Wow...Santa Came !!!! Christmas Morning!

On Christmas morning the kids are not allowed anywhere near the tree until Mark and I are ready. Lucky for us we have very compliant children in this regard who have never challenged or peeked. This year they all jumped in bed with Claire until I went and got them.

Anna Kate asked Santa for a baby bed for her babies. Wow, did he come through. Bumper pads, mobile, the whole nine yards. It even has storage underneath behind the cabinet doors. It's so cute.

Claire had asked Santa for a real guitar that so that Mark could teach her to play. This one came in her favorite color. How cool is that.

Blake had asked for Lincoln Logs and a new real lightsaber. No one could have said better than he did "I got everything I ordered!" His lightsaber is really an interactive game you play on tv by using the light saber. It's pretty cool. Of course you know who had to be the first to try it out.

Claire had also asked for a diary. We gave her a purple leather journal that she can start writing in. She loves to write about her day and also create stories. Claire says she may be an author when she grows up.

Christmas is over, the tree taken down and we're ready to see what 2007 has in store. Hope you've had a great holiday season and that you have a very blessed NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas Eve morning we went to church, had lunch, everyone but mom napped, we decorated cookies for Santa and then went to Grammy and Pa's for the Farley Christmas.

All ready for bed with cookies and milk set out for Santa

Christmas with the Farley's

We got home from Tyler late Saturday night and had Christmas with Mark's family on Christmas Eve night. We went to church that evening as a family and then ate lots of food and opened presents. It was so crazy with 9 kids 8 of whom are 7 years and younger that I only took two pictures.

Here's the breakdown of grandchildren: Lindsey-14, Blake-7, Claire-7, Sierra-7, Jaden-almost 6, Anna Kate-5, Ricky-3 1/2, Jackson-3, Damien- 22 months and two more are due in May.

Anna Kate (5) and Jackson (3) love playing together. Jackson has a sister on the way due in May.

Unlce Tim, Anna Kate (with a bow from a present tied around her head) and Claire

More pictures from Texas....

Sydnie and Anna Kate werenot only joined at the hip, but also by earphones and the CD player the whole time we were there. It was so funny as they tried to walk around and listen to music. They love being together.

All the kids had fun cutting out cookies with Nana and then decorating them with lots of icing and sprinkles. Of course some got more in their tummies than on their cookies...

Clay is such a two year old boy full of energy and lots of smiles!!!

A Texas Christmas

We went to Tyler to have Christmas with my family the Wed-Sat. before Christmas. Of course the kids had lots of fun with Sydnie & Clay and loved visiting Granny and Papa. Everytime we go back home, I'm so thankful that my kids have such a good relationship with my grandparents. I have such great memories spending time with my great grandmother, Papa's mother who died when I was a sophmore in college and am glad my kids are able know my grandparents.

My grandparents, Granny and Papa, with Anna Kate, Claire, Blake, Sydnie & Clay

Blake got a telescope and binoculars from Nana and Grandaddy along with a model of the solar system and a book on the solar system. Anyone need any help with planet trivia, give Blake a call. He's got it all down now.

Along with a personal CD player and CD's Claire got several books like Charolette's Web, and My Friend Flicka. She loves to read. When you can't find her she's either reading or listening or trying to play music.

Both of the girls got a Disney Princess Cd player and Praise & Worship CD's. They were so excited. Blake got one for his birthday and everyone has been fighting over it ever since. Everyone was so exicted. It made for a very quiet trip home, except when Anna Kate wanted to tell you something. She hasn't learned that we can hear her even though she can't hear us.

We got Clay this "Cars" play rug with a couple of cars from the movie Cars. It was a huge hit. It happened to be the first present he opened of the evening and he refused to open anything else. I hope this buys Larisa lots of quiet play time over the next few weeks.

Happy Birthday Anna Kate!!!

Tuesday was Anna Kate's 5th birthday. Wow, how time flies. Although she is a big girl now she will always be my baby. She still every night around 7pm climbs in my lap for a little cuddle time. I love it. As a five year old she has a very sweet spirit that amazes me daily. She is constantly analyzing things, asking tons of questions (alot of questions about heaven), she loves to sing (mostly praise & worship songs), and is very dramatic and funny. Who knew 5 years ago this red head would bring so much laughter to ensure we would all smile at least once a day.

Her party was a Candyland theme. It was so much fun, with 17 friends making candy necklaces and decorating gingerbread men. The cake was amazing. I've found a lady who loves to decorate cakes and delivers too. She out did herself on this cake.

Can you believe this cake? And it was very yummy!!

Happy Birthday to Jackson, Tyler, Miles, Kayley, Walker, Sierra, Connor and Maribeth.

The birthday season has begun. It's crazy around here. Blake and Claire's birthday kicked off the Downtown/Farley birthday season. We had their party on the 28th, this past Saturday we were invited to 3 parties, this coming Saturday we have 3 parties, the following weekend we have 2 then it is Thanksgiving. Shortly thereafter it will be Anna Kate's. It's nuts. At Downtown, where we go to church, beginning in November we have 5 4 year olds turning 5 in Anna Kate's little social group and then the Farley family has 4 grandkids with birthdays within 10 days. Poor Anna Kate by the time her party comes around we're all partied out. Here are pictures from the first party, Mark's nephew's party at the Little Rock zoo. Jackson turned 3 last week.

Jackson, Anna Kate, Claire and Blake

Jackson and Anna Kate riding the train.

The Birthday Boy

My three little sunflowers.

Mom goes back to work.

For those of you who have been wondering why you haven't heard from me lately, I've gone back to work recently. It was very sudden. Two weeks ago I got a phone call from a private school here in Searcy, Liberty Christian. They had a teacher who had to be put on bed rest and ironically she is pregnant with twins. So they needed a teacher immediatley. If talked to the principal on Wed. and Thursday 10/26 got the call saying I had the job. It was crazy with my family coming in for Blake and Claire's birthday, Halloween and all but I survived my first week and am trying to get organized. Now the beauty of this job...It's a part time position. I only teach 3 classes, 6th grade science, 7th grade science, and 7th grade World History. I go in a 8am and am finished by 10:50 am. How perfect is that. I take Anna Kate to school and Mark takes Blake and Claire, but I'm still able to pick everyone up, go to the store without kids and have some time to myself. Next semester I'll pick up a 1:15 class and teach Arkansas History but I'll have a two hour lunch and still be out an hour before my kids. It pays as much as sub pay with the public school system and I'm in charge of my room. I have 10 6th graders and 9 7th graders. Once I get in a good routine it'll be great. Right now I'm just trying to catch up on science and history and learning this curriculum. So if you haven't heard from me in a while, I'm either taking nap while no one's home, or have my nose in a book while trying to do laundry and pick up my house. I'll figure it out soon, I think.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Look at all our LOOT!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TIMES TWO!!

YAHOO WE'RE 7!!

This has been one of those birthdays that we've reflected on far Blake and Claire have come. I wish their baby pictures were digital so I could show you a picture of these 2 pound babies to compare where we are today. How Awesome is our GOD!!! They are both one of the tallest in their classes, reading way ahead of grade level, very talented artist and Claire is a great musician. (Her dad is so proud) We have been sitting around and can't believe we have 7 year olds, 1st graders. WOW!!! Words can't describe. Here are pictures from their Cowboy party. They've been planning this party for months. They wanted to have a Cowboy party, called Nana and Grandaddy to ask for boots and jeans and even wanted to be a cowboy and cowgirl for Halloween. Blake even exclaimed " We're having a very special guest at our party, a REAL cowboy...Grandaddy!" How cute. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of them with Grandaddy.

A few years ago I put candles on their donuts for breakfast on their birthday. Now I'm in big trouble if we don't have chocolate birthday donuts.

My parents, Larisa (my sister-in-law) and Sydnie and Clay came for the week-end. Mom wanted a picture for her Christmas card with them all in their boots. Look at Anna Kate's PINK boots. She got her birthday present a little early.

Blake and Claire on their actual birthday.

New Bikes

Yesterday we gave Blake and Claire their birthday presents a week early. They got new bikes along with Anna Kate who got a new bike last Christmas from Santa but we had to take it back because it was too small so we finally got her one too. They were sitting in the driveway when they got home from school. They were so excited, they wore themselves out.

USS Razorback...The Submarine.

Claire's Brownie Troop went to visit the USS Razorback a submarine that fought in WWII and Vietnam last week. It is docked in Little Rock and was very interesting. We started at one end, climbed down into it and toured the entire inside and came out at the other end. It was amazing . Of course 1st and 2nd graders didn't quite get all of it, but thought it was cool, being underwater and all. It was a very interesting experience. And yes, I actually climbed down the ladder and got back out.

Devin, Katie and Claire sitting in one of the control rooms on the submarine.

Alexis and Claire standing on the deck looking into the river.