full of excuses...nothing new!

Okay, okay. So, I know I am a blogging slacker, but in all fairness, I have been busy! Between digging out our driveway (one of the joys of living in the Arctic, Tiff), working at the hospital waaaay too much & trying to keep up with life, I am swamped. All of my Christmas plans somehow got delayed & now I am enjoying the mad scramble. So stay tuned. I promise that I will get back into the swing of things soon!

a short story

When We Don't Lock the Door My Cat Opens It

When we don't lock the door, my cat opens the door. He smells dirty cuz he rolls in the dirt, and gets wet, YUCK! He is white and black. He rubs me and my brother Lander. Lander is five years old. When my cat sleeps on the couch, he is the funniest sleeper in the world. How does he do that? Sometimes he puts his arm under his head. It is so cute when he does that! I mean cute, cute, cute!

--Jake, age 7

Jake wrote this story for school last month. I corrected the spelling, but everything else is as-is. Jake's cat, "Barry", likes to sneak into our house so we have to lock all of our doors to keep him out. There isn't a knob that he can't open!

Quote of the Day

This quote, although gross, pretty much shows what my life is like surrounded by 3 boys:

Lander: looking out the window, "Hey Jake, look! There is smoke."

Jake: very seriously and condescendingly retorts, "No, Lander. It's just me. I farted."

---Oooh dear.

Memoirs of a harried mother

Do you ever have a day where you wonder what form of craziness possessed you to procreate? I sure did a few days ago! School got cancelled and my lovely little boys couldn't contain their excitement. They went from one "Boys, please don't do that" activity to another, starting with the pile of 20 blankets (as seen in "the LONG night" post), moving along to the yogurt food fight, and ending with this.

Any guesses what this might be?

little miss homemaker...

...has arrived! I finally decided to make jam out of the raspberries & huckleberries that I picked this summer. Yum-m-my!

the LONG night

Someone had a BAD dream last night and couldn't sLeEP. So he crawled into bed with mommy & daddy. His pillow in the new bed was haRd. He FelL out of bed once. Mommy woke him up as she cRAwLed over top of him to run to the bathroom. Everyone kept buMpINg into each other. NOboDy slept well. It was a LONG night.

He tried to get dressed for school, but the pile of blankets were so SoFt. So instead of getting ReADy for school, he thought he would just take a NAP!

His feet got cOLd, but mommy's pillow was cOzY.

Until mommy dRAgGed him downstairs for breakfast.

POOR boy!

7 Random Things About Me

The rules are: Link to the person that tagged you, (Beth) and post the rules on your blog. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag 7 random people at the end of your blog. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
1. I love, love, love cloudy days. I actually feel really depressed when it is sunny for too many days in a row.

2.I like numbers. A lot. I get so crazy about them that I run idiotic scenarios in my head. "If I won a million dollars, what would I do with it?" or "How fast can I pay off my house if I...". You get the point. My latest craziness? Creating a spreadsheet for Josh & I to use, should the other one die, to help us know what to do with the life insurance money during our grieving period. Weird. I know.

3. I have a phobia of social situations, especially when I host a dinner party. I get so stressed out that I fill my schedule to the brim so I won't have to participate.

4. I think it would be really cool to have a British accent.

5. I can't seem to outgrow the habit of picking at my lips, especially if they are dry or I am stressed. So instead, I constantly put on chapstick and read every day (my narcotic of choice) to keep my sordid habit in check.

6. My favorite place in the world is home, with no where to go. Unless you want to talk about vacations, then I am game for most anything.

7. Even though I love home (refer to #6), I am still filled with wanderlust. I just can't seem to get over it! Last winter I researched jobs in St. Croix, Tonga, New Zealand, England & Scotland, hoping that I could find a way to convince Josh that we should take our family on a little "sabbatical". So far, no luck.

I tag: Emily, Cameron, Camie & Dad

A life to be remembered

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Fishee, who passed on to the next life sometime during the night.

Fishee began his life as a research fish for the firm of Synakowski-Farnsworth, dedicating his life to the advancement of science. We came to know Fishee at the end of his career when he was looking for other options. He decided to give the world of pet-dom a whirl, and moved into our home. He was a great pet, taking to it like a natural, always swishing his tail and swimming around in his tank. His smile brightened our days. He never complained of neglect nor of loneliness, but eagerly greeted us each time we brought him his food. We will miss our Fishee. Survivors include Fishee's owner, Lander, and Fishee's friend, Jake.

Interment services will be held at 8:30 am today in the downstairs bathroom for those interested.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a pumpkin patch with Alan, Heather & baby Smatrick in utero the week before Halloween. The patch was small, but fun.

What a MAN

Last week was a blur. Scouts, work meetings, shopping for the family, helping out at school, helping a sick Jake, Young Womens, a 2-day nursing class, an over-nighter in Driggs, plus work and just normal household stuff put me far behind and made me pretty tired. I dragged my tired body home Sunday morning after working my shift at the hospital, a shift that included an extra hour (thanks daylight savings!) and collapsed into bed.

I woke up 8 hours later, but my body wouldn't cooperate. I was still so tired that I could barely move. Geez! So, my sweet hubby made me breakfast in bed, took care of the kids, and spent the rest of the evening hanging out with me. We watched 2 hours of HGTV in bed, shocking because I don't watch TV and a real exercise in patience & perseverance for Josh as he gave up watching the more desirable football game. It was wonderful! He had already spent hours this weekend organizing the kids room, a task worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, and doing other chores to help me catch back up.

And then to top it all off, he tells me "thank you"!

What a man!!

I love you Babe!

like father, like son

Jake holding his catch near twin bridges,

South Fork of the Snake River.

more LiVInG the dReAm...

It was man vs. beast (well, fish actually) this weekend, and Josh came out the victor. Check out the 21 inch, 4 1/2 pound BrOWn tRoUt that Josh hooked on the South Fork of the Snake River, just like the good 'ole days....Dan, where were YOU?

Slumber Party

Our house was filled to the brim with people for Jake's baptism (Sorry Randy & Keri about having to sleep in the bunk beds!) so Jake, Lander & Sydney decided to sleep on my bedroom floor and have a "slumber party". Sydney slept like this all night long until Jake woke up at 5 am & tried to move her. I helped him straighten her out & she didn't even wake up. I think she was exhausted!

Jake's Baptism

My baby is 8! It is so hard to believe!! Jake had a pizza party to celebrate. He was baptized the following weekend. Baptism guests included Grandpa & Grandma Nala, Randy & Keri with Sydney & Jenna, Grams & Gramps, and Alan & Heather with baby Smatrick. Josh baptized Jake, but Jake asked if Peepaw (aka Gramps) would give him the Holy Ghost, so Gramps confirmed Jake. It was very special.

Grandpa, Grandma Nala, Jake & Lander

Best Buddies--Lander & Jake

Just a small bit of the Farnsy Clan. Back Row: Randy, Lane, Alan, Josh. Front Row: Keri, Nalene, Heather, Dixie Gramps, Josh, Lane & Jake
...and last, but not least, Jake & Grams

(Hmm...Do you think anyone BELIEVES me?)

...DEFINITELY not Dixie!

It was JOSH's fault!

(ooh. That post WAS pretty bad, wasn't it?)

...okay maybe a MUCH higher note...

and on to a little higher note...

Relax-it's good for you!

Mike, you are sounding a bit uptight so I thought I would pass along a little medical advice. Click on the picture. Then READ & FOLLOW Dr. Young's advice and your nervousness should disappear!

Unsung Heroes

We have a hero.

Every day she goes to work. All day long she drives around in a little white car. Sometimes she waves. Sometimes she drops letters in our mailboxes. Except on Monday.

On Monday, as she went about her job, she noticed a man trying to get a neighborhood kid into his car. He wasn't somebody she recognized. It didn't seem right. So she interfered.

And she protected a little boy. She stopped a nightmare. She kept that little boy's name off of the missing child list.

We call our hero "Mail Lady".

Thank you for noticing. Thank you for interfering. Thank you for keeping our friend safe!

Newt Attack!

Trey & Jake holding newt

I was turning my compost pile with a pitch fork when I nearly stabbed a newt. I caught it for the boys & they spent the rest of the day playing with it. I was so afraid that it would bite me. I have heard some types are poisonous. But the boys didn't care.

Beary

Lander got this stuffed bear this summer when Grams, Gramps & Nana took the boys to Bear World. He named him Beary (not to be confused with Jake's cat Barry). He has loved it ever since, and carries it everywhere he goes. He even started taking it to school this week, but Beary decided to do some flips in the air during class time and his teacher asked him to keep Beary at home.

Finally...he's home!

Was it only 10 days? It seemed like forever. Glad to have you back home babe!
Josh is cleaning a muzzle loader after hunting elk in Colorado with Lane & Nick.

Dog Food

We made a snack that the boys call "dog food" for FHE last night. This is how Jake decided he needed to eat his snack:

Bed Head

I'm not sure what Lander did during the night, but it sure looks interesting...

High School Days

My younger siblings were all posting things from High School & since most of them were still in elementary school when I was in high school, I thought I would do my own:

1. Did you date someone from your High School? ..Is this like the go to the movies sort of date or the will you "go out with me" kind of date? I think I am going to stick with the boyfriend definition. If that's the case, then I "dated" Michael Schake, Tony Ashcroft, & Josh Grossman. I don't think there was anyone else. Tiff can correct me if I am wrong!

2. What kind of car did you drive? The "Black Beater", a black 1981 Chevy Silverado truck (yes, Alan, Keri had it right) with a green tool box. Keri mentioned that it looked better dirty than clean & she wasn't kidding. It sounded like it had glass packs (anyone remember those?) & would take a few minutes to turn off. Some days I could make it in to the school before it finished it's rumbling. The power steering belt had been cut, so I had biceps of steel from turning that thing!

3. What was the most embarrassing moment of High School for you? It's a tossup. Either the (1) time that a tampon fell out of my locker. My friend, Destri Gleim, saved the day by kicking it down the hallway. That tampon floated the halls for the rest of the day. Or (2) the other embarrasing thing was the old truck. Even when we flooded the engine, it still would rumble for so long after we got out. Sometimes Tiff & I would run away from it (now that's inconspicuous, I know) or pretend like it wasn't our truck. We were dumb. What can I say? And lastly (3) the time my hair got caught in my carabiner while I rappelled at Big Rock. I had to hang on while another rope was dropped & help came. Lesson learned: always wear your hair in a pony tail when rappelling!

4. Were you a party animal? Not unless you count our rappelling outings. I think I went to a couple of parties, but I left before the good juice was brought out.

5. Were you considered a flirt? I don't think so, but who knows. I was accused of being the teacher's pet, but I think that I was just being smart. It is amazing what teachers will do for you & let you get away with if you just treat them respectfully! (Case in point, I don't know if I was ever not tardy my sophomore year, but my teacher knew that I was taking care of the horses, so he let it slide).

6. Were you in Band, Orchestra, or Choir? Much to my mom's disappointment, no.

7. Were you a nerd? I don't think so.

8. Were you on any Varsity teams? No.

9. Did you ever get suspended/expelled? I got after school suspension once, but I got out on good behavior. (Refer to #5 folks!) The suspension teacher (can't remember his name! What is it mom? He was your old art teacher) remembered my mom & spent the entire time talking to me. It seems like Tiffany, Michael Schake, Kyle Lincoln & one of Tiff's friends was also in there. Tiff & I got caught ditching seperately, but I don't remember getting in trouble. I think that my mom might have given us permission?

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Sorry guys, old age has got to me.

11. Who were your favorite teachers? I had a lot of good teachers. The ones that stand out: Ms. Brown (aka Sharon Curtain) for AP English & Mr. Cluff for Anat & Phys. I had 2 great seminary teachers, but can't remember their names!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? Near the gym entrance, next to the office.

13. School mascot? Broncos

14. Did you go to Homecoming? With whom? Yes, with Michael Schake.

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Are you kidding? No way! College was soooo much better!

16. What do you remember t about graduation? Sitting next to Josh Grossman, holding his hand (we were just good friends at the time), feeling so excited & then the all night party at the fitness center & breakfast at Village Inn.

17. Where did you go Senior Skip Day? I don't remember anything about it!

18. Were you in any clubs? A few, but the only one I can remember is NHS.

19. Have you gained some weight since then? Uggh. Of course this question has to come up! Yes! There are you happy?? :)

20. Who was your Prom Date? Michael Schake. I only went one year. We had fun, but I thought it was such a waste of money!

21. 10 year Reunion? Are you planning on going? Maybe I should rephrase the question. Did I go? I had planned on going, but didn't get an invite. Ooh. That hurts! I felt really bad, missed the drunken party & all. Too bad I was riding out of the Pine trailhead that day with my horse (Ginger?) crow hopping at every stupid rock & butterfly along the trail. I think my day was more fun. Will I go to my 20 year reunion? Probably not.

22. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Have fun. Have fun. Have fun. And don't be afraid to try new things. I didn't do a lot of things because I was afraid of looking stupid or failing. I should have just gone for it!

Check out the view

I had an exciting time driving home a few days ago. Here is the new, but not improved, view from my driver's seat:I'm not sure what hit me, but a guy was mowing along the highway right where this happened, so I am guessing the mower blades launched whatever hit me across a double lane highway into my windshield. It sounded like a gun shot & left shards of glass down my shirt, in my lap, in my back window, & crusted on my chap stick. Um. Yummie.

Play Date

I had a play date with the little boys today, courtesy of my work. They even threw in lunch, slushies & a $50 gift card, my prize in the drawings contest. (Sorry Josh. I tried for the 47 inch TV, but no luck.) We are all exhausted & sunburned. It was a really fun day. Jake says that I am still "the best mom in the world". We'll see how long that lasts...maybe until chore time? Here are some highlights of our day: