Chasing Fireflies

Interview with a New Nine-Year-Old

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Joshua:   Green

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Joshua:  Pizza

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Joshua:  Peaches

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Joshua:  Nothing.  Oh, I guess, carrots.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Joshua:  Lee Café

Mom:  What about a restaurant?

Joshua:   Barnett's Dairyette

Mom:  If you could be any type of animal, what would you want to be and why?

Joshua:  A monkey, so I could swing and climb and jump high.

(Horseshoe Bend, September 2017)

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Joshua:  I want to own my own construction company and remodel.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do when you're not doing school?

Joshua:  Play with Legos

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Joshua:  Gideon when he defeated the Midianites

Mommy:  Why?

Joshua:  Because you can tell it was a miracle!  There were only 300 Israelites fighting 135,000 Midianites!

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Joshua:  "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Joshua:  Christmas, because we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to go?

Joshua:  New Mexico

(Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, September 2017)

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Joshua:  Star Wars

Mom:  Do you want to be a daddy when you grow up?

Joshua:  Yes

Mom:  Will you get married one day?

Joshua:  Yes

Mom:  How many children do you want to have?

Joshua:  As many as I can.

Mom:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Joshua:  A Lamborghini Huracan

Mom:  What color?

Joshua:  White

(Grand Canyon, September 2017)

Mom:  What scares you?

Joshua:  Losing my family.

Mom:  What does Daddy do when he goes to work?

Joshua:  He works on a computer and goes to meetings.

Mom:  What does mommy do?

Joshua:  Looks on Instagram and Facebook, cooks, and schools us.

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Joshua:  Recess, lunch, reading

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Joshua:  Math

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

Joshua:   Watch movies

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?

Joshua:  Watch movies

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Olivia?

Joshua:  Play games

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Isaac?

Joshua:  Play with Legos

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Joshua:  Going skiing

(Sipapu, NM, February 2018)

Mom:  What is your favorite book?

Joshua:  The One and Only Ivan

Mom:  Who is your favorite superhero?

Joshua: Wolverine

Mommy:  Why?

Joshua:  Because he's invincible

(Petrified Forest National Park, September 2017)

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Joshua:  My family

Mom:  What's your favorite sport?

Joshua: Running

Mom:  What makes you feel loved?

Joshua:  Gifts, hugs, talking to me

Mom:  Would you rather meet Noah or Moses?

Joshua:  Moses, I'd ask him about how the water was split and if the ground was dry.

Mom:  Would you rather be blind or deaf?

Joshua:  Deaf, so I can still see people.

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible verse?

Joshua:  Revelation 1:3  "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it...."

Joshua's interview from last year:  eight

Interview with a New Seventeen-Year-Old

(Olivia's 17th birthday)

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Olivia:   Pink

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Olivia:  Chocolate cake

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Olivia:  Strawberries

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Olivia:  Carrots

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Olivia:  28 Springs

Mom:  What is your favorite flower?

Olivia:  Roses

Mom:  Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

Olivia:  Fly

(At the beach in May)

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Olivia:  I guess a librarian.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do if you're not doing school?

Olivia:  Read

Mom:  What is your favorite type of book to read?

Olivia:  Historical fiction or science fiction

Mom:  What is your favorite book?

Olivia:  The Book Thief

(At a Speech and Debate Tournament in April)

Mom:  What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Olivia:  Cheese

Mom:  What else?

Olivia:  That's it.  Just cheese.

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Olivia:  Queen Esther

Mom:  Why?

Olivia:  She was a good example of standing up and being brave.

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Olivia:  "This is Me"

Mom:  Who is your favorite artist?

Olivia:  Lindsey Stirling

(At Lindsey Stirling's Warmer in the Winter concert in December 2017)

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Olivia:  Summer, because I'm off of school and I can read.

Mom:  Would you rather vacation at the beach or in the mountains?

Olivia:  Mountains

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Olivia:  The Greatest Showman

Mom:  What is your favorite TV show?

Olivia:  Next Food Network Star

Mom:  What is your favorite meal of the day?

Olivia:  Breakfast

Mom:  Where would you visit if you had the chance? 

Olivia:  London

Mom:  What scares you?

Olivia:  Spiders and storms

Mom:  What is your favorite ice cream?

Olivia:  Chocolate with peanut butter cups

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Olivia:  English Literature

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Olivia:  Math

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Olivia:  Going to Santa Fe and The Grand Canyon

(Family trip to the Grand Canyon in September 2017)

Mom:  When is your favorite time of day?

Olivia:  The early morning because it is quiet.

Mom:  Who is your favorite actor or actress?

Olivia:  Hugh Jackman

Mom:  Would you rather meet J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis?

Olivia:  C.S. Lewis

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Olivia:  My family

Mom:  If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Olivia:  England

Mom:  What are your favorite clothes to wear?

Olivia:  Dresses

(Classical Conversations Challenge II Spring Protocol)

Mom:  What do you hope to accomplish this year?

Olivia:  Learn how to drive

 Mom:  Are you a morning person or a night person?

Olivia:  Morning

Mom:  What time did you wake up today?

Olivia:  6:30 

Mom:  What is your favorite quote?

Olivia:  "Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world." (Auggie) R.J. Palacio from the book, Wonder

Previous interviews with Olivia:  eleven, sixteen

Interview with a New Eleven-Year-Old

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Isaac:   Blue

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Isaac:  Steak and pizza

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Isaac:  Pineapple

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Isaac: Spinach

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Isaac:  Lee Café (That's my kitchen.  :) )

Mom:  What about a restaurant?

Isaac:  Mojito's (A local Mexican restaurant)

Mom:  If you could be any type of animal, what would you want to be and why?

Isaac:  An otter, so I could swim all the time.

(Sketching Georgia O'Keefee's Barn at the Georgia O'Keefee Museum in Santa Fe, NM)

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Isaac:  An architect

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do if you're not doing school?

Isaac:  Go swimming

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Isaac:  Elijah Calling Down Fire from Heaven

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because it's proving that God is real!

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Isaac:  Amazing Grace and The Sound of Silence (quite a contrast!)

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Isaac:  Summer, because I can swim all the time.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to go?

Isaac:  The bike trail and the pool

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Isaac:  Rocky IV

Mom:  Do you want to be a daddy when you grow up?

Isaac:  Yes

Mom:  Will you get married one day?

Isaac:  Yes

Mom:  How many children do you want to have?

Isaac:  As many as I can

Mom:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Isaac:  A Lamborghini Aventador

Mom: What color?

Isaac: White or yellow

Mom:  What scares you?

Isaac:  Having a fire in the house

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Isaac:  Math

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Isaac:  Spelling

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

Isaac:  Ride bike trails

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?

Isaac:  Play games

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Olivia?

Isaac:  Look at stars

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Joshua?

Isaac:  Lots of things!

Mom:  Can you name two?

Isaac:  Play with Legos and biking

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Isaac:  Going to the Grand Canyon and Into the Grand (a restaurant and dinner show featuring Navajo tacos and Native American dancers in Page, AZ)

Mom:  Who is your favorite superhero?

Isaac:  God

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because He does everything

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Isaac:  My family

Mom:  What's your favorite sport?

Isaac:  Swimming

Mom:  Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

Isaac: Fly

Mom:  What do you hope to accomplish this next year?

Isaac: Study my Bible more often and get better at swimming, specifically the backstroke.

Previous interviews of when Isaac had just turned 4, just turned 5, just turned 6, and just turned 10

Interview with a New Eight-Year-Old

I'm still in denial that my baby has turned eight.  EIGHT!  Here's a view of his thoughts from today.

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Joshua:   Green

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Joshua:  Pizza

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Joshua:  Pineapple

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Joshua:  Hmmmm.  I don't really like vegetables.  Probably carrots.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Joshua:  Can I say Lee Café? 

Mom:  What about a restaurant?

Joshua:   Barnett's Dairyette

Mom:  If you could be any type of animal, what would you want to be and why?

Joshua:  A monkey, so I could swing and climb.  Because I like to swing and climb.

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Joshua:  I want to own my own construction company.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do when you're not doing school?

Joshua:  Play with Legos

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Joshua:  Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho

Mommy:  Why?

Joshua:  Because it's about a man named Joshua!

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Joshua:  Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Joshua:  Christmas, because we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to go?

Joshua:  LEGOLAND

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Joshua:  The Lego Batman Movie

Mom:  Do you want to be a daddy when you grow up?

Joshua:  Yes

Mom:  Will you get married one day?

Joshua:  I hope so.

Mom:  How many children do you want to have?

Joshua:  About 3 or 4

Mom:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Joshua:  A Lamborghini Huracan

Mom:  What scares you?

Joshua:  Losing my family. I had a bad dream about that one time.

Mom:  What does Daddy do when he goes to work?

Joshua:  He works on a computer, finds some materials for wipes, and goes to meetings.

Mom:  What does mommy do?

Joshua:  Look on Instagram and Facebook, cook food, and teach me.

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Joshua:  Reading

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Joshua:  Ummmmmmmm.  Math

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

Joshua:  Exercising and watching movies.

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?

Joshua:  Play games

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Olivia?

Joshua:  Probably play games

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Isaac?

Joshua:  Play with Legos and watch movies.

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Joshua:  Going to the Ark, the Corvette Museum, and Nashville

Mom:  Who is your favorite superhero?

Joshua:  It depends on DC or Marvel.  Batman and Ironman

Mommy:  Why Batman?

Joshua:  Because he has cool gadgets and money and is really strong. 

Mom:  Why Ironman?

Joshua:  Because of his cool suit.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Joshua:  My family

Mom:  What's your favorite sport?

Joshua:  I don't really like sports.

Mom:  Do you like your new town, house, and room?

Joshua:  Yes 

Mom:  What has been the best part of moving to Arkansas?

Joshua:  Being closer to Grandma and Granddad.

Mom:  What do you miss the most about Mississippi?

Joshua:  Our yard, our house, Granddaddy and Grandmother, our church, and my friends

Interview with a New Sixteen-Year-Old

How is Olivia sixteen?  I find it fascinating as I continue to conduct interviews with the kids each year that some answers change, but many remain the same.  :)

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Olivia:   Pink and purple

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Olivia:  Chocolate

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Olivia:  Strawberries

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Olivia:  Carrots

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Olivia:  Crepes Paulette

Mom:  Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?

Olivia:  Fly

 

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Olivia:  I'm not sure.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do if you're not doing school?

Olivia:  Read and cross stitch

Mom:  What is your favorite type of book to read?

Olivia:  Historical fiction, autobiographies, science fiction

Mom:  What is your favorite book?

Olivia:  The Fellowship of the Ring

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Olivia:  The Nativity Story

Mom:  Why?

Olivia:  Because everything that had been prophesied in the Old Testament came true!

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Olivia:  "Somebody to Love"

Mom:  Who is your favorite artist?

Olivia:  Lindsey Stirling

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Olivia:  Summer, because I'm off of school.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to go?

Olivia:  Crystal Bridges

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Olivia:  Les Miserables

Mom:  Do you want to be a mommy when you grow up?

Olivia:  Yes

Mom:  How many children do you want to have?

Olivia:  4

Mom:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Olivia:  A Honda Civic

Mom:  What scares you?

Olivia:  Spiders and storms

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Olivia:  History

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Olivia:  Math

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Olivia:  Going to New York City.

Mom:  Who is your favorite actor or actress?

Olivia:  Anne Hathaway

Mom:  Would you rather meet the president of the United States or your favorite movie star?

Olivia:  The president

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Olivia:  Roses

Mom:  Do you like your new town, house, and room?

Olivia:  Yes 

Mom:  What has been the best part of moving to Arkansas?

Olivia:  Spending more time with our family.

Mom:  What do you miss the most about Mississippi?

Olivia:  The quietness of the country, our church, and my friends

Mom:  What do you hope to accomplish this year?

Olivia:  Learn how to drive

Mom:  If you could visit with any person at anytime in history, who would it be?

Olivia:  George Washington

Mom:  What would you ask him?

Olivia:  How did it feel to become the leader of a new nation?

Mom:  What is the best gift you have ever received?

Olivia:  My trip to New York and my sapphire ring

Mom:  What is your favorite quote?

Olivia:  "You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you've lost a friend."  Paul Sweeney

 

Previous interview of when Olivia had just turned eleven

Interview with a New Ten-Year-Old

The interview after a birthday is one of my favorite things to do with my children.  Here is Isaac's interview from today.  :)

Mom:  What is your favorite color?

Isaac:   Blue

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to eat?

Isaac:  Either fried chicken or pizza

Mom:  What's your favorite fruit to eat?

Isaac:  Pineapple

Mom:  What's your favorite vegetable to eat?

Isaac:  Hmmmm.  That's hard to say just one.  Celery, kale, spinach

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to eat?

Isaac:  Oh dear!  That's going to be hard.  Let's see.  Lee Café (That's my kitchen.  :) )

Mom:  What about a restaurant?

Isaac:  Chuy's

Mom:  If you could be any type of animal, what would you want to be and why?

Isaac:  An otter, so I could swim all the time.

Mom:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Isaac:  An architect

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do if you're not doing school?

Isaac:  Play with Legos

Mom:  What is your favorite Bible story?

Isaac:  Elijah Calling Down Fire from Heaven

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because it's proving that God is real!

Mom:  What is your favorite song?

Isaac:  All the Gold in California (Thanks to Granddad for introducing him to The Gatlin Brothers!)  :)

Mom:  What is your favorite time of year?

Isaac:  Summer, because I can swim all the time.

Mom:  Where is your favorite place to go?

Isaac:  Big Cedar Lodge

Mom:  What is your favorite movie?

Isaac:  Star Wars Episode 2

Mom:  Do you want to be a daddy when you grow up?

Isaac:  Yes

Mom:  Will you get married one day?

Isaac:  Yes

Mom:  How many children do you want to have?

Isaac:  3 or 4

Mom:  What do you want to drive when you get older?

Isaac:  Ooooooooo!  There are two cars I really like!  A 1969 Mustang Mach 1 or a 2016 Dodge Viper ACR

Mom:  What scares you?

Isaac:  Losing my family

Mom:  What does Daddy do when he goes to work?

Isaac:  He manages and does lots of math on a computer.

Mom:  What does mommy do?

Isaac:  Cook, school, look on Instagram

Mom:  What is your favorite subject in school?

Isaac:  It's between reading and composition.

Mom:  What is your least favorite subject?

Isaac:  I don't really have one.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy?

Isaac:  Ride bikes

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy?

Isaac:  Play games

Mommy:  What is your favorite thing to do with Olivia?

Isaac:  Look at stars

Mom:  What is your favorite thing to do with Joshua?

Isaac:  There's like 100 million things!

Mom:  Can you name two?

Isaac:  Play with Legos and ride scooters

Mom:  What is your favorite memory from the last year?

Isaac:  Going to Chattanooga.

Mom:  Who is your favorite superhero?

Isaac:  Captain America

Mommy:  Why?

Isaac:  Because he doesn't brag about himself like Ironman.

Mom:  What is your favorite thing God made?

Isaac:  My family

Mom:  What's your favorite sport?

Isaac:  Baseball and football

Mom:  Who's your favorite sports team?

Isaac:  I have two.  Ole Miss Rebels and Atlanta Falcons

Mom:  Do you like your new town, house, and room?

Isaac:  Yes 

Mom:  What has been the best part of moving to Arkansas?

Isaac:  Being closer to Grandma and Granddad, Big Cedar Lodge, and going hiking a lot!

Mom:  What do you miss the most about Mississippi?

Isaac:  The wide open space in our yard, our church, and my friends

Mom:  What will you do next year when someone asks you how old you are and you don't have anymore fingers to hold up?

Isaac:  (With a big smile on his face.)  I'll just speak it!

Previous interviews of when Isaac had just turned 4, just turned 5, and just turned 6

A Look Back at 2015 ~ December

Looking back at 2015...

In December -

Michael ran a half marathon.

Saint Nicholas visited. 

All three of my children sang in our church's Singing Christmas Tree.

Joshua lost his first tooth.

We sent out Christmas cards for the first time in 5 years.

The kids and I viewed the Geminid Meteor Shower.

We celebrated Christmas with Michael's family and all the grandchildren posed with their quilts that Michael's mom made for them.

We saw Star Wars - The Force Awakens.

We built gingerbread houses.

We attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.

We celebrated Christmas at home with our family.

Michael and I survived our first "Escape Room."

We celebrated Christmas in Arkansas with my family.

We held our 35th Annual Barnett Family Weenie Roast.

My cousins and I played lots of Mexican Train Dominos.

A Look Back at 2015 ~ November

Looking back at 2015...

In November -

My dad and I gave my mom a 65th birthday party!

Michael ran a 10 mile race with his brother.

We celebrated Thanksgiving.

We visited The Nina and Pinta.

A Look Back at 2015 ~ October

Looking back at 2015...

In October -

We found our way through a corn maze, picked pumpkins, and visited the zoo.

A Look Back at 2015 ~ September

Looking back at 2015...

In September -

We visited LEGOLAND and the beach!