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?
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
(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
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
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
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
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
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.