Henry and I slowly plod through chapter books before bed.
I try to get in one chapter a night, but it doesn’t always happen.
Some nights, he falls asleep after a few sentences…others, it’s the mama who can hardly keep her eyes open. It takes weeks, but eventually we get through the books, and I’m always amazed at how much detail he can remember considering it looks like he’s dozing off through every word.
After each of the other books (Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little), he’s watched the movie…but this time, I thought it would be fun to make it a family movie night.
We had fish and potatoes for dinner (like Mrs. Beaver served the children in Narnia).
I made “White Witch Cupcakes” and tea (which was really hot chocolate).
My gray eyed baby wandered around.
Clothes? He owns overflowing drawers of it. More than any one baby could possibly wear.
But this is my favorite.
Owen will someday bemoan “Mom!!! Why is every picture of me without clothes???!!! Did you not have money for clothes for me???? Everyone else was dressed as babies!”
And I will say: “Son, it is because you are the Caboose. And I want to drink in every last bit of fleeting babyhood. Baby clothes are cuter on the hangers. One day you’ll get it.”
Plus, the clean up is easier.
Eventually, exhausted and secretly wanting to just call it a night and send everyone to bed…we settled in.
Everyone in their self-appointed spot: Henry in the cozy corner with a giant blanket (always with a blanket), Lu the Daddy’s girl (always with her Daddy), and the goofy blonde with her tired mama (who leaned over for kisses every 32 seconds).
It turns out that the movie is really long so we had to split it up over a couple of nights. And that Stone Table scene where Aslan is being killed? Holy moly. Way more graphic and terrifying than the book…and yet, still PG. Andy and I looked over little kids’ heads and mouthed “What the heck?…” Trying to decide if we should stop the movie, or do some fast forwarding…but it ended with kids not seeming to mind the scary. Even still, the movie has been put away for more grown up viewers, even if the kids have been begging to watch it over and over since. (I had seen the movie years ago but obviously forgot the details.)
I was shocked at the occasional comments from the boy “Wait, that didn’t happen in the book…Mom, is that how the book said it was?…I don’t remember this part?….” Kids are pretty amazing.
The next day, Henry made shields for him and Lucy out of cardboard and asked me to draw red lions on them…and I listened to a 5 year old and a 3 year old rendition of a beloved classic out in the backyard.
I am forever amazed at how much we underestimate our kids. Lucy has been begging to sit in on night time chapter reading…I think it might be time.
More than anything else, this movie night made me think…in this day of Pinterest and Martha…I get caught up in detailed perfection. I like pretty parties. I prefer food made from scratch. My love language is delicious, lick your fingers clean food. I often find myself putting things off for later…when I’ll have time to make it uh-mazing. And then it never happens. Or it does, and I’m left a frazzled, stressed out mess who can’t even enjoy whatever it was I was trying to do because I forced it.
I considered making a “wardrobe door” out of a giant box for the kids to walk through. Putting together costumes. Even creating a scavenger hunt throughout the house.
But I knew that I would just end up bitter and annoyed…because I really did not have the time for all of that.
This wasn’t well thought out or elaborate. The cupcakes were boxed mix and a tub of frosting I had in the pantry. The hot cocoa was nothing more than packets dumped into warm water. Nothing from scratch. I ran by Target and bought the movie and a jar of clear sprinkles (although table sugar would have worked too) that morning. And I had to make dinner anyway, so I picked something that would tie in.
Sometimes I forget that the kids don’t care if it’s a pin-worthy event.
They just like that it’s an event at all. Henry’s begging for us to start a new book so we can do another movie night. A simple, no frills movie night.
Keep it simple, mamas.
Save the elaborate for when you can.
Don’t put off traditions or moments until you can make them perfect with printed cupcakes banners, personalized place settings and scenes set up in your living room.
Also, keep baby clothes on the hangers. It’s just better that way.
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totally agree!! My kids are 15 and almost 14 – they remember the simple stuff I did and well in the days before pintrest – i didn’t have alot to aspire to! But anything different from the norm is fun for a kid!
I still try and do little things for them and at 15 and almost 14 – they notice and appreciate it!!
you are a GOOD momma!!
xoTiffany
tiffany day´s last blog post ..Eleven Things
this book is read at our children’s school in fourth grade. then there is a *secret* tradition of tea with mr. tumnus. 3-4 moms (to keep it quiet) transform a room with drapery, tables, an electric fire place and our real china. we then serve cake with sugar sprinkled on top, a hard boiled egg, sardines (the real thing, and then we let them have Swedish fish if they try it) and of course, tea. we also have a mr. tumnus costume that is passed down! it’s a fun tradition.
but, I do agree that the movie does take some liberties!
sandi´s last blog post ..keeping it real….
KISS
;0)
Caryl
There is a great cartoon version of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe that is not nearly as scary and your kids will love. My sister watched it nearly everyday when she was 3 (no joke) and had it completely memorized.
We too have been making our way through some classics, including the Chronicles of Narnia with my oldest (soon to be 8). I am loving re-reading so many books that I read as a child and finding so much more to appreciate about them as an adult. (Lews, in particular is really quite profound and I never noticed it what with all the talking mice and beavers and whatnot!) We watched the movie, and found it a little intense in places as well. Focus on the family put out a dramatic reading version which is superb. It’s often a great way to pass some “quiet time” in the afternoon when kids have outgrown naps but everyone needs a break. Great post. And I an decidely uncrafty and Pinterest scares the pants off me so I LOVE your themed family night.