My 3 oldest kids decided to build the Mayflower after lunch today. Not really sure when it turned from the Mayflower into a fort, but here is an account of the ten minutes they spent working together on building their fort:

2:02
Max: Karson can we have your tiny pillow.
Karson: Yep
Max:  Go get it.  Get mine too.
Max:  Baby, come here.
Savannah:  Ok.
Max: We’re supposed to have a few more pillows. Karson went up to get them.
Savannah:  Baby, you can’t come in, so sorry.
Karson:  I’ll hold the pillow
Max:  No you don’t need to.
Savannah: No, no no no no no
Karson:  Share, share
Max: How does that look?
Savannah:  Going to get more blankets.
Max:  There’s only room for one person.
Savannah:  No Baby no!
Savannah:  No Jasmin!
Max:  Come here
Max:  Sasa, baby’s goin in the fort
Savannah:  No, no jaz.
Karson:  She just wanted a little spot to get in.
Karson:  Will you keep this little spot for the baby.
Karson:  Here max.
Max:  No!
Karson:  Why?
Max: We don’t need it.
Max: Where is your sleeping pillow?
Karson:  This is my pillow
Max:  Stop Karson!
Savannah:  Fine if you don’t want a fort
2:04
Max:  This is the DS port.  I will go get all 3 DSs.
Savannah:  Are you sure?
Max:  It will be awesome.  Even more awesomer with the DSs
Karson:  This fort is awesome.
Max:  Karson, let her go.
Max:  Go bye-bye.
Savannah:  Go see momma,
Savannah:  Momma’s got a surprise for you.
(Jasmin crying)
Savannah:  Come here (to Jasmin)
Me to Max: What’s wrong?
Max:  Karson smacked her head.  Max walks back into living room.
Max to Karson:  You’re weak.
Karson: (yelling)
Max:  Get out, get out!
Karson:  Don’t ruin our fort.
Savannah: Go bye-bye Jasmin.
Jasmin: Max
Max:  Ok now why are you lying to me?
<Talking that I can’t quite make out.>
2:09
Max:  Oh my gosh!  I can’t find my darn DS. (screaming) How come it’s not where it’s supposed to be?
Max:  I’m going to ruin the fort!
Savannah:  No max don’t!  Mom!
Savannah:  Max
(Max begins to count)…1…
Savannah: Max
2…
Savannah: Max!
3…
Savannah: Max!!
4…
5…
Savannah: Max!!!
6…
Savannah: Shut up!
Savannah: Max!
7…
8…
9…
10…
Max:  Destroy!
2:12
Max: Destroy the fort!
Savannah: you destroyed it!  You’re so mean!
Savannah to Karson:  He destroyed it!
Karson:  (Screaming)

A few more minutes after this account, Max and Savannah came to me slapping each other.  After some mediation from me, they decided to work together and make the fort better so they could all fit.  And now they are “taking their rests” in the fort.  I guess it all turned out all right. 

I didn’t realize I hadn’t written a post for so long.  I’ve been on Facebook, updating frequently on there…and I guess I lost track of my blog.  I will have to be more attentive to keeping it updated.  Sorry.  I know I’ve lost a lot of readers over the past year because of my lack of posts…but for those of you who still check me out occasionally, thanks for your loyalty.  I will try harder.

So, last week we took Pirate Island (you can be a fan on Facebook, too) out to the Eaton County Fair…Charlotte, Mi.  We had a great week.  Laid back and fun.  Doing the shows are so fun. We each have our strengths and areas we like to help with…I am more behind the scenes…which is perfect for me.  Savannah ran sound for every show.  She is so great at it.  We modified our sound system, so all Savannah has to do is push a button at the right time…and she does it perfect almost every time.  Karson and Max are helpful too, though not as dependable…as they are still young, immature…but it’s ok.  They did learn some jobs and helped out a lot with set up &  tear down.

We took a new babysitter with us.  Abby took great care of our kids.  We were glad we had her with us. The kids really liked getting to know her.  Jasmin really liked her, and often cried for Abby when she didn’t like what mommy had to say.

We also got to have some friends visit us.  Since we were close, that made it possible for them to come.  We had a great time hanging out and the kids loved riding rides with their friends.  We were glad we had some company…it makes it even more fun.

This week there is a lot I have to do.  Mainly is repairing the paint job on the show.  Hopefully tonight we can take off the aluminum strip around the marquis and then I will have to strip and prime it with a special primer and then try to match up the paint…which I think will be the most challenging part.  There are also some parts on the trailer that have chipping paint…It’s along the top, where there was a strip of aluminum and the front which we now know is plastic…and I think I will just take the paint off that and not repaint it since it is just a small section.  I don’t think that it will look too bad, but I also don’t think that even if I primed it, it would stick well, since it is plastic.  Other things I have to do are sew covers for our mattresses in the living quarters…not extremely important, but needs to be done by August, so this week is when I need to do it.  I also need to sew a few more mermaid costumes.  I made 7, but I need more for adults and little tiny kids. Then, there is finishing cleaning out the camper, which is almost done. Laundry, which is almost done…but around here, has to be done every day.  And then little errands we need to take care of before we go back out.

In the back of my mind I am thinking about school.  I need to start planning.  I need to get a few things.  But I will probably put that off till later in the summer.  there is a great teacher store in Gaylord…which we will end up, end of August…and the last week before school starts, my parents are taking the kids (all 4!) so I will have some time to get stuff I need…though it will be at the last minute.

I have also decided that I am going to need to spend some money on school clothes this year for the kids.  The boys have holes in just about every pair of jeans…and the ones that don’t are looking pretty worn out anyway.  Savannah has grown out of all her pants.  Last year I think I just bought each of them one outfit. I am hoping I can find some good deals, but I don’t really have a lot of time to shop.

Creatively, I am doing very little.  Busy with the show and the kids…pretty much occupies all my time and energy.  I haven’t drawn, though I had made it a goal. I guess I can still keep it as a goal…maybe I’ll get to it.  I don’t know.  I am working slowly on a locker-hooking rug.  It’s pretty fun. I actually cut up a bunch of old clothes to use in it.  I will probably use it in the camper when I am done…or if I am done.  It’s going to take a while.  But it’s like crocheting or something, where you can put it down and then pick it back up when you have a few moments.

I don’t have any pics to post right now…haven’t downloaded them from my camera.  But you could go to our Flickr album and see some recent ones…mostly taken with the camera phone.