Class Field Trip to the Fair

On Monday Emma Claire's class took a field trip to the North Carolina State Fair. The fair is always a big highlight in our house and Emma Claire will ask all year long how close we are to October so we can go to the fair.

We met her class at a bus stop and rode the bus over to the fair help save money on parking. The kids thought it was such a treat. I wish you could have heard their shrills when it drove up to pick us up. After we arrived at the fair we headed straight to the produce and livestock competitions.

Left: Emma Claire's Class. Right: They were listening very closely to everything Mrs. Cindy told them about the animals.

Left: There was also a competition for the best dressed pumpkin! Right: A visit to bee exhibit.

Left: Emma Claire loved the bee exhibit! She stood right in the front asking the poor man a zillion questions about those bees. Right: Everytime I tried to get a picture of Emma Claire on the hay her hands went straight to her eyes because they were burning. The girl must be allergic to hay because she will also break out on her legs if she is on it too long.

We also went to The Field of Dreams where the kids got to gather different types of produce and then go to the Farmer's Market and sell them for money! 

 Right: After the field trip was over we couldn't leave the fair until she got to ride atleast one ride! You can't go and not ride rides, but because we were going back on Thursday as a family she only got to chose one. She and Nathan chose their one choice VERY carefully.

 Right: You also can't leave without a treat. : ) Emma Claire chose cotton candy and chose yummy mini donuts!

We had such a great time with our friends and her class at the NC State Fair!

RaRa's Chocolate Pudding

Growing up whenever I was sick my mom always made me chocolate pudding. It felt great on my throat and was a special treat for my tummy. : )

Over the weekend I've been sick with a cold so I made myself some chocolate pudding since my mom lives all the way in Mississippi. (Wish you were here, mom! : )

RaRa's Chocolate Pudding

3 Cups of Milk
5 Eggs, Separated
2/3 Cups of Flour
2 Cups of Sugar
2/3 Stick of Butter
5 Tsp. Cocoa
1 Tsp. Vanilla

Beat eggs yolks and milk slightly in a sauce pan.  In a separate bowl mix the flour, sugar, and cocoa really well. Add the dry ingredients to the milk, then add the vanilla & butter.  Stir constantly until thickness you desire.

*This can also be placed into 2 cooked pie shells for Chocolate Pies.  Save your eggs whites in a separate bowl and add 1/2 cup of sugar and beat with mixer on high until stiff. (Lift the spoon out and see if it leaves a peak standing.)  Spread over pies and put in a 300 degree oven until lightly brown on top.

As you can see in the pictures below if you don't get all the chunks out of the dry ingrediants you will have lumps in the pudding mixture. I mash them with a spoon on the side of the saucepan once in the milk mixture or you could do it before hand in the dry ingredients.

Just look at this yumminess! I already feel better after eating some. : ) Yum!

Emma Claire's Chore Chart

Over the last couple of weeks we have started giving Emma Claire chores to complete each day. She has taken to it very well and loves that she has some responsibility in the house. It's 'her jobs'! : ) I began searching the internet for a chore chart to use and found this one from Melissa and Doug that I really love. It has most all of the chores we would give her over the next couple of years plus some blank magnets to write ones we want to add.

I also enjoy the freedom to reward her in different ways. This week she has been working on earning tickets to ride rides at the state fair this upcoming week. We have also talked about letting her earn $.05 a smiley face each week or using them as a point system with their being a total number she could earn in a week.

You can tell by looking at the picture that she has done really well this week! I also like the fact that although she can't read yet she can tell what the specific chore is by the picture on the magnet. There are also other options besides just chores; there are attitudes. This week we chose to work on whining. I think next week we'll do 'no teasing' with Camp. : )

Good job this week, Sissy!! (On Saturday we took a break from chores but she chose to clean up her room anyway!)

Sometimes They're Just Plain Silly

A Week in Mississippi

We just got back last night from Mississippi and had such a wonderful time. Here is just a glimpse of what fun we had!

Emma Claire & Camp had a blast playing with their cousins! Movie Time.

Left: Emma Claire & James. Right: Camp & Haydon

Left: Camp thought riding in the car with his birthday balloons was the best! We couldn't even see him. : ) Right: Camp loves fish tanks! While we were at Gran-Gran and Pops he stayed just like this checking out every move the fish made.

Left: Emma Claire & Gran-Gran. Right: Emma Claire, Pops, & Camp.

Left: At Gran-Gran's you ALWAYS get ice cream! Right: Watching Uncle Phillip bush hogging the yard.

The kids just needed some fresh air. Right: Check out Camp's new tennis shoes! While we were there I took him to get his feet measured and get a new pair of shoes. Boy was I surprised when they told me he measured at an 8 1/2 wide! I've had the poor boy in 6 & 7's! Opps. He is so proud of his new shoes, too! He keeps telling us to 'look, look!'. : )

Left: Benjamin's grandparents live next door so it's a perfect place to run. Right: Camp & Grandaddy.

Left: Emma Claire & Grandmother. Right: Camp followed Grandaddy around and copied everything he did.

Left: Camp took off running toward the pond and Grandaddy, at 81 mind you, took off running after him. Right: On Thursday night we went with Brandon and Hannah to spend some relaxing time at the boat.

It was a very relaxing time hanging out and staying up late talking!

After sleeping in on the boat we took it out on Friday to see the beautiful scenery on the water. Just look at those beautiful fall colors & wildlife!

Left: Camp & Emma Claire with Poppa and GG. Right: On our way to the airport we stopped at Cracker Barrell to eat and RaRa bought Emma Claire & Camp these cute barking/walking dogs. They had a blast with them and kept having them race!

Left: Camp & Emma Claire with RaRa & Pepaw. Right: Emma Claire was exhausted from all the fun she had this week. It didn't take her long to pass out on the plane.

Left: Camp thought he was at the movie theatre with his big screen movie, snacks, and drink! : ) Right: After the long week visiting we were all exhausted when we got home. Actually none of us got out of the bed til 11:15 this morning. : 0

Now we begin detoxing the kids from being with grandparents for a week. : ) It usually takes us a good 2 weeks to get them under control.  They have been spoiled rotten!