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.

The Fire Station

The first grade classes at Sidney Deener went to the fire station a couple of weeks ago. The fire stations is only a block from the school so I walked over with them and tried to keep up with both classes to get plenty of pictures. A bit of a challenge. There were 6 different "stations" set up that each classes vistited seperatly. For example at one they got to hold the hose and hit a target, next there was a house the kids got in and then they filled it with smoke and they kids had to practice getting out. It was alot of fun.

Blake spraying the target. As you can tell he was really into it.

Claire and her friend Emma.

Blake crawling out of the first floor of the smoking house.

Blake made the evening news climbing down the fire escape of the smoke filled house.

Claire with fireman's coat and the using the fire hose. It was a fun day.

SISTERS

Sisters... I couldn't pass this up. They were being so sweet waiting on the front porch for the mailman. I always wished I'd had a sister so I can't wait to see how they grow and bond even with their very different personalities. Of course Anna Kate adores Claire, however big sister doesn't always adore little sis. At times I wonder if they even like each other and then the next minute they are full of giggles.

Happy Birthday Nana!!
This weekend we went to Tyler for my mom's birthday. On Saturday we went swimming and had a birthday party and Sunday we went to the ranch where Dad boards his horses. Blake, Claire and Anna Kate love being with Grandaddy in the barn and Claire especially loves horses. They all want to be cowboy/cowgirls like Grandaddy. Anna Kate asked if all cowboys live in Texas. They are so into the western thing that they asked Grandaddy and Nana for boots and jeans for their birthday, Blake and Claire's party is going to be a cowboy/cowgirl hayride and they want to be cowboy/cowgirls for Halloween. We're going to ride this one for all it's worth.

Claire loves petting the horses.

Anna Kate, Mark and Blake swinging on the porch of the barn.Claire on the porch of the barn

Grandaddy, Nana, Blake, Claire and Anna Kate

Of course Anna Kate had to have the pink boots!

Papa, Granny (my grandparents) Blake, Claire and Anna Kate

The Actual First Day of School!!

Here are the pictures of the actual first day of school:

All ready to go. We can't wait!!!

I had 3 very excited kids this morning. Anna Kate couldn't even eat breakfast. Mark said she woke up at 4 am wanting to get ready. She did go back to sleep but was up for good around 6:15am. She couldn't wait to get dressed and carried her back around for an hour. Blake was concerned about being late and Claire was just giggly. First we took Anna Kate to school. On the way she told me I could just let her out and she would go in by herself. I DON'T THINK SO!!! I explained that I had to go in to sign her in but would not go in the classroom, she didn't even look back.

Anna Kate's First Day at Curtis Kindergarten

Now it was Blake and Claire's turn. At Sidney Deener parents drop off their children at the gym for Deener Daybreak, a morning meeting of the entire school. All the kids sit as a class and at 7:50am they begin the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the Star Spangled Banner, announcing the lunch menu for the day, word of the week (attitude is this week's) and a quote for the week. Then the kids walk as a class to their room with their teacher. It's really cool as it creates a cool community atmosphere and gets everyone started off on the right foot. This happens every day. This morning of course we walked them into the meeting and stayed until they left the gym. They were ole' pros.

Blake and Claire outside the gym

They all had a great day. Ms. Ryan said Anna Kate had a wonderful day, obeyed beautifully, and tried everything on her plate at lunch. That's a miracle. She also said Anna Kate came up to her around 10:45 and said "Ms. Ryan I'm exhausted can I take a nap now?" Blake and Claire loved their teachers and each one did something different. Blake went to Art and Claire went to Music. It's going to be fun keeping up with two different classes and schedules.

First Day of School !!!

Today was the first day of school for all three kids. Blake and Claire are in first grade at Sidney Deener Elementary and Anna Kate started Curtis Kindergarten for Pre-K. They were all so excited. Yesterday we had an open house at both schools. First we went to Anna Kate's. She already knows her teacher Ms. Ryan because she was our children's minister intern this summer at church.

Anna Kate and Ms. Ryan

Anna Kate and Connor (her boyfriend)

Anna Kate's boyfriend Connor is in her class although Anna Kate is going for 5 full days and Connor is only going for 3 half days. But they can be partners in crime for the mornings. Her classroom is decorated as Ms. Ryan's ranch and she actually has two rooms, one that has tables for work and another big room for playing and napping. They will cook lunch for her and it will be interesting to see if she actually eats what they fix. She says she's going to try. This is going to be so fun.

Then we moved on to Sidney Deener. This year Blake and Claire are in two different classes. Claire is in Mrs. Raines class and Blake has Mrs. Lawson. It was amazing to see how they got the right teacher with the right kid. At least first impressions.

Claire and Mrs. Raines

Mrs. Raines has taught for 3 years and last year taught 3rd grade. I think she will be great for Claire. She welcomed her with a great big hug and has a very organized but fun room with a great story corner. She seemed very sweet.

Blake and Mrs. Lawson

Blake's teacher Mrs. Lawson is a seasoned teacher who loves little boys, so we've been told. She had a very organized and structured room and schedule. Just what Blake loves. We've been told by others who have had her that she'll get Blake on the AR (acclerated reading)program quickly and move him along at his pace. I can't wait to see what happens.

It's so funny to watch Blake and Claire with school. Blake is so outgoing and an intellect especially with reading and writing. Claire is quiet, athletic, and loves math. She was so excited to find a Math book in her desk at Open House. It will be fun to see what the year holds for each of them.

Toothless!!
This weekend we were eating at Colton's and Claire bit into a roll and out came a tooth!!! It's her 5th one to lose, the one to the left of the bottom center teeth. Blake has only lost 2 and Anna Kate is trying every which way to figure out how to start loosing teeth. Claire lost her top two in March and one of them is finally coming in. I was really beginning to wonder. We took her immediately to have her pictures made while we had the huge gap and we actually had all summer to wait. I can't stand it. She is no longer a cute little girl, but now we have a beautiful big girl, teeth or no teeth.

This was this spring

This was Friday night!!

This weekend we took a day trip to Blanchard Springs, AR and Mountain View, AR. We invinted the Traughber family to go with us to Blanchard and then some other couples from our small group bible study met us in Mt. View for supper and Bluegrass music that night. Blanchard Springs is home to the Blanchard Springs Caverns and Sylamore Creek. We took the tour of the caverns and then had a picnic lunch before taking a swim in the creek. The kids had so much fun.

After swimming we cleaned up and went into Mt. View and sat around the court square and listened to sevearl different groups play Bluegrass music. It's really pretty funny. These small groups just form, there could be 10 different groups playing at the same time just around the town square, and people bring their lawn chairs and sit around and listen until late into the night. We listened to 3-4 different groups, had ice cream and then came home. Anna Kate was very curious about man playing the banjo under the tree. Of course, never meeting a stranger, she just went up to him and began asking questions. He let her pick a little and she loved it. She says she's ready to go back and sing herself. Claire enjoyed roaming around picking flowers and Blake, well if he wasn't playing with his friends he was bored. But oh well, he needs a little culture.