Okay, so everyone that knows me KNOWS how much I love to shop at Goodwill! Well, this weekend, a lesson was learned at my favorite shopping facility. Not only a lesson for me, but for others, as well.
You see, Parker and Kinlee like to look at the toys while we shop. So, as usual, off they went. After some time, I hear them laughing (you know the "what are they up to?" laugh). Here they come holding a plastic hand-shaped back scratcher with one finger missing. Actually, the finger was in Parker's other hand. Parker proceeded to tell me that he had broken the plastic hand. When asked (with a disgusted tone) how he broke it, he replied that he thought it was a "slapper" and hit something with it. Okay, sounds legit. I, of course, got onto him for breaking the toy, to which he replied (always has an answer) that he was headed to the front to tell the lady and pay for it. Okay, I'm thinking - how much can this thing cost?? It's a plastic hand for Pete's sake! So, he and Kinlee go to the lady at the register, and this is what I hear:
Parker: Ma'am?
Lady: Yes.
Parker: Um, this is broken (handing it to her)
Lady: Oh, that's okay. Thank you for bringing it to me.
Parker: No, you don't understand, I am the one that broke it.
Lady: That's okay.
Parker: I'm going to pay for it.
Lady: No, honey, you don't have to do that.
Nice lady in line to pay: Did you hear that? What honesty! Here you go - here, this is for being so honest!
You see, the lady in line handed him a dollar bill!!! What?! That was exactly the look/expression on Parker's face. You can see him registering very quickly that, "okay, I broke a toy, I brought it to the lady, didn't have to pay for it, and got a dollar! COOL!!" The look on Kinlee's face was just as priceless. You could see her registering, "I wonder what I can break?!" To which I replied to the look and unspoken words, "Don't even think about it." I had to laugh as they journeyed back to the toy section, Parker leaned to me and under his breath said/sang, "I'm going to go break some more stuff!" To which I replied again, "Don't even think about it!"
What a lesson learned for BOTH of us. I felt bad that I was too busy getting on to him for breaking the toy in the first place that I didn't really even focus on the honesty. (I would have eventually gotten there, but as a mom, it wasn't my first reaction). You know, the kid could have just put it back on the shelf and walked away as if he had no idea what had happened to it. Parker's lesson came in the fact that honesty pays off (literally in this case). He did the right thing and it worked for him. I have to believe that lessons were learned for just about everyone around that witnessed the whole incident.
I was beginning to feel really good about our episode until later on in the evening, I hear a song that Parker has made up that went a little something like this: "I got a dollar for breakin' somethin' at G-o-o-d-w-i-l-l!!" I made him turn and look me in the eye, asked "WHY did you get the dollar?" He replied, "For being honest". Okay I felt better, but I can almost promise I heard him whisper as he turned to go/dance away, ".....and for breakin' a toy at G-o-o-d-w-i-l-l....!" Oh well, I tried.....:)
They donned their Razorback attire, put on a few extra layers, grabbed their football, and off they went. Here is a picture of Parker "calling the Hogs" at the game - doesn't he look cold?! He was! Also, they always find a place to throw the football themselves before the game. I asked Mark who took these pictures of Parker catching the ball, and he said, "I did." You see, he would throw the ball, grab the camera while the ball was in the air, and take it as Parker caught it. Not bad, I thought.... It was a cold night for them, but the Razorbacks pulled it out in Overtime, so it was worth it. They had a great time!!!
Don't even ask....long story:
A few weeks later, flag football ended, and we had "The Colts" over for a similar get-together. I accidentally double-booked us and forgot that Kinlee's Girl Scout ceremony was the same night!!! SO, I headed to Girl Scouts with Kinlee, and Mark held down the fort here, with the help of some of the moms (thanks, gals!!). Because of this mishap, though, I failed to get very many pictures of that night. I did manage to take some of Parker (with his cool "Colts" tatoo on his head) and the cake before I left. It was cold that night, so I came home to a football game being played IN my house!! Very loud, but they had a great time. I guess that's what I get for leaving "the guys" in charge!!!! Fun times...
Here are some pictures of Parker that I managed to snap throughout the morning. He really seemed to enjoy himself. You can see in the bottom picture of this collage his reaction to the goat-milking..... 
Parker's team - "The Crush" - played the second game of the night. This team has just moved up to the 10-14 year old league, and these guys are serious!!! It is a whole different ballgame, that's for sure. We have a really young team - all 10 & 11 year olds, so we are definitely having to work extra hard! They are stepping up to the plate, though, no question about that! Parker scored 2 goals, and while their team lost tonight, they didn't have anything to hang their heads about! They played hard, kept good attitudes, and got even better as the game went on!!!
We were very proud of both teams and expect great things this season! Way to go guys!!!!
Parker got lots of great presents - money and football cards, mostly - JUST what he wanted!!!
As is our tradition at the end of parties, all the kids got a balloon and released it at the count of 3 as they yelled, "Happy Birthday, Parker!!!" I love the pictures from this tradition as all of the kids watch as the balloons drift further and further away. This year, I think only 1 got stuck in a tree - usually many more than that! I guess the wind was blowing in our favor this year!
The Titans made it to the bowl game against the Vikings. Our own Parker Finton scored the winning touchdown for his team and they came out victorious!!! He had an awesome week having fun with his friends. He couldn't wait to have the players autograph his camp shirt on the last day. We were very proud of him, not only for his skill and ability, but mostly for his sportsmanship and attitude! Roll Tide (Peabody Tide, that is.....) :) Don't get too excited, Becky! :)
I do have to admit that the "guys" weren't the only ones he was "hanging out with". He made a few older "girl" friends at camp, too. I think he was kind of "sweet" on this crew all week. He had "dates" with them to the hike, movie, and talent show, and bought them stuff all week long! They were very sweet and accepted his efforts. Thanks, Rachel, Kakole, and Ginny for your examples!
One of the biggest parts of the day at camp is Mail Call. Below, Parker is seen being sung TO while 2 girls are working toward receiving packages, as well as Parker himself singing in order to get the package we sent for his cabin. I think he had to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
In the end, we were very proud when Parker won the "Best Bible Student" award. We told him that was the BEST award he could have brought home, as far as we were concerned!!
We were very proud of him and glad that he got to go and have such a good time!!! He had a hard time leaving, but I think it will just make it that much easier for him to go back next year!!
Throughout the week there, the kids participated in "pin trading". I had heard about this tradition, but I didn't realize before we went how big this was! Each team brings pins that represent their state or country. The kids then trade pins with one another. It is a great way for the kids to talk to other kids they otherwise would probably just pass by without saying a word. We ended up with pins from many of the states, along with Korea, Turkey, Guatemala, and Canada. My kids have really enjoyed looking at and organizing their pins. Definitely an experience to remember!
On Thursday night, instead of attending the "dance" that they had planned, we took our kids to the fountains in World's Fair Park and turned them loose! They had a great time for about an hour and a half. For the longest time, they were the only ones there, and they were soaked!!! Later on , though, a group from South Korea came - it was neat to see our kids running around wild with kids from a whole other country!!!
On Friday, we didn't really have anything that we had to do on campus, so we took off for a family trip to Dollywood. I don't have any pictures from that because I didn't want to "lug" my camera around. We had an awesome time! It wasn't TOO crowded, and the weather was perfect.
Way to go, Team Hassellwood!!!! We are very proud of you!!!
Even though there was a lot of moving around and rescheduling, the kids didn't seem to mind and had a great time!!! I was glad that I was able to be there to take pictures of the craziness and watch them "in action"!!!
During the race, I was able to take some pics. of the boys. I didn't post any of Mark's pictures, though, because just about every picture I took also had a pic. of a guy with no shirt on - not too pretty. I kept trying to take one without him in it, but he just seemed to keep "popping up". However, here are some action shots of Parker. The top pic. is of him and his teacher from school. He hooked up with her and ran/walked with her most of the way. I hear he chatted a little bit, too. Surely not!!
Kinlee enjoyed the jumpers and pony rides. Parker opted out of the hand stamp for the jumpers and rides, because he will be running in the Teapot Trot with Mark later this week - when everything costs money, you have to choose sometimes!!! Anyway, Kinlee met up with her friend from school, and they had a great time playing together. It is hard to get good pictures on those slides, but I managed to get a couple.
Later this week, Mark and Parker will run in the Teapot Trot, and Kinlee will be in the Teapot Festival parade with Girl Scouts. I am sure (if the rain holds off and it all actually takes place) that I will have lots of fun pictures to post!!!
Below, they are performing their skit. Parker was the narrator. He wrote a "rap" for the girls to perform in the skit, also. They did a really good job.
Here are some pictures of Parker "hamming it up" on stage while they were all waiting for the scoring results to come in. They were all very nervous, so this helped loosen them up and made the time go by quicker for them.
I love these pictures. These are of Parker waiting for the winners to be announced to go on to the State competition. He told me later that he and his 2 buddies beside him said a prayer before their category was called. In the end, his team DID end up winning, and they will compete in the State competition in April. Way to go, guys!!!! You did a great job!!!
