Miracle Worker

I guess you could say that Avery is now a community theater veteran. She just completed her first play at the Forum. She played the part of a blind student in "The Miracle Worker". I can't begin to tell you what a positive experience it was! She truly loves theater! Last week was nothing but practice and performances and I don't remember a single complaint! All the older kids and adults in the play were so sweet to her and such good role models. The students weren't on stage much, so in between their part and curtain call, a couple of the older "students" spent time curling her hair and putting extra make up on her. I think she was like a real live doll to them! We are sad that it is over, but looking forward to what is to come. The next show up is "Beauty and the Beast." While it doesn't have parts for girls under age 15, we are looking forward to going to watch some of our new friends. Next school year, they will do "Snow White" and Avery is already planning for what she would like to be!!!!

Wil's Spring Musical

Jonesboro Pre-K had their Spring Musicals last week. I got to go see Wil perform on Wednesday. It was so cute! They entered the room all wearing penguin hats. Wil wore his for all of 2 seconds and took it off. I was glad to see they were only wearing them for one song anyway. I, as always, picked the wrong seat, so the pictures aren't terrific. There are a couple from after the show that are cute. His favorite song from the performance seems to be the one titled, "The Mud Puddle Jumped On Me!" Ask him to sing it for you sometime!

Happy Easter

Needles and Thread

For several years now, Avery has said that her ambition is to be a fashion designer. During Spring Break, we finally got a chance to have our first sewing lesson. I will post pictures later, but she did a great job! She started by cutting out the pattern and fabric to make a pair of pants. She cuts straighter than I do! We then learned to load a bobbin and thread the needle. She did most of the sewing on her pants. I only helped with the "curvy parts". When all was done, she said that she, "mostly loved sewing although she was afraid at first that she was going to stick herself with a needle, but she didn't." Maybe we will all be wearing her creations one day! She tells me that if she is a designer, all her clothes will be stretchy!!!!

Wil Words

We have been noticing lately that when Wil brushes his teeth by himself that his breath doesn't smell much better when he is done than when he started....anyone else ever have this experience? Well, last week Blake had had enough. He went in at bedtime to help Wil brush. Wil didn't exactly appreciate the help and wiggled the whole time Blake was brushing, which made it all the more uncomfortable. When he was done I went in to smooth things over with a whining boy and here is the conversation that followed:

Me: Wil, daddy just wants to teach you the right way to brush your teeth.

Wil: I don't want to be teached. I just want to be a normal kid! First school and now this!

What would be the fun in raising normal kids????

Six Flags 2009

Well, as most of you know, we Barnetts love us a theme park. We have been getting season passes for Six Flags for most of Wil's life and go to DisneyWorld as often as possible. Last weekend was our first trip to 6 Flags of the year. Since we first purchased our passes at Six Flags Over Texas, this has to be our first destination year to pick up coupon books and all that great stuff. Normally, we try to make the pilgrimage to Dallas on a long weekend, but no time for that this year. We headed out at about 4:45 last Friday, stopped in Searcy to eat at Wendy's (mistakenly took the Race Street exit, which added many minutes to the trip!) and then arrived in Dallas a little after midnight. We spent the whole day in the park on Saturday with wonderful weather, just a little windy. Then woke up on Sunday, ate breakfast and headed home. On the way back I mentioned to Blake that it would be interesting to hear the kids talk about such trips when they are older. They will either think that we did some of the coolest stuff or that their parents completely lost their minds when they thought that Jonesboro to Dallas was a weekend trip! It is always so nice to just get out of town, away from all the obligations and enjoy being together. Many good memories from this trip, including Wil hitting on Hawk Girl ("You're Pretty!"), the kids pigging out on Dippin' Dots and Daddy creating a makeshift bench from the coffee table in our room so that we could all fit around the little table to enjoy sandwiches from the Subway next door to the hotel. Can't wait until our trip. I think they're taking me to Six Flags - St. Louis for Mother's Day.

Heard at school

My children love the rare days when they get to come back to Annie Camp with me after school and play while I do work. Yesterday was one of those days. Avery loves to "play school" while we are there. That means Wil is her pupil. I sat down at my computer and she gathered books and got the board ready for school. She had Wil pick a seat and then started reading "Pink and Say" to him. She read a page or two and then asked, "Class, what does marauders mean?" Wil, answered, "Uh, I think it is a fancy word for head..." Of course, this was not correct and she told him in that sweet way that only a sister can, "Uh, NO!" Wil looked at me and said, "This school is NOT fun!" He then "dropped out" of school and proceeded to make a rocket out of my eraser and tops to Magic Markers.