cocoa, and all things white including: marshmallows, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered raisins, white powdered doughnuts, ice blue bubble gum balls and the piece de resistance - Turkish Delight, made by the hands of the White Witch, herself! |
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| Even a good knight will succumb to the temptation... |
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| Evidence! |
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Beware of the White Witch, in all her glory
(Wearing her neighbor's white fur!) |
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| The birthday boy receiving his gifts |
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| When the Narnia music began the battle ensued… |
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| Watch out for King Peter, he's quick with the sword! |
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| Present time!! |
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| Ripping into the gifts |
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| Very excited... |
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| Gigi as Aslan looks on at her pride as he opens her gift... |
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| Nana & Gigi watch |
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| We sing Happy Birthday to the Birthday boy |
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Happy Birthday, Big Guy!
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| Happy Birthday big guy! |
No, seriously, don't lick the cake!!
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| Donning his new suit of armor he got as a birthday gift! |
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| Drawing the wardrobe door |
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| Aslan and Fletcher and Me |
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| Aslan and Fletcher |
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| Big brother Kiefer helping to make a draw bridge on the cardboard castle |
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| wardrobe door into the sunroom |
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| The beginning of Turkish Delight |
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| A few hours later... |
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| The snowstorm in my front hallway |
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| Griffin made it snow! |
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| Griffin came in the front door at least 20 times to enter Narnia again and again! |
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| The wonder of childhood makes it all worthwhile! |
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| LOVE! |
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| Meanwhile, Fletcher was busy coloring his crown |
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| Almost perfect now. Note the permanent marker on the hardwoods! :) |
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| Carter helped me make the lantern |
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| A few hours later, Fletcher taste testing the Turkish Delight, wearing his crown… :) |
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| Fletcher tested and approved! |
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| 12 hours later it was ready, sorta |
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| Aslan in spring time |
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Fletcher first thing in the morning on his Birthday!
(woke up and put on his Knight costume and crown first thing!) |
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| Next thing he did was check the Turkish Delight |
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| Birthday breakfast: pancake with a candle in it |
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| Mom's to do list |
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| Taste testing the Turkish Delight |
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| little fingers |
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| Big bite |
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| Hmmmm? |
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| He likes it!! |
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| Kiefer trying on all the fur coats! |
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| What do you think of this one? |
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| Yes? |
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| I made arrows for fruit skewers! |
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| Fletcher used them as daggers |
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| Sword fighting with fruit skewers - is his mom crazy or what? |
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| Fletcher=Arrow Fetcher |
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| The kids table in the springtime Narnia |
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| "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia" |
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"Aslan, you look bigger."
"Each year that you grow, I grow bigger also." |
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| The White Witch's table |
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| The gifts for the King |
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| Arrow Head Fruit Kabobs |
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| The kid's table |
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| Mom and Fletcher |
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| Fierce Fletcher; double swords |
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| Don't lick the cake... |
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| No, Seriously, don't lick the cake. |
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| Smile!! |
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| The White Witch |
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| Aslan and her knight in shining armor, complete with trash can lid shield |
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Sweet Kiefer!
Come again!!!
(If you dare!) |
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