Of Shields and 2 year old Theology

Here are some glam shots of the shields.
To get any sort of cooperation from the kids, I had to bribe them with chocolate chips. And even then, my St. George would only tolerate a few lukewarm glances at the camera after I was waving a handful of chocolate chips. St. Joan of Arc was more cooperative, and even smiled in hope for the chocolate chips not yet seen. Her faith was rewarded.

Awesomest toy kid helmet and sword ever from here

 I realized in the above shots Joan of Arc was wearing hot pink pants. I know they had bright colors back then, but I rushed out and got some brown pants that more matched my medieval sensibilities.

Joan of Arc was not thrilled. She wanted "no, no, duh pwetty pants!!!" It was some time before she would smile again. Only when reminded about the chocolate chips...

And you though Captain America on a motorcycle was cool....

St. George photobombing....

"En I spear duh dragon fru duh mouth"

Saints evidently have union rights. When Jenny said "I fight duh dwagon" Isaiah corrected her, "no, no! I fight duh dragon! You fight duh Engwish!"

I am so. proud. of. this. thing.

I did the rough outlines, Josh did the detail work. My toe is copyrighting this image in the corner, since I'm pretty sure no one wants to claim ownership of it....

We played under the table, with Christmas lights. Isaiah (surprise) decided it was "a gun!" Jenny called it fire, and had her pet pony eating the lights.

Isaiah loves Bible stories. It seems sometimes he gets them a little mixed up, and then transmits them to Jenny.
The other day, I was trying to peer into her ear (long story), and Jenny asked very matter of factly "you going to cut off my ear?"
"No, Jenny!"
"Jesus cut off Peter's ear, but he put it back"
I think that was Isaiah's oral tradition of Peter taking off Malchus' ear....

Isaiah loves hearing the story of the Prophet Elijah at bedtime, all the way from Carmel to God speaking to him on the mountain. Anyway, he's developed the disconcerting habit of repeating bits of the story randomly. Especially the sentences that get the most reaction out of me, such as "Dear God, pwease wet me die!"

(Another example, Isaiah repeatedly throwing the potty chair about the room while laughing maniacally and shouting "how DARE you turn my fadder's house into a den of feeves!")

Anyway, while they were eating, Isaiah announced "I died"
Jenny was disturbed and repremanded him "no, Idaiah not die!"
To which he maintained that he did.
Jenny was agitated at this, "No, Idaiah, JESUS died"
Evidently, dying is only something Jesus is allowed to.

She's enforcing doctrinal purity, at a very young age.

Quilted Leather Bracer and UnderBracer Tutorial: DIY for under $10

Here is my tutorial of how I made these awesome quilted bracers/vambraces.

Part 1: Drafting a Bracer Pattern based on the Vambraces of Gondor

Part 2: Sewing the underbracers, How to Quilt Bracers, and a Lacing Ring Solution
Part 3: Assembling the Bracers: How to make Thin Leather look like Thick Leather

Part 4: Inserting Grommets/Eyelets without a hole punch, and Painting the Leather with shoepolish
Part 5: Glam Shots of the finished project

Joseph of Arimathea

Adonai, I was silent, and believed.
Silence and belief ---which the greater sin?
I waited waited waited ---till the time was right to reveal
what I knew, inside
Bide Bide Bide
'Wisdom', 'Forbearance'---failure I
called it such, and did not speak...
God, I failed.

Now at last, too late, too late
He is dead.

I waited to tell men, till ---when?
Now. too late.
But I, Now will go. Tell them.
And bury him.
All I have left, all I can do,
bury him.

I gave You not my words
I give You now my tomb

Holy God, Forgive,
I failed You.
Too late, too cautious, too coward
now I
Bind him with these failed hands,
Wrap the linen, pour the myrr
These hands that touch your dead flesh
loved you, Lord.

(from  Aug 2011)

picture credit

Knights, Saints, and Zebras. But alas, no stormtroopers...

 Jenny's style...her helmet, a necklace she improvised from a broken light-pull, and a dress up skirt.
She is so glamorous.

Jenny and Grandma :)

Jenny dressed as her namesake, St Jehanne D'Arc. She is very excited about it "I'm TUNA DARK!!!" "EN I fight duh INGWUSH!!"

Isaiah as St. George, with the spear with which he "speared duh dragon through duh mouf"

Alas, no clear pictures of her pennant. I really just printed out the image from here and taped it to a dowel.

 According to the internet, this is the coat of arms that King Charles gave her, featuring St. Catherine's sword. Josh and I painted it.

After Halloween, we got up very early in the hope of spotting Stormtroopers (the Phoenix 501st) at the MS walk at the zoo.

Alas, we missed the Stormtroopers. But there were zebras. And lions. And elephants. But no stormtroopers :(

 Jenny was even R2D2 that day (its a bit small on her, her old costume from last halloween)

 

Isaiah pointing out the zebras.

See the elephant in the background? Isaiah was more interested in a pit that the maintenance had dug near some electrical stuff. "ITS A CAVE" he said. I had to keep him from climbing down into it.

Isaiah having fun with chalk. He makes me draw stormtroopers. "DRAW DADDY BLUE STORMTROOPER" etc etc etc. The pavement is clogged with Princess Leia, R2D2, Stormtroopers, Luke, Stormtroopers, and everyone's favorite "DARK VADER" as Jenny says...

Isaiah has been building these. When I asked what they were, he said they were BIG Red Iron Man. BIG Captain America, and BIG GREEN HULK (with purple pants).
This explains why he said my attempt at hopscotch was Captain America.

 My attempt at interior decorating.

My attempt at an elven crown from cheap galvanized utility wire and seed beads. It's for Jenny. Maybe she'll be Arwen next year....