Muggle Magic (that's imagination)

Most of us in our home had the flu this week, mild in all cases, but here nonetheless. But, as Pa Ingalls often said, "There is no great loss without some small gain."

In our case, the loss was small and the gain was great.

We finished On the Banks of Plum Creek, and gazing at our bookshelves from our nests of blankets and pillows and puke bowls on the couches, we searched for a new book to delve into. Emmy quickly spotted the Harry Potter series and begged to start it. She didn't have to beg for long.

I hadn't read this to my kids yet, wanting them to be mature enough to handle the "scary parts." This was by far the most intense book we've ever read.
We've read a few Roald Dahl's, and those Vermiscious Knids do get pretty freaky in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and the man eating giants in The BFG are certainly nothing to be scoffed at. Emmy thought that Black Beauty had some parts that deserved hiding under the blankets.

But. Nothing compares to Professor Quirrel slowly unwinding his purple turban to reveal the face of Voldemort on the back of his head. That's intense, man.

 My Harry Potter geek has been revived full force. I love these books. I can't even tell you the joy it brings to my soul to overhear Jonah point at his door and say "Alohamora!" before entering his bedroom (that's the unlocking charm). Or to have Emmy ask me if I'm really a muggle.

Emmy really gets into stories. She has her whole life. Before she could speak herself she loved listening to stories. She is content indefinitely (I can only say that because I haven't found the max yet) listening to me tell stories. Relating stories of my childhood, or stories my Dad used to tell me, or reading aloud. She is in her happy place. And she becomes so emotionally involved! I can remember her crying her eyes out when Charlotte the spider quietly died, or when Mary finally finds the door to the Secret Garden and then finds herself inside, or when the storks finally land in the village of Shora in The Wheel on the School.
Jonah has lately started acting the same way, minus the tears. He always listened when I read, but only in the last year or so has he been interested enough to want to sit next to me so he didn't miss a word.
But I digress.

We get interrupted quite frequently when we read, because there are mini emergencies happening all the time at our house. "Mom, Amelia's on the table again." "MOM! I can't reach the PRETZELS!" or even "Could you bring me some toilet paper?!" and at each of these interruptions Emmy and Jonah would collapse in despair at having to stop. At one point in our reading Emmy (who was the only one of us who escaped the flu) sprang up from her reclined position on the couch and started bouncing up and down on her knees and punching her pillow yelling "I KNOW Snape's the bad guy! I know it! I know it! He HAS to be!!"

And isn't it so convincing that he Must be? Love it. Love it love it love it. 

Like I said, we've been rereading the Little House books lately, and switching from them to Harry Potter really threw the kids for a loop. Don't get me wrong, the little house books hold a very special place in my heart and they teach lessons that must be learned, and I value them highly. But watching their faces as J. K. Rowling describes Hagrid and his flying motorcycle was priceless. After the first chapter I asked them what they thought, and they were both wide eyed and grinning.

We finished it in three days, emergencies and everything, and we have had magic on the brain ever since.

I just asked Jonah to grab a diaper for Millie, and he needed to ride his Nimbus 2000 to go get it. Fine by me, just watch out for the ceiling fans.

Christmas time is (was) here

As Christmas drew near there began to be some talk among the junior members of the Kepsel household as to how exactly Santa would enter the home. Being as there was no fireplace, the children were worried that he may have to rely completely on his magic. Believing as they did in the ultimate abilities he possessed, they knew it would all work out for the best in the end. But still they worried. 

It was not long before they devised a way to help him, using a little magic of their own.
Paper was cut, crayons furnished, and a fireplace began to take shape.

The event was not without certain catastrophes (some in the form of "dis is the wong color!") but they were overcome.

Emmy was totally stoked about this project and went at it with super girl enthusiasm!

It's beginning to look a lot like a fireplace!

It was soon finished, and Christmas Eve arrived.

As did the annual reenactment of the Nativity. Claire was privileged to be Mary this year, which was a big step for both she and Emmy. And doesn't she hold her baby weight well?

Joseph was busting out moves, because this kid seriously can't help it.

The shepherds were guarding their flock by night.

The genetically confused donkey/giraffe/piglet gently carried Mary to Bethlehem.

Papa was the narrator, and he did a lurvely job.

Almost there, guys!
Claire was seriously adorbs. She was beaming the whole evening.

Emmy threw out her arms, and when Papa started reading the Angel's tidings she stopped him with a "I can do this part!" at which point she recited the verses almost perfectly. That surprised most of us, but I guess she's heard the story enough times to know it by now. Made me happy all over.

We do try somewhat to be reverentish while we do this, but there are so many kids and somewhat irreverent adults around that it ends up being more exciting than quiet. But despite that, the quiet of the truthfulness of the story remains and somehow shines through and leaves us all feeling warm and happy.

These two wise ladies bore gifts.

And after a little persuasion laid them down.

Doesn't she look super wise?

The donkeygiraffepiglet made friends with the sheep, and things in the stable were as happy as can be.

This might be my favorite part of Christmas. With so many favorite parts it's hard to just pick one, but this just might be it.

Then Christmas Pajamas magically appeared on the stairs and were quickly donned.

You look great, kiddos! Now off to your visions of sugar plums. I love you, good night!

Overwhelming Happy

I don't even know where to begin.

It seems like four years has passed since I last blogged. Probably because so many events have taken place! The kind that would usually fill up four years! Or so it seems.

Cami got married. My parents hit the road. The sky? The train? They hit something and it took them out of this country and to the other side of the world. Christmas happened, too!

 And, through it all, things have been so super awesome.

I'm not complaining when I say that the last two months has been a blurry speed ball. Everything that happened was so good. 

 It was still a lot, though, know what I mean? It was a little overwhelming. I felt a little bogged down at times. Not by sadness or doubts, but just by the sheer excitement!

I'm a stay at home all-the-time-if-I-can-in-any-way-help-it kind of Mom. Leave the house? Rare.

Unless it's to our local ice rink, but that doesn't count. It's only two blocks away and the kids think they live there.

 They're getting to be pretty good little skaters! And check out this wicked move.

Jonah spends a lot more time "doing moves" than actually propelling himself forward across the ice in a skating fashion.

 Millie is usually being pulled around in the sled, but because Daddy was here on this particular occasion, she had more of a view.

 When I say "they're getting to be pretty good little skaters" what I really mean is they're still alive and the bruises are fading. They can get around the rink without holding on to the sides, and they giggle. A lot. That's success in my book.

What was I saying? Oh yes! Life.

Life is good. It is so completely and sometimes overwhelmingly good. Makes me emotional, which sometimes comes across as sober or even moody. But I'm not actually moody, I'm just... I'm just really really happy.

Here's to a January filled with nothing!! (yet)

Project report

We knew when we bought the house that we would have to replace the front door. 

 This photo was taken last march, long before we owned the house. This is our friendly neighborhood real estate agent checking out the rotted door frame with the biking clothes clad husband.

See what I mean? It was bad news bears. Replacement was eminent.

So, much time went by and we finally owned the house and started ripping into it and fixing things and beautifying and training for triathlons and what do you know it?! Fall arrived!

 Time to get to that door.
I shopped, I found, I purchased, and Caleb retrieved. We're a good team like that.

Papa came up for the weekend and first thing saturday morning they got to it.

 After removing the old yucky door they found that the yuckiness extended into the subfloor, which they then had to remove. They also discovered the reason for the rot and also how to prevent it from happening again to the new door. So, points for them.

All bright and shiny and new!

Caleb has a great support staff.

The old is outta there, time for the new!

 We were all feeling a little like this.

 Does it fit? Does it fit?

It fits!
Like a peach.

They sealed up the edges and called it a day. Because it was dark and Papa and Lala had a long drive ahead of them.
The next day, the Sabbath, was super stormy. So was Monday. And Tuesday!
That allowed time for the doorknob to be delivered. I discovered the magic of amazon once again and saved us a boat load on the door knob, but I didn't order it until the door was in. Because I'm on the ball like that.

This all went down the same week as Halloween, so Emmy dressed Caleb up as he installed the hardware. I just wanted to tell you that in case you were wondering who that little cutie was up there in that frightening photo.

 Oh, hello nice weather!
Time to finish the door.

Emmy on photography (that kid is short).

 The artist at work. I like this guy.

Looking good, babe!
No, he had never done anything like this before. Didn't phase him.

Fits!

I then spent the next week or so painting the lovely masterpiece.

 Ta-Da!

The weather has officially turned now, and it turned before the door itself was painted. That will just have to wait until spring. That's ok!

The house is sealed up and cozy and warm and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

 The little giggling brook is still running, despite the sub zero temperatures. It's adorable like that.

You done good, Caleb!