The Utah State Fair and Kathryn

Not an amazing picture, but as good as it gets after a long day at the fair.

We've spent a lot of time the last two weeks preparing for, working at and visiting the State Fair. The kids had a blast watching a tiger show, seeing a sculpture made from a ton of butter, and looking at award winning animals and art and crafts. It was one of those things we probably wouldn't have done if it weren't for Usborne.

Last Thursday, Katie (who informed us this week she wants to be called Kathryn "because that's [her] name") and I met up with my Usborne supervisor and friend, Bobbi Giles and set up the Usborne booth. Katie and I then worked the booth for most of the next two days. Katie was excellent and extremely helpful. She did have her moments when she was bored and downright difficult, but she did a great job of passing out business cards and encouraging people to enter the free book drawing. Stacie and Kellie (thankfully) came and picked up her up both nights at dinnertime making it an even funner experience for both of us.

In her "down time" she made friends with the other vendors and found other ways to occupy herself.

The next Friday (two days ago) was school picture day and Ashton's Celebration of Life at preschool. Basically it is a very symbolic birthday party. (I think we talked about it in January on Kathryn's birthday.) Anyway... he was so cute as he passed out pencils to his classmates and listened to me tell about his life. As we were leaving preschool he said, "Mommy, thank you, thank you for coming to my Celebration of Life." Ashton knows how to tug people's heart strings.

Then Jeremy and I got the little boys' pictures taken at the school (I hope Will's turns out... he was being shy), we pulled Matthew out of school about 1/2 hr. early and we went up to the State Fair again. This time, Jeremy took the kids around to the shows, events, exhibits, while I worked in the Usborne booth. The booth was pretty busy and the kids had a blast so we consider it a success!

Carrot tops from "Carrot County"

Yesterday, they kept telling me things they had learned from the shows and exhibits and Ashton asked if we could go back to that "really fun Book Party!" I am so grateful for Jeremy and the kids. They were such great sports and supports during the State Fair.

In other interesting news this week, Matthew had several cold sores which we believe led to impetigo. So he (and I) missed church and he'll probably miss school tomorrow. I think he is going to have picture retakes.

And Will acting like the truly patient, well-behaved toddler that he is made an enormous mess with water colors and then ran into the bathroom and jumped in the bathtub without bothering to change his clothes.

Later that day, Kathryn and I had this conversation:

K: What is Will's wife going to call him?

J: I don't know. What do you mean?

K: What is his grown up name?

J: What is your husband going to call you?

K: (Exasperated) Kathryn. (Add a look that says, "Duh!")

J: Oh.

K: And Dad's grown up name is Jer so what is Will's grown up name going to be? Because "Willy" is a baby name and so is "Will." Willy and Will are BOTH baby names! (Add another exasperated look.)

J: I guess she'll call him William.

This conversation was immediately following the time she told me she now wants to be called "Kathryn" so I am assuming that Katie (who put on my mascara before we worked at the booth so she could "look her best") thinks that now she goes to school she is fully grown up. I always knew she was 5 going on 20.