We had an exhausting, but fun week at Pumpkin Show again this year. The girls were in almost every parade on the Amanda Firefighter's Festival Float--it took 2nd place in the float competition! The boys also had the chance to ride on the float for our church. The kids entered artwork and decorated pumpkins into the arts and crafts contest. Dawsyn's mermaid pumpkin took first place for her age group and Daxton's Porcupine pumpkin took first place for his age group. Delaney entered an apple pumpkin and Drew created Hedwig from Harry Potter out of his pumpkin. I must say the highlight of the week was working our church's Apple Cider Slush booth. We decided to take the whole family and work the booth. We thought it would be great for the kids to experience service to others, making change, taking orders, etc. We started out pretty well. Drew was taking money, Dax passed out straws, Dawsyn made the cold slushies, and Delaney helped Shawn make the hot ones. Drake sat nicely in his stroller and just watched the action. It was smooth like "butta
" .... for about 10 minutes! Then Drew decided he didn't feel well and didn't want to take the money anymore. Dawsyn decided that she wanted Delaney's job and Dax thought that the whole "straw gig" was not important enough. This started a huge cycle of switching jobs every 5-10 minutes. At one point, the three year old was taking money, complete with wearing the money belt, Dawsyn was making cold slushies, while eating an apple that we were supposed to be selling, Drake decided there wasn't enough entertainment and began to cry, Drew developed a horrible cough and moved towards the back to sit on a box and look like death warmed over, and Delaney invented a new job-bending way over out the window of the booth and screaming "Apple Cider Slushies! Get Your Apple Cider Slushies Here!" In the meantime, Shawn and I were just trying to keep our heads from spinning and looking like the next episode of Nanny 911! When what to our wondering eyes should appear? Ah--enter Pickaway County Health Inspector!!!! There was knock on the back door of our trailer and in walks the health inspector. I try not to panic at this point as I realize what the scene must look like: Dawsyn's long hair in the slush mix, while eating an apple and serving people, Drew coughing like Typhoid Mary in the back of the trailer, the baby crying and sneezing, Dax, clearly capable of economic ventures at the ripe old age of 3, digging in the money bag and asking if a $20 bill was the change a customer needed, and (possibly the biggest violation yet) Delaney bending way over with her crack hanging out good enough to rival any plumber!
At this point, all I could think is that the youth of our parish will not be able to go on their mission trip because that "Adams Family" got the booth shut down!!! The health inspector looked around at all of us and asked to see our license. At this point, my husband decides to speak up--this should end well--he always handles stressful situations well--I remember! He immediately startes stammering and doing quick little jerky movements (think Elaine's dancing on Seinfield!). I finally step in and tell him to call the lady in charge of the booth whose number is posted by the door. He calls her and she says not to worry to tell the inspector that we have a letter that says we are exempt from inspections because we aren't actually producing anything ourselves. Shawn begins to frantically look for said letter. At this point, Drew begins to realize this isn't a great situation. He quietly makes his way over to where I am standing and says, "Mom, I know what to do--remember that episode of SpongeBob where the health inspector comes?" Thankfully that is one of the few episodes I have seen and I respond with , "Isn't that the episode where SpongeBob and Patrick think they have killed the health inspector and try to hide his body?" Drew just kind of raises his eyebrows at me as he nods his head towards the health inspector. I ponder this for a brief second, then catch myself and say, "Drew!" He says, "I'm just sayin'" then goes back to sit down and resume his coughing right next to the health inspector. This ended up being the solution. The guy looks at Drew, the crying baby, Dawsyn and Dax fighting over the money bag, and Delaney still "hanging" out the window, looks back at me and Shawn and just says, "I'll come back later". We agreed that might be a good idea and thanked him for taking pity on us. Our shift ended an hour later and we could not get out of their fast enough. The good news is, we noticed that the booth was still open two days later, so obviously, we weren't that offensive! Only us!
" .... for about 10 minutes! Then Drew decided he didn't feel well and didn't want to take the money anymore. Dawsyn decided that she wanted Delaney's job and Dax thought that the whole "straw gig" was not important enough. This started a huge cycle of switching jobs every 5-10 minutes. At one point, the three year old was taking money, complete with wearing the money belt, Dawsyn was making cold slushies, while eating an apple that we were supposed to be selling, Drake decided there wasn't enough entertainment and began to cry, Drew developed a horrible cough and moved towards the back to sit on a box and look like death warmed over, and Delaney invented a new job-bending way over out the window of the booth and screaming "Apple Cider Slushies! Get Your Apple Cider Slushies Here!" In the meantime, Shawn and I were just trying to keep our heads from spinning and looking like the next episode of Nanny 911! When what to our wondering eyes should appear? Ah--enter Pickaway County Health Inspector!!!! There was knock on the back door of our trailer and in walks the health inspector. I try not to panic at this point as I realize what the scene must look like: Dawsyn's long hair in the slush mix, while eating an apple and serving people, Drew coughing like Typhoid Mary in the back of the trailer, the baby crying and sneezing, Dax, clearly capable of economic ventures at the ripe old age of 3, digging in the money bag and asking if a $20 bill was the change a customer needed, and (possibly the biggest violation yet) Delaney bending way over with her crack hanging out good enough to rival any plumber!At this point, all I could think is that the youth of our parish will not be able to go on their mission trip because that "Adams Family" got the booth shut down!!! The health inspector looked around at all of us and asked to see our license. At this point, my husband decides to speak up--this should end well--he always handles stressful situations well--I remember! He immediately startes stammering and doing quick little jerky movements (think Elaine's dancing on Seinfield!). I finally step in and tell him to call the lady in charge of the booth whose number is posted by the door. He calls her and she says not to worry to tell the inspector that we have a letter that says we are exempt from inspections because we aren't actually producing anything ourselves. Shawn begins to frantically look for said letter. At this point, Drew begins to realize this isn't a great situation. He quietly makes his way over to where I am standing and says, "Mom, I know what to do--remember that episode of SpongeBob where the health inspector comes?" Thankfully that is one of the few episodes I have seen and I respond with , "Isn't that the episode where SpongeBob and Patrick think they have killed the health inspector and try to hide his body?" Drew just kind of raises his eyebrows at me as he nods his head towards the health inspector. I ponder this for a brief second, then catch myself and say, "Drew!" He says, "I'm just sayin'" then goes back to sit down and resume his coughing right next to the health inspector. This ended up being the solution. The guy looks at Drew, the crying baby, Dawsyn and Dax fighting over the money bag, and Delaney still "hanging" out the window, looks back at me and Shawn and just says, "I'll come back later". We agreed that might be a good idea and thanked him for taking pity on us. Our shift ended an hour later and we could not get out of their fast enough. The good news is, we noticed that the booth was still open two days later, so obviously, we weren't that offensive! Only us!
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