Jelly Belly Factory

Almost all the cousins went to the Jelly Belly Factory over J, K, and M's Spring Break.  Lily didn't get a spring break because we've already taken enough breaks this year and want to stay on pace to finish school at a reasonable time this summer.  

The first part of the trip was a tour of the factory.

Everyone had to wear hats on the tour.

It was like a ride while watching Mr. McFeeley's filmstrip from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood.  At the end of the tour, each person got a bag of Jelly Belly jellybeans to sample.

Then we walked around the gift shop.

There's a huge selection of jelly beans to try - all the strange flavers that aren't actually for sale.  I heard K yell over to Annalisa that he just ate boogers and I gagged.

I had just told Lily the day before about the time when a centipede kissed my lips and I started crying and threw up.  (If you don't know the story, consider yourself spared - who wants to have a centipede in their drink?)  I'm not sure how it's even possible, but there was a CENTIPEDE FLAVORED JELLY BELLY!  Are. You. Serious!?  Lily was SOOO excited to try it and just because she likes to be different than her mom, she said she liked it!  HA!  She wanted me to try one, but I told her, I've already tasted enough centipede for one lifetime and she agreed.  HAHAHAA!

THEN we saw this adorable little Hello Kitty WITH GLASSES!  I wanted to get it for her SO bad.  I told her I would, but that it was her choice for using the money towards that or to do a "would you RATHER?" and she chose the "RATHER".  I told her I thought she was very generous and that I was very proud of her.  But then the most wonderful thing happened.  She was on a field trip a few weeks later to the museum with her Grammy and they saw the same toy and her Grammy bought it for her!  Such a lesson in putting off instant gratification.  She got to see that her generosity actually turned to be not only a blessing towards the adoption but generosity back to her.  Such a valuable lesson and I'm still praising God for that little Kitty with GLASSES!

Of course Phoebe wanted her picture with the Hello Kitty too because she loves LOVES Hello Kitty!