the last weekend of october we went to narnia. my friends and i spent a year dreaming about this event, six months actively talking about details, 3 months really planning, and 3 hours executing it. my girls went as mrs. tumnus and lucy ready for battle.
the rain threatened the party but for the most part, it held off. the result was magical. there was a wardrobe door that each family entered when they arrived at the party and honestly, we were all transported. every family got a group photo and i can't include them all, but here are some of the highlights. i was amazed at the detail in people's costumes, it was clear that children and adults alike relished the chance to become their favorite characters. (most of the photos are by christine, a dear and very talented friend. mother to a beaver and an aslan. wife to a bulgy bear)
there were also several group photos, including the tree and water nymphs. this was a popular costume idea. we also ended up with someone dressed as a wardrobe, turkish delight, a lamp post, and a bulgy bear. we also had several sets of mr and mrs beaver, a minotaur, a dawn treader, and an actual centaur. really there was so much creativity.
this is the third consecutive year that we have put on a literary event. the first year we all went to neverland (and when i say 'all' i mean about 30 people total). the second year we went to the mad hatter's tea party in wonderland with about 75 people. this year we had well over 125 people attend, not to mention those that did not come because of the rain. these are the ladies i had the pleasure of working with to plan the party. the party planning committee (PPC).
we had many stations for free play including a beaver dam, the dawn treader, an archery station, the ruins of cair paravel, aslans' how, the stone table, aslan's feast table, dancing lawn, a treasure hunt, and freeze tag with the white witch herself. the children frolicked around, sword fighting and imagining and we adults had the pure delight of just watching.
the more i share with people about this event, the more i hear how unique and rare it is to have a group of people (a HUGE group of people) who all want to do a crazy thing like dress up and pretend to be in a make believe world. not only that, but whole families (like 30 who families) who plan and prepare and make and dream about costumes and read books together to prepare. it really is incredible. honestly i dont know how we will out do narnia because, unlike neverland and wonderland, i think we all feel a deep spiritual connection to the places and people in the narnia books. if you are unfamiliar with the narnia series, seven books in all, they are the most beautiful allegories about the Christian faith and our relationship with each other, with sin, and with God.
there was a magical moment during the group pciture of the kids where an adult yelled 'for narnia' and the kids all responded, fists raised 'and for aslan'.
the joy in the planning is such a pleasure. the ppc spent so many hours in meetings, both in person and via video chat, and even though we were technically deciding on food and decor and station ideas, it really felt like we were all indulging in this desire deep within us to enter a magical place, and talk all our kids and our friends with us. here's to going through the wardrobe again and again, as it is in our hearts and minds and at our fingertips.
the feast table was filled with loaves of bread, wedges of cheese, salads, whole roasted chickens, sausages, mounds of butter, whole fruits, cakes and pies and all things acceptable for the feast table of the great lion. oh and we had a pig roast as well, did i mention that. crucial details
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