Life 101

This morning a little bird told me it was Friday.  I don't know where Monday - Thursday went but I survived them so that's a good thing.  We've been busy hence the mini blog hiatus.  I am STILL sort of adjusting to this kindergarten mom gig.  I know, I know quite talking about it already.  We all have kids in school too blah blah blah.  But it's harder than I thought it was going to be, and I want to whine about it a little. :-p

Anyway, back to a few of the things life has had in store for us Farrer's lately...    

We've had a couple of special birthday's to celebrate.  One of our favorite cousins, Hudson, turned 5.  He had a mario cart party and the kids all got caps and mustaches to wear!  M looked totally natural sportin' the stache - right?  E didn't want to wear the mustache or hat.  She did warm up a bit in time to participate in a few party games. 

 

We also got to celebrate a birthday with my SIL, Mandi. We went to a park so all the kiddos would have somewhere to play while we visited.  Love this girl and am so glad my bro chose to make her a part of our family!  I met Mandi years ago when she worked for wal-mart in the category I supplied.  She was super sweet and little did I know she was dating my bro at that time!  They were keeping it on the down low for some super secret surprise reason that I am still not sure I completely understand.  But that's all water under the bridge, or icing on the cake, or something like that.  

 

One evening I kept the Bane boys for a bit so their parents could go to some sort of fru fru choir concert/symphony thing.  I think my description of the event is a good indication of how artsy and musically inclined I truly am.  :)  While they were off acting cultured I had a taste of what it would be like to have 5 kiddos.  I wouldn't recommend it.  These were actually 5 well behaved kiddos (with the except ionof baby R the tyrant tater) and getting them all to the table for dinner was no small miracle.  I took a photo to commemorate a job well done.  Please don't look closely at their plates.  It's none of your business what they ate...the point is that I made something and then got them all to the table to eat it!  Haha.

Monday M and B both had football practices.  M's coach told the boys to go home and watch the Cowboys vs Bears Monday Night Football game.  We don't have cable so M couldn't watch.  This was disappointing to him so I was trying to explain some of the reasons we choose not to have cable in our home.  One being that there are things on TV that we don't want him and the other taters seeing.  He cut me off as I was explaining and said "Mommy, if you're talking about Scooby Doo I've already seen it."  Ummm...not exactly what I meant.  Obviously, it's a little hard for a 6 year old boy to see the logic in this no cable business!  In other football related news...the dog ate M's flags.  I have procrastinated getting new ones all week, and will be forced to brave the rain at some point today to get them.  Woe is me. ;)

M's class had a pumpkin patch field trip Tuesday.  B chaperoned and took E with him.  She was so excited to get to go.  She desperately wanted to ride the bus with bubs, and talked about it for several days leading up to the trip.  I told her she wasn't big enough yet but she was growing every day and one day she would get to ride on a bus.  When she woke up Tues morning the first thing she said was "Am I all grown up now?" 

 

 

Wednesday evening M was playing a game on the computer before bed, and I was doing a little organizing in the garage.  When I came in he was standing in the hallway crying his little eyes out!  He had tried to switch to a different game and a "scary commercial" came on (I assume some Halloweenish ad).  Poor baby was so upset.  Darn that internet!  He asked if I could call the people who make the game and ask them not to put scary commercials on sites where kids play.  He also asked if he could sleep in my bed.  This is the face he was making when he asked.  I'll let you guess what my answer was.

 

This boy also tried to claim scaredy cat dog and get to sleep in my bed, but I wasn't buying it.  I assured him he would be safest behind bars and sent him to his crate. 

 

 

Last night we had an impromptu dinner with some new friends from the PD, tomorrow is B's 32nd birthday, and today is rainy and cold.  Someone thinks I am going to sit here all day and let him be a footstool.  Don't tempt me dog.  I seriously have dreams of sitting and doing nothing for an entire day.  Usually there is not a dog under my feet, but I can be flexible!

 

 

Talk to ya soon,

Angie



Thursday Randomonium

1) My very favorite brother and SIL surprised me this week by secretly paying for my hair appointment as an early birthday present!  I'm going to assume that it was probably my SIL who came up with this brilliant idea...I am so glad she married my brother.  My roots and I thank you both for the thoughtful gift! 

2) Brent surprised me today and hired a lady to come deep clean our house while I was at work.  This was an absolutely lovely treat, and something I never in a million years would have expected him to do.  I have never had my house professionally cleaned before (NEVER).  I am absolutely beside myself at how pretty and shiny everything looks!  I didn't want to touch anything, but the kids refused to sit in the foyer and twiddle their thumbs all evening so we had to mess things up just a bit.  If anyone else out there has never had your house cleaned by a professional you should totally do it - soon!  It is sort of life changing.  I'm serious. 

3) Brent is coaching a eight year old football team this season.  The other night he told Michael he thought he might need a little help on the field, and asked if M might consider coming out and helping him coach.  Of course M was all for it...he asked a lot of questions about what type of stuff he would need to do etc.  Later that night while getting ready for bed I asked M if he was excited about helping dad coach.  He replied "Yep, and it's my first paying job."  I told him I thought it would be pro bono work, and he looked at me like I had two heads.  He said he was sure coaches got paid. 

4) Ellie Rose has become a total backseat driver...at two years old.  She tells me to stop, go, slow down, and even tells cars in front of us to get out of the way!  I am going to go out on a limb and say she has probably learned this from her Peepaw Frank.  She rides with him a lot and I think he might have a tendency to "talk" to some of the other folks on the road while he is driving.  ;)

5)  We had M's first parent teacher conference this afternoon.  He is doing great!  His teacher thinks he may have a propensity for math.  This is somewhat amazing considering I always struggled with math, and B actually failed out of a number of math classes over the years!  He did inherit B's horrible penmanship though...his lowest score was in the neatness of work category.  This is what Mrs. C wrote on his conference sheet "Michael is a sweet smart boy with so much personality.  He really seems to enjoy school and has made new friends."  Toward the beginning of the conference Brent blurts out a question that had obviously been on his mind..."Is he playing with boys or mostly girls?"  LOL...I guess dads worry about different things than moms.

6) B and I will both turn thirty two next month.  I know, I know...y'all thought we were a little sooo much younger.  :)  But it's true...the big 32 is right around the corner for both of us.  I like that our birthdays are close together so we are almost always the same age.  I can't think about being "in my thirties" for too long or it starts to freak me out a little.  I feel like I should be doing something really mature and influential.  I realize I've wasted too many hours cleaning my house when there were people out there to clean it for me and free me up to do something that makes a difference (see point #2 above - LIFE CHANGING I tell ya).  Just kidding...sort of.   :)

7) Has anyone seen that ad on the web that says something about a simple diet trick that will help you beat belly bulge and then it has a picture of a banana?  I feel like I see it every day.  I am too nervous to click on it because I fear it might contain a virus, but I am dying to know if it is indicating that bananas cause belly bulge.  It is important that I find out because if there is anyway I can blame my belly bulge on my love of bananas I am absolutely going to start.  I think that may get me more sympathy than only having too many Sonic cherry vanilla cokes and blue coconut cream slushes to blame it on!

Hope you're having a great week!!

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

Wordless Wednesday

Well, almost wordless.  I need to point out that in my post yesterday I listed E's age as 3.  She actually won't turn 3 until November.  Good grief, I can't even remember how old my own children are!  This is just further evidence of the crazy that is mind as of late.  The ripe old age of 32 is looking sadder every day.  Wait, I am also not quite 32 yet...so does that last line even make sense?  I had better stop typing before I totally confuse myself, or even worse before I mis-quote my mom or MIL's ages on here.  That could get ugly!  Heehee.  :)

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

My Guest Bloggers (Sort Of)

We haven't had much interesting happening around here lately.  Just lots of work, homework, school, and football.  So I though it might be fun to interview the kiddos and find out a few of their favorite things.  Or at least the things they claimed were their favorites earlier this afternoon.

Ellie Rose - Age 3

What is your favorite color?  Yellow

What is your favorite toy?  Baby doll

What is your favorite movie/show?  George (Curious George)

What is your favorite food?  Cheerios

What is your favorite song?  Twinkle Little Star

Who is your best friend?  Rithika

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Police Officer

What do you love about mommy?  daddy (I love you too Ellie)

What do you love about daddy?  I want my colors (losing interest at this point)

What's your favorite thing about pre-school?  Ms.  Loretta

Michael - Age 6

What is your favorite color?  Orange

What is your favorite toy?  Army men

What is favorite show/movie?  Spiderman

What is your favorite food?  Ice Cream

What is your favorite song?   Ninja Music (my mom bought him a series of movies called 3 Ninja's and he is really into them right now.  I don't know how to describe the music, but Loni Anderson AND Hulk Hogan are in them so I'll let you imagine the music that might be in a movie starring those two)  ;)

Who is your bect friend?  Khevin

What do you want to be when you grow up?   Police Officer

What do you love about mommy?  You read me books

What do you love about daddy?  He helps me beat my video games

What's your favorite thing about Kindergarten?  PE

Rhett - 15 months

Baby R wasn't interested in my need for blog material and refused to answer my questions.  He did however approve the use of this adorable bath pic.  Who doesn't love a cute baby with big blue eyes in a bath?  :)

Sparky also didn't want to answer any of my questions, but he told me to post this video of his new trick.  The kids used to force him down the slide when he was a tiny puppy.  Apparently he has fond memories of those days.  Who knew?

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

He's Baaack!

Sparky is back from the trainer and better than ever!  The kids and I are excited to have him home.  Brent is somewhat indifferent, but I can tell we are wearing him down.  Sparky's behavior is much improved and has really learned his manners now.  If anyone has a pet in need of some training I would highly recommend Barkansas Dog Academy.  Kristen knows her stuff and can help with all kinds of behavioral issues.  She has obedience classes starting in Rogers this week!

Thanks Kristen!
 

The littlest tater and "dog" have become fast friends.  I guess they have a lot in common.  They share an affinity for balls, snacks, and traveling on all fours.  :) 

 I sent this out to a few family members already, but those for those who haven't seen baby R is finally starting to take some steps.  He got on a roll the other night, and I got this sweet video of him.  I am not sure if the volume will come through but I am laughing like a goon, and yes I do call him "tootie" and "tootalicious."

I really feel like the crazy is taking over here so lately so I thought I would share the below. In case there is a day when the doc asks my family, "Do you remember when she really started losing it?” They will be able to look back and say without hesitation that it was around September 2012.

Crazy #1~  I lost my debit card in wal-mart the beginning of last week.  Immediately after I checked out I realized it was missing.  I searched my purse a few times, all my grocery sacks, my person etc.  Didn't find it  Called the store a few times to see if it had been turned in, called arvest a few times to see if it had been turned it, and finally convinced myself I had thrown it in the trash with a candy wrapper while leaving the store.  Friday morning I called and cancelled it.  Friday night R, in what could have been an audition for Babies Gone Wild, grabbed my purse off the counter and dumped the contents on the floor.  Low and behold what magically appeared?  My debit card.  Grrr.

Crazy #2~  I have a slight obsession with Vicks.  We use it a lot.  I blame my mom.  R had been congested this past week so we have been using Baby Vicks each night.  One night it went missing.  I couldn't find it anywhere.  I checked all the obvious places and E's room because she's known to stash HBA products in there.  It never turned up.  Until the next morning when I opened the fridge to get some milk and there it was.  Sitting on the shelf with the yogurt and jello!

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

These Boots are Made for Walking

M got new boots last weekend, and he's been bugging me to wear them to school every day since.  However, he has PE each day except Thursday.  I am sure this has something to do with the current epidemic of childhood obesity, and I am all for it.  But when you have a little boy with new cowboy boots it is hard to explain that although his boots are made for walking they are not made for running around in gym class.

Alas Thursday has arrived, and we broke out the boots this morning.  Here is our little man modeling (to the best of his ability) for me.  The shoot was cut a little short because, as evidenced in the last photo, the Ipad was calling his name. 

Ellie is also quite taken with his new boots, and has found a way for her little feet to be in them several times while M was away from the house.  Shhh...keep it on the down low...he would totally not go for this!

 

School pictures are today and before he left M told me that the announcements said to bring your brightest smile for your picture.  Then he beamed and said "I'm bringing my bright smile and my boots!"  Sounds like he is going to let his light shine today!  :)

Talk to ya soon,
Angie

Football, Robots, and Matrimony

Michael’s first flag football game was Saturday morning.  Brent was not home so in an attempt to get M pumped up I gave him a little pre-game speech, shook him around a bit, and slapped his butt a few times.  This conversation followed.

ME: Do you feel ready for the game?

M: Yep…I have happy dreams in my head.

ME: (Confused) Dreams about the game?

M:  No, dreams about living in a candy machine fort and having an army of robots that do everything I tell them to.

Obviously, my speech lacked a little of the gusto needed to motivate a six year old boy at eight o’clock on a Saturday morning!  Even so, he did well in the game.  He even pulled a flag…not the flag of the boy who had the ball, but still a flag.  That counts to a momma. 

Here are some game shots of our number 12.

He did alot of excited jumping up and down.

 

This little girl needed no speech to get her prepared.  She woke up, heard we were going to a football game, and put her game face on.  She grabbed her bat and a wiffle ball on the way out the door.  

 



The littlest tater was just along for the ride.

 

Last night an old friend of Brent’s had a celebration of marriage in Fayetteville.  These are the only pics I got.  The venue was so beautiful, and Brent had a nice time getting to visit with an old friend.

Brent and Jason

Pratt Place Barn - Soooo pretty!

While we were at the reception Brent's parents watched all the taters.  M and E were spending the night, but we were going to pick R up on our way home.  When we got there M answered the door and immediately turned around and yelled "Rhett your parents are here."  Hahaha.  I am glad they love and are able to spend time with their grandparents. 

Talk to ya soon,
Angie