Step Into Narnia, If You Dare!

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.

Walk through the wardrobe into our land of Narnia...

Part the furs….

And see a glimpse of our magical land...

All guests are welcome….

It's always winter here, never Christmas...

But the lamp post is always burning...

And cheerful knights are there to greet you!
(Four of them, in fact!)

His Cake….

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!

Even a good knight will succumb to the temptation...

Evidence!

Beware of the White Witch, in all her glory
(Wearing her neighbor's white fur!)

The birthday boy receiving his gifts

When the Narnia music began the battle ensued… 

Watch out for King Peter, he's quick with the sword!

Present time!!

Ripping into the gifts

Very excited...

Gigi as Aslan looks on at her pride as he opens her gift...

Nana & Gigi watch

We sing Happy Birthday to the Birthday boy

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Happy Birthday big guy!

No, seriously, don't lick the cake!!

Donning his new suit of armor he got as a birthday gift!

Drawing the wardrobe door

Aslan and Fletcher and Me

Aslan and Fletcher

Big brother Kiefer helping to make a draw bridge on the cardboard castle

wardrobe door into the sunroom

The beginning of Turkish Delight

A few hours later...

The snowstorm in my front hallway

Griffin made it snow!

Griffin came in the front door at least 20 times to enter Narnia again and again!

The wonder of childhood makes it all worthwhile!

LOVE!

Meanwhile, Fletcher was busy coloring his crown

Almost perfect now.  Note the permanent marker on the hardwoods! :)

Carter helped me make the lantern

A few hours later, Fletcher taste testing the Turkish Delight, wearing his crown… :)

Fletcher tested and approved!

12 hours later it was ready, sorta

Aslan in spring time

Fletcher first thing in the morning on his Birthday!
(woke up and put on his Knight costume and crown first thing!)

Next thing he did was check the Turkish Delight

Birthday breakfast: pancake with a candle in it

Mom's to do list

Taste testing the Turkish Delight

little fingers

Big bite

Hmmmm?

He likes it!!

Kiefer trying on all the fur coats!

What do you think of this one?

Yes?

I made arrows for fruit skewers!

Fletcher used them as daggers 

Sword fighting with fruit skewers - is his mom crazy or what?

Fletcher=Arrow Fetcher

The kids table in the springtime Narnia

"Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a king or queen of Narnia"

"Aslan, you look bigger."

"Each year that you grow, I grow bigger also."

The White Witch's table

The gifts for the King

Arrow Head Fruit Kabobs

The kid's table

Mom and Fletcher

Fierce Fletcher; double swords

Don't lick the cake...

No, Seriously, don't lick the cake.

Smile!!

The White Witch

Aslan and her knight in shining armor, complete with trash can lid shield 

Sweet Kiefer!
Come again!!!
(If you dare!)

Let Them Be Little

So we had another milestone in the Jay Family: Griffin, our six and a half year old, graduated from Kindergarten. It's been an amazing year of transformation for him. He entered into Kindergarten with a full set of baby teeth and not knowing how to read and he's graduating without any front teeth and he's not only able to read but also able to write stories!  Not to mention, we  measured him on the last day of school and he's grown three inches since the first day of school back in August!  Amazing transformation indeed!

Much credit is due to his teacher, who created such a positive learning environment for him each and every day where they were encouraged and cheered on to higher ground every day. She also noticed early in the fall that his darling lisp that I found so cute was causing him some phonics troubles so she addressed that early and we've seen great progress! In fact, to reward his great achievements, she nominated him to represent their class in saying the Pledge of Allegiance during their graduation ceremony.  At the beginning of the year this would have been the "Pwedge of Awwegence" but not so in May. He stood up front in his cap and gown, hand over his heart and recited the "Pledge of Allegiance" loud and clear. So proud!

I sat on my perch from the school gym bleachers and used my telephoto lens to snap as many pictures as I could!  But the one that gets me is of his sweet little suede shoes that still don't touch the ground!  It reminds me of the morning of graduation, getting him ready  - which entails snuggling with him and singing numerous renditions of good morning songs until he's not quite so grumpy. (we did this every day this year!)  Then slowly dragging him out of bed and helping him (read dragging him) to get dressed.  I had laid out dress pants, a nice blue collared button down shirt, a spring tie, leather belt, dress socks and his suede shoes.  He was objecting to the tie and wasn't too keen on the belt.  He had in mind that he was going to wear his class t-shirt with the self-portraits of his whole class and the sports shorts he wore to field day earlier that week.  It took some convincing, with help from Dad and his older brothers (because they hold more weight than mom's opinion) until he reluctantly gave in to wearing "church clothes" but still refused to wear a tie. Ok. I know how to choose my battles.  No tie.  As I was helping him with his belt loops, his sweet dress belt, that Papa bought him this past fall, wrapped all the way around to the middle of his back!  But he looked so nice. So handsome, and grown up.  I tied his shoes and invited him to race me downstairs to join me for breakfast… and I led the way down the hallway to the kitchen.

But the sound of his cry echoed down the hallway and I spun around to head toward the graduate only to find him crumpled in a puddle on the floor of his room.  Crying because his "shoes were too tight and he couldn't move his toes!"  "Oh dear!" I said!  Laughing to myself that this will be a very different scene at his future graduations. I rummaged around the closet and found the hand me down shoes from big brother Kiefer that were part of what Griffin called his "uniform" from other "church clothes" events like Christmas.  Gosh, he's growing fast!  But his sweet little suede shoes still didn't touch the gym floor as he sat in his cap and gown for graduation.   I was fine during the whole graduation ceremony… until they pulled down the screen to show the slide show of pictures from the year AND played a perfectly wonderful country song called "Let Them Be Little" by Billy Dean

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

Let them be little

… And the tears started to flow at the first line: I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.  Then it goes on and he sings, "Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day… let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle… oh just let them be little."

I couldn't say it better myself. Maybe that's why the tears flow - even now - as I read these lyrics.  I want to give them hope.  I want to give them praise.  I want to give them love - every day!  And I'm afraid I'm not doing it!   I'm trying… but the days fly by so fast… I just want to hold them. I want to stop time and keep them right where they are.  Not let them outgrow any more shoes.  I just want to giggle together and let them sleep in the middle!  

I'm so thankful for the teachers who helped him grow and achieve so much this year!  But I'm also so thankful that I'm not just his teacher.  I'm so thankful I get to be his mom!  I really want to hold onto these days, that are now unfolding into summer.  I don't want it to pass too quickly, either.  I want to catch lightening bugs and roast marshmallows, sing songs and tell stories, make crafts and read books, bake cookies and cuddle.  I want to go on bike rides and climb trees.  I want to fill our house with joy and music and energy.  (No shortage of that around the Jay house!)

But above all, I want to let them be little.

The graduates parade in while pomp and circumstance is played… Griffin is second in line in this picture (trying not to smile or act like he sees me!) 

Griffin is on far right, hand over heart saying the "Pledge of Allegiance"

Third one in, waiting to be called up to receive his "Diploma"

Let Them Be Little!!!

Singing a sweet song, "Thank you, Mom" and he looked right at me!!

Hand motions to the song… "Thank you, Mom, for loving me,
all your love helps me to grow, thank you mom, I love, you, so!" 

Our toothless graduate!!!

Griffin and his teacher, Mrs. Tester

All the shining stars of his graduating class!

Our star!!!

His cheering section

Griffin's selfie :)

Other selfie, this one is smiling! :) Toothless!!!

Goofing around!! :)

"Oh, mom, aren't you staying for the all class picnic?"… (First I'd heard of it!) "Of course I am!!"

Us at the picnic!!

"Mom, will you push me on the swings?" … "Of course I will!!"
(Note: Griffin's wearing the self portrait class t-shirt and sports shorts post graduation!)


Let them be little!!!