I don't remember what I said...

...but the Ladies Auxiliary in December, 1984 thought I was an outstanding spokesman for freedom.

My mom was cleaning out a closet, and found this 19 year old relic. :) Kinda wish I still had the speech! 

I remember Dad taking me to the event, that it was very cold, and that I felt what was for me, at the time, a very familiar feeling--overwhelming shyness and smallness. Funny how "outstanding spokesman" describes that same person! It's one of many instances that proves I'm always better with a script. :)

Crazy Sock Day

Since their everyday socks are pretty crazy already, creativity was in order. Enter rubber bands and whatever crazy things you can put your hands on. Like beanie babies and a couple of those decorative flowers that hold photographs. And then go to school.

(I just keep staring at Evelyn's shoes in this picture. I assure you they are quite normal, hot pink, high top Converse All Stars. It is some bizarre optical illusion that makes them look like giant clown shoes.)

Inspiration

For a few weeks our living room had only two chairs and a TV tray. We've been getting rid of furniture. These items recently made the LONG journey up from the basement to become the new living room. (Of course it no longer looks like this because the 2013 Christmas Tree has made its appearance. Plus we are having some long-overdue work done around here. It's a bit of a mess.)

But the space behind the sofa is still intact. That has meant the return of the Secret Hideout. There are no fewer than four blankets back there and at least two pillows. A lot of reading and writing happens behind the sofa, which pleases me to no end. 

Sitting behind the sofa reading books trumps sitting ON the sofa watching TV. (Says the mom who just watched The Hobbit...twice...while finishing a project for work...)

Friendships

We love our cousins! Can't wait to see Cousin Casey at Christmas! (How's that for alliteration??)

The after-church playdates are often the best--spur of the moment and fun. Here they are playing Narnia at what we've dubbed "The Aslan Playground." I'm sure you can guess why.

Amelia brought a school friend to AWANA the night of the Boa Constrictor.

Posing outside the church.

Christine's family used to be in our Hamiltopia crowd...until they moved to NJ! Now we scoop her up whenever she's visiting her grandparents here in B-more.

Random Fun

Green smoothies. An RVR staff friend introduced me to kefir, and we've been growing our own. No, kefir is not green--it's white and you use it in place of yogurt, buttermilk, or sour cream. It's one of those immune-system boosters. The green comes from kale.

Evelyn won these answering a "Choose the Right Door" question at AWANA a few weeks ago.

While Alan was in Canada, we hosted Amelia's class hamster, Mr. Shivers. The weeked before, we hosted Evelyn's class hamster...but I can't recall that one's name. "Mr. Fluffypants" comes to mind, but I'm pretty sure that was LAST year's class hamster.

I admit it kind of made me want a hamster. They are so CUTE, and this one especially was easy to handle. Made me recall all the years my friend Diana and I kept hamsters between us, and even brought them to RVR with us for the summer. I think there were a whole litter of babies by one summer's end. :)

Holy Boa Constrictor, Batman!

Yep, it's a real one. Our AWANA club has an annual presentation by a local animal rescue group that shares Bible stories by using their rescued animals as various illustrations. Afterwards, there is usually some up-close-and-personal time with a large reptile. :)