Summertime!!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I had surgery the second week of June and am just now coming back into the land of the living. I still have a couple more weeks of the official recovery time but am feeling better. I thought I would post some random pictures taken at the beginning of the summer and catch everyone up.

Blake is getting lessons in mowing the yard. Now that we have 2 acre yard we more than eager for him to be big enough to help. It still maybe a couple of years away but he loves riding with dad.


Claire and new cousin Mia. Claire has never been our "baby" child but she does love Mia and pays her alot more attention than I would have every thought.

Claire loves to skate. She and Blake went to a birthday party at the skating rink right before my surgery. Claire roller skates at home but Blake never had. Mark took them but the pictures of Blake on skates were all blurry. When I'm completely healed we'll all have to take off for an afternoon at the skating rink.

This Karsen "the birthday girl" whose party was at the skating rink. Blake, Claire and Karsen were in the same kindergarten class when we moved back to Searcy and are the best of friends.

The White County Library had a Star Wars day and Mark took the kids to see what it was all about. Most of it was pretty hokey they said but the storm trooper was cool.

Meet the newest Farley...Lucy. After my surgery I was laying on the couch and saw this cat out in our front yard. Everytime I would go out she would run between my feet and be so sweet. We decided a cat would be a pretty good pet to have to help keep mice, snakes and other critters away since we live out in the country. The kids love her. We laughed and said we would have gotten a cat a long time ago if we knew it would occupy Anna Kate as much as it has. We don't think she's quite a year old and is very sweet with the kids. This morning she had a bird for breakfast which was quite an education for my kids. Cats are such low maintenance...my kind of pet.

Claire and her Prince!!

Tonight we were sitting in the living room visiting with Mark's sister Paula and her husband Chris when Blake and Anna Kate came busting through the door saying Claire had caught a frog. Ironically, Claire was wearing her Cinderella dress running outside trying to catch frogs. Very typical. She is all girl but loves bugs, animals of all kinds and being outside. Very much an adventurer. I felt so sorry for the frog. After about 30 minutes of torture (for the frog I'm sure) she finally let it go. I put her to bed with her beaming and can't wait till tomorrow to go find more. I asked her if she tried to kiss it and to see if it turned into a prince, especially since she was wearing her princess dress. She said "Mom, that only happens in cartoons!" Silly me.

Here's a picture of Baby Mia, Paula and Chris's newest addition.

Silver Dollar City!!

This past weekend we went to Branson and Silver Dollar City with Mark's parents. We left on Saturday morning, got their by lunch, ate and then shopped till we dropped on Saturday. Sunday morning we went to church, ate lunch and then headed to Silver Dollar City for the rest of the day. This was the kids first time at an amusement park and they had a blast. On Sunday we rode rides while Pa stood in line for a coveted seat at a Ricky Skaggs concert for later that night. The concert was awesome. This was also the kids first ever concert. They loved it. The bottom fell out of the sky while we were sitting waiting for the concert but it cleared up and saw a great show. The kids have already asked if we can go see Ricky again next year.

We went back the next day for more fun and rides. Claire is our theme park junkie. She loved the roller coasters and couldn't get enough. Blake was a little unsure about the roller coasters but loved everything else. Silver Dollar City is a great family friendly park and their were so many things the kids could do. Here a few pictures from the weekend.

"Daddy, I love this place!"



Claire can't wait to get on the next ride!Daddy and Anna Kate on the little roller coaster. She loved it.

The flying Dumbo
Claire taking a break
There is a petting zoo part to the park and Anna Kate decided to get down on the rabbit's level to pet it. She didn't realize she was laying in rabbit poop and was just a little embarrassed when she stood up. Oh well.
"How do they do that?"

Thanks Grammy and Pa for a great time!!!

End of School!!!

It's that time of the year again. For me it means typing, giving and grading finals, averaging grades and packing up a classroom. For my kids, it's end of the years field trips, field days, honors programs and lots of playing with friends on the playground. All three kids were excited about all of the last week festivies but did not want to leave school and their friends. They all three had great years and we couldn't have asked for better teachers for each child. Blake and Claire both made the all A honor roll for the entire year!! Here are a few pictures from the last week.

This is Blake running through the obstacle course. Ooops I missed his head!
This was a hula hoop relay.
Claire at the beginning of the obstacle course.
The tug-a-war is the huge ending event at Sidney Deener of their field day. Claire's class won the first two rounds but lost in the finals. Her hands were so sore after it was all over.

Blake taking a break during the tug-a-war.

Here a few random pictures: Here is Claire climbing a tree in our front yard. From the last few pictures, can you tell which child is the athletic, determined child????

Ryan McGaha, Anna Kate, Claire, Blake and Conner McGaha enjoying a cookie on our front porch swing.

A Very Busy Month!!!!

What is with the month of May? It is always so busy. With Mother's Day, Graduations, end of school, wedding showers and for us Mark's birthday and Our anniversary this month always makes a huge dent in the wallet and leaves a very tired mommy.

This year on Mother's Day weekend we entertained 25 people (from my family) for lunch at our new house. My parents came up on Friday and on Saturday my grandparents, Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff and their 4 children plus spouses and grandchild, and my grandmother's sister and her family all came. Everyone was in town for a different reason and it was a great time to get together. It just happened to be about a week after getting everything moved in the house. So boxes were stacked in the corners and closets and some walls still need paint but we had a great time. We had lunch, sat around and sang old hymns and did lots of catching up.

Anna Kate and Papa

This is Hudson, my cousin Rebekah's little boy. Notice the watch on his wrist. He is facinated with watches and clocks and wears his watch proudly.

Claire taking a break on the swing.

This is my Aunt Phyllis (in front), her grandaughter Kendall Pfiefer, her daughter Patricia Pfiefer and my grandmother. Thirty two years later, I'm still introduced as the flower girl in Trish's wedding. Aunt Phyllis is my grandmother's sister.

Nana and Anna Kate... For all of you who ask "Where does AK get that red hair?"

"Dear God,

Thank you for making Mrs. Curtis a long, long, long time ago. And thank you for Mr. Curtis and for helping them make my school." ..... Anna Kate Farley

That was part of Anna Kate's prayer last night. This afternoon we had a party/program celebrating Mr.and Mrs. Curtis who started Curtis Kindergarten and Preschool where Anna Kate attends. They have sold the school and today was a celebration of their impact on the city of Searcy. The Curits' and the Farleys go way back and have been dear friends forever. So I was so glad that Anna Kate was able to be apart of this last year and of the program today. She loves it when Mr. Curtis comes to the school to visit. The students sang a few songs and we watched a slide show of Ms. Evelyn telling how she started school and what her mission was. I believe the school has been open 28 years. WOW!!! They have sold to a Mrs. Lively who grew up in Searcy and is moving back to be closer to her family. She a has lot to live up to with reputation that the school has. I wish her the best and am so thankfully we got to be a part of the Curtis Kindergarten.

Anna Kate had the only speaking part of the program. She got the giggles when the put the microphone in front of her but recovered and did a great job. Her class sang two songs by themselves and then sang a song with the entire school.

Grammy (Mark's mom Janice), Mrs. Evelyn Curtis, Mr. Burl Curtis

and Anna KateMs. Ryan and Anna KateThis is Mark's Aunt Kathryn who Anna Kate is named after. She is Mark's grandmother's sister.

Spring has Sprung!!!

So sorry it's been so long since I've blogged. Life has been crazy around here. We went out of town for my grandad's 82nd birthday came back and began working on our new house trying to get it ready to move in. It's been a month, we're moved but not everything is ready. We are still feverishly painting and trying to get ready for Mother's Day weekend when 25 (give or take a few) of my family members will be here on Saturday for lunch. I've already warned everyone, the house will be clean and picked up but not decorated or fixed up in any way, form or fashion.
Between moving and trying to end the school year, it'll be a miracle if I actually make it until the end of school. When school is out we hopefully will leave town for a few days and then I'll come back and have surgery in June. The rest of my summer will be recovering. Here's a look at our crazy last two months!

Ridem' Cowgirl...Anna Kate couldn't wait to ride horses with Grandaddy. Unfortunately this horse did not want to her to ride. Right after I took this picture Dad was leading her in a round pen and the horse starting bucking. The closer Dad got to the horse the bigger and faster she bucked. It's a true miracle Anna Kate stayed on and that the horse didn't slam her against the fence. Dad said he had never seen a child with that good of balance. He said most adults would've been thrown. She got of and proclaimed "I'm a real cowgirl now!" Of course that was after she stopped crying.

Happy Birthday PaPa!!

Did somebody say P-A-R-T-Y...This is how PaPa was greeted by 3 of his great-grandaughters at his birthday party.

Claire loves bugs. She loves the outdoors and our new place is perfect for her. This was one Sunday afternoon while we were working on the house she caught several caterpillars and played with them for a while. Let's just say they got their excersice!!

Easter 2007

The New House

This is Anna Kate, Blake and Claire on our front porch swing. I love coming home from work and just sitting on the swing in the afternoon. It's so peaceful and relaxing. I can't wait for the inside to be done so I can actually relax. Soon I'll post some before and after pictures of the rooms so you can see Mark's handiwork.

Happy Spring!! Sorry it has been so long since an update. The month of February we were sick it seemed like forever. Anna Kate had the flu for a week and then about 8 days later the stomach virus attacked. We're glad spring is here!! This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago at Claudia Stockstill's wedding at Harding. For those of you who have not seen the new addition to campus here is a picture of the chapel from the front lawn:
Here is the entrance to the American Heritage Bldg. Who would've thought??

Now a cute little Anna Kate story: This week we went to get her shots for Kindergarten. Who can believe my baby is going to school??? Anyway, she did great during the check up, yes she's in the 95% percentile in height (46 1/2 inches WOW) around 90th in weight, but when it came time for the shots she began getting nervous. The doctor had left the room and we were waiting for his nurse to come give the shots and she was getting worried. She decided she wanted to pray about it before the nurse came back. She whispered a little prayer "Dear God, please help my shots not hurt. Please help it to go quickly and not to be so bad." After she finished she looked up at me with a huge grin, a sigh relief and proclaimed "Mom, God is going to do a miracle today!" I said "what do you mean?" She said, "When kids pray about their shots, God does a miracle and it's not going to be bad, it'll be okay." I was like there you have it. The nurse came in, Anna Kate sat there didn't flinch, no tears, no whine, nothing. Three shots... 1 in one arm 2 in the other. All smiles. Who smiles when they get three shots??? God did perform a miracle in Dr. Ben Wilkins office March 26th. Oh to have the faith of a child!!! Dear Lord, please let her always stay close to you and have the faith to ask and believe.