All's Fair in Arts and Crafts

 

It was finally time to load up all the goodies the kids had been working on for the last few weeks. We headed to the fair grounds and despite our best efforts to complete paperwork beforehand, we still spent over 2 hours checking items in to their divisions.

It's been several years since the kids last exhibited craft items at the fair and I had forgotten a few things that would have made it go a little faster. Hopefully, I can remember them next year as we'll have 5 kiddos showcasing their talents and 3 little ones tagging along.

The kids worked hard and gathered quite a collection of items to display. They had everything from Christmas Favors, to Abstract Paintings, to Dolls and everything in between.

Madisyn has really been busy and even received some assistance from Nana. Her most prized entry was a pillow made from a campaign t-shirt when Papaw ran for County Judge. When he passed away, she pulled the shirt from her keepsake box and began talking about hanging it in her room.

I suggested that she upcycle it into a pillow. She decided to ask Nana to help her with the project. One afternoon she gathered her sewing machine and all the necessary supplies and headed to Nana's. I think it was a wonderful project for her to complete with Nana and they did a great job!

After we filled out the catalog of our entries, we headed to the 4-H section of the exhibit hall. Once again while the waited, the kids scoped out the competition. We have some very talented children in our area! We saw some amazing drawings and beautiful crafts.

After we completed all the paperwork, we loaded in the van and headed for home. Daddy treated us all to a Sonic drink. As he sat drinking his tea, Henry said "Thank you for the tea, Daddy. I would have rather had an ice cream cone, but it's OK." I can assure you, there is never a dull moment in our house or car!

Fly On The Wall

It's been some time since I shared some the funny things the kids say. Since the main purpose of our blog is to record our memories, I want to share a few.


Each year the children over the age of four get to go "Birthday Shopping" with Nana. Instead of bringing a gift on their birthday, Kent's Mom gives them a certificate to be redeemed in the future. The birthday child gets to spend the night with Nana and then go shopping the next day. The kids love it because they get one on one time with Nana, eat wherever they like and choose their own gifts. This year the festivities have included taking Nana to the movies! When I picked Henry up after his day, he was talking non-stop. He told me story after story of their adventures all the way home. The first story he shared and the most exciting part of his day was breakfast at McDonald's.  He told me he had chocolate milk and pancakes and then shared some wisdom, "Mommy we ate at McDonald's and you can go INSIDE! You don't have to drive by  and let the lady give you your food through the window. You can go inside and eat. They have tables and chairs!" Clearly we've only hit the drive through in his short little life and he had no clue there was another option!


In our history curriculum this year we are studying the exploration of America. The kids were sharing things they learned on the way home from church. They got to talking about Christopher Columbus and different children were spouting facts, "One of the ships was the Pinta", "It was 1492", "He sailed for Spain", etc. Ben didn't want to be out done and he said "Christopher Columbus is dead". Griffin quickly added, "Ben, everyone knows that!".


Our children have as many adult friends as they do kids. One of their favorite couples is Mrs. Jennifer and Mr. Dennis. While I was prepping supper one night the kids were playing in the living room. Mary Claire told Liberty to open wide. Madisyn said "Why are you telling Libby to open wide? Are you playing Dentist?" Then Henry said, "Mrs. Jennifer is a dentist." Ben could tell where the conversation was going and added "Mrs. Jennifer has a Mr. Dentist." Apparently, Mr. Dennis is a farmer and a dentist. ;-)


After church the kids were discussing what we would do on Sunday afternoon. Our standard activity is naps for all. Ben isn't particularly found of naps and said, "When I'm married and have kids . . . On Sundays I'm going to make everybody go home  . . . and eat a bag of cheese!"

Morning Mayhem

Imagine my surprise when I downloaded the pictures from the camera memory card and discovered a morning of fun the children had! The photographer {Madisyn, I believe} caught her brothers and sisters in all kinds of mischief, while Mommy prepared for the day.

 

 

Ben was wonderful at devouring the rest of the bananas.

 Tyler helped himself to the remainder of the cookie dough.

 

Mary Claire and Liberty had lots of carrots {at least they were health conscious}. Maybe that's why Libby's hair looks so orange?!? ;-)

But the greatest surprise was the photo shoot that captured the many faces of Griffin. I hope they make you smile as much as I did. I'm still not sure what prompted him to dig out his fishing derby certificate from June to use as a prop, but the boy has a future in comedy.

Fly on the Wall - Ben Edition

Recently we purchased a new range. The other night while fixing supper Ben started in with his quite frequent routine of asking questions.

Ben: I wanna ask you something.

Me: Ok, ask away.

Ben: I wanna ask you this - Why did we get a new stove?

Me: Because the old one broke.

Ben: Why did it break?

Me: I don't know, I guess it was old and just quit working right.

Ben: I bought that stove.

Me: Yes, you helped Mommy and Daddy pick it out, didn't you?

Ben: Yep, we went to Wowe's (Lowe's) and bought it. It was when the kids spent the night with Papaw. (Madisyn, Ty, and Griffin spent the night when they went to get Skeeter which was the same weekend we bought the stove.)

Ben: I remember. Me and Wenwe (Henry) went to Wowe's but the kids didn't get to go. They had to stay at Papaw's.


It cracks me up the way he refers to his older siblings as "the kids".

Fly On The Wall - Ben

Last night at supper I looked over and noticed Ben had a fork AND a spoon. I told him he didn't need the spoon and he should put it up before it was dirty.

He replied "Yes, I do."

I then asked why.

"Cause that fork won't do right."

That boy is something else.

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Fly on the Wall

Last night Madisyn was showing Kent her history notebook. Back in the fall she made a tri-corner hat when we were studying about George Washington, Ben Franklin, etc. She showed it to Kent and said that it was a hat like George Washington had. She told him it was a George Washington hat. Kent asked her what color his was (Madisyn's was white). She told him that George Washington's hat was blue "so it would match his suit".

Fly On The Wall

****Warning this is an attempt at mobile blogging.*****


Tonight we were eating with Mr. Mark and Mrs. Janet. The kids were telling Mrs. Janet that they would like to go to California again. She asked if they would fly and Ty told her no because he's afraid of 'bad guys with bombs in their underwear'. Madisyn then piped up and said 'We listen to talk radio'. LOL


What can I say, we're raising them 'Right'!

Fly on the Wall

Yesterday we were at an open house for an upcoming auction. Papaw was there and he pretty much always has candy in his truck for the kids. Kent reached in to get a piece and Griffin warned him about the "toothpaste chocolate". Griffin kept going on and on about how Papaw had bought toothpaste chocolate and it was nasty so Daddy don't get a piece. Kent poked around in the console a little and discovered the offending candy. Most people know it as Ande's mints. He thought the mint tasted like toothpaste!

Fly on the Wall

Tonight we were talking about the boys growing into and out of their old clothes. Griffin has been having a hard time seeing Ben wear some of his old favorites. Nana told him that when you outgrow your old clothes, you get to grow into new ones. He started chattering about how he was getting bigger and bigger and one day he would be as big as Mommy and Daddy. Then he said "Me guess when me get that big me have to go to the store nekkid to buy clothes." LOL That boy is so entertaining!

Fly on the Wall

The kids are getting to the age where they remember holidays from one year to the other and are learning more about the meaning behind them.

We were having a discussion yesterday about what Veteran's Day is/was and what it meant to be a Veteran. When Kent came home Madisyn wanted to tell him all about "Vetinary" Day.

There has been lots of talk lately on when to have Thanksgiving and Christmas with each side of the family. We were at Justin and Kristen's house and I asked Kristen if she knew what day Christmas was on and we looked at the calendar to determine when it fell. Later that night Madisyn let Kent and I know that "Thanksgiving is on Thursday this year." LOL She now knows that it's always on Thursday. :)

Fly on the Wall

The other night we made a quick trip to Jonesboro to drop items off for a consignment sale. It was around supper time and the kids were hungry. I think all kids everywhere at some point start the "I'm so hungry I could eat a ___________" game. Our children are no exception.

Ty stated that he was so hungry he could eat an elephant. Griffin thought about that for a minute and quickly added "I'm so hungry I could eat a baby elephant." He is only 4 and I guess an adult elephant just wouldn't end with a "happy plate". LOL It's a good thing we don't know anyone that works for PETA because the next animal that our children wanted to consume was a dolphin! Where do they come up with this stuff!?!

Fly on the Wall

This morning Griffin was doing his school work. We're working on the days of the week and using a calendar. I asked him if yesterday was Wednesday, what is today? He replied "Tomorrow."

Fly on the Wall

A few weeks ago Ty went home with Mr. Mark and Mrs. Janet on a Sunday afternoon. He spent the afternoon with them and rode to church with them that evening. On the way out the door, Ty asked if he could have a sucker. Mr. Mark told him sure and to grab a couple for Madisyn and Griffin. As he rode in the back of the van, he finished his sucker. In a little bit, he said "Mr. Mark, I don't know if we should have put these back here. You better take them." He then gave Mr. Mark the suckers. LOL I'm proud that he realized he was too tempted to eat them to keep them in his control.

Fly on the Wall

Griffin is 4 years old and lately I have been amazed at the things that come out of his mouth.

Earlier this week Ty couldn't find his toothbrush. After searching long and hard (I believe the official time was 43 seconds but to a 6 yo boy that's like 3 weeks ;). ), it was determined that the toothbrush jumped out of the drawer and ran away in the night. Griffin being the kind soul he is offered to let Ty use his brush when he was done. After several statements of "Hurry up, Griffin" control of the toothbrush was given to Ty. As Tyler reached for the drawer to get more toothpaste, Griffin said "You don't need that, it already has toothpaste on it.". LOL While he was willing to use Griffin's toothbrush, Ty was unwilling to use his leftover toothpaste. Griffin shrugged his shoulders and walked away with the smirk that I believe will make him famous one day.

*****

This morning Ben was having a rough day and was pitching a little fit. Fits are not tolerated around here so he was disciplined. For some reason this made him mad at Madisyn and he began shouting at her to do something for him (I forget what exactly). I very sternly told him "You are not a little prince". Griffin piped up very quickly with "Ya but me are".

That boy is something else!

Fly on the Wall

Every night when Kent comes home, Ben pulls the blinds back and see his truck. As soon as that truck is in the drive, Ben begins running through the house yelling "Daddy home, Daddy home." This past week all seven of use have been sick so Kent has stayed home several days. We were all sitting in the living room watching a movie and Ben went to the window. He pulled back the blinds, gasped with delight and began yelling "Daddy home, Daddy home." He ran past Kent and to the back door apparently waiting for it to open. LOL

We have since learned that he must equate seeing the truck anywhere with Daddy being home. Kent was getting a flat fixed and Ben started his routine. We followed Kent to town and all the way there Ben stated "Daddy home, Daddy home." Oh to know what is fully going on in the mind of a two year old.

Fly on the Wall

We were driving to town yesterday when the kids began fighting. The three oldest sit across the back seat of the van. If the saying absence makes the heart grow fonder is true, then it must be the touching that makes the heart desire annoy those nearest you. Apparently, Madisyn had picked at Ty until he could take no more. He lashed out at her little louder than normal and yelled at Madisyn "You're nothing but a little persecutor!". Kent and I were unable to discipline either one of them because we were laughing too hard. And we were a little proud that he used the word in it's correct sense and pronunciation.