Farley Family

More fun on a 4-wheeler!

2010-04-19T21:32:00.003-05:00

The big boys got a 4-wheeler over the weekend. Mom was gone running the river to river race, so we thought we'd surprise her. Surprise! We had actually been looking for awhile and couldn't find a good used one. We finally bought a new one from Webster Ford. The boys have rode and rode and rode that thing. And, they have been really good about taking turns. It's already getting a little dangerous around here with them zipping around the house and barn. Any guesses on who had the first accident?

Air Evac

2010-04-15T16:31:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Air Evac Lifeteam. Last weekend, they flew into the landing zone at Frank Ayers' to talk to the Cub Scout Pack 67. This was a really fun event. The pilot and medical techs were very nice. They talked to the boys and let them check out all the cool equipment and controls. The boys had lots of questions and they did their best to explain them all. It was really neat to watch them land and takeoff out there. For more information, visit their web-site at http://www.lifeteam.net/. This really is a good deal. Check out the pictures of the boys...

Ross got a big one!

2010-04-10T18:37:00.002-05:00

We've been fishing our pond the last couple days and done quite well. Yesterday, the boys caught a dozen bluegill and two crappie. Today, Ross caught this big bass and three smaller ones. Yeah, Ross!

Happy Easter!!!!

2010-04-04T07:41:00.002-05:00

Ross said, "Good, an easter egg hunt. I need the money!"

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia...

2010-03-27T08:42:00.002-05:00

ROADIE: The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians. This catch-all term covers tour managers, production managers, stage managers, front of house and monitor engineers, guitar techs, bass techs, drum techs, keyboard techs, lighting techs, pyrotechnic techs, security/bodyguards, and caterers, among others.

The above definition is what we thought was a Roadie. At least in our house. However, our beloved sister-in-law, Ashley, thought a Roadie was an alcoholic beverage consumed in a car. Given her definition, this would have raised some eyebrows last week at Church when Larry Quick said he needed a Roadie during one of the songs. This sitution would have also raised an eyebrow or two with Amber's definition. Ashley just has a different set of vocabulary words that we assume come from growing up in Nebraska. We find her adorable and can't help but love her like a special needs child. Anyway, we are trying to keep track of these "Ashley-isms" for our tell-all book. If you have any, please post your comments below.

What's a Roadie?

2010-03-22T08:13:00.002-05:00

Please publish your comments below as to what you think is a Roadie. Later, I'll tell you a funny story.

Funny face or normal for Ross?

2010-03-13T10:41:00.002-06:00

I was taking the pictures off our camera and sending them to Wal-mart when I noticed that Ross doesn't have a normal expression. In every single picture, he makes a different funny face. I am not even sure he has a normal face. If he does, I don't have any pictures of it. When we get family pictures taken, he is harder on my patience than Luke!

R.I.P. Corey Haim

2010-03-10T12:53:00.004-06:00

I loved this guy when I was in Jr.High/High School, I thought he was so cute! He was a poster on my wall. Sadly, he died today of a drug overdose. Makes me want to rent some old movies. Lost Boys anyone? Lucas?

Rock and Roll Forever

2010-03-06T08:13:00.002-06:00

Big boys got some bucks from Granny and Papaw and they bought Guitar Hero for the Wii. They have had a lot of fun rocking in the basement. Now, they are walking around the house singing 80's songs. When I start singing along, they want to know, "Dad, how do you know that song?" Hello, I was cool! (still am)

Weekend in St. Louis

2010-02-24T18:07:00.002-06:00

Last weekend, we went to St. Louis and had a blast. Evan and Ashley just moved into their apartment (or hotel room as Ross calls it) and Tim & Michele were over visiting Lea. So, we went shopping, hung out, saw Lea's loft (awesome) and broke bread with Shane Klier and Rihanna Something. We are so happy that Evan and Ashley are moving to St. Louis and that Tim & Michele spend all their free time over there. Looking forward to many fun weekends in the metro area. The pictures of the boys faces are in the toy section at Target. I was watching them while Ashley and Holly did a little shopping for power bars and weight loss videos. Evan was watching Luke take a nap in the car. The other pictures are from the Magic House. Two thumbs up! They had an area for 1 to 6 years old where Luke spent the entire time. He cried when Holly made him leave the water section, but he found a new home in the sand box. The boys tested out the static electricity experiment. The girl running the show said they had the perfect hair (I guess they get that from Uncle Bob). Anyway, it was fun and relaxing and much needed.

Dave Bunton

2010-02-19T22:06:00.003-06:00

As most of you know, Papaw David has a sarcoma in the back of his stomach and a couple of spots on his lungs. For those of you that don't know, a sarcoma is the dreaded "c" word. The one is his back is right on his nerves and has been causing him a lot of pain and the loss of use of one of his legs. Times have been very tough for him, but he is strong and he is going to beat it. He started radiation treatments this week. He does radiation five days a week for five weeks and then they will do surgery to remove it and the spots on his lungs. These next several weeks are going to be very hard on him and really take their toll. Please pray for him that they will be able to treat him and that he will have a successful recovery and that it won't come back. And for those of you that have already been praying for him and for all the offers of help, thank you very much and may God bless you.

Cub Scouts

2010-01-30T07:51:00.003-06:00

The Pinewood Derby was last weekend and the boys all had a great time. Cole got 3rd place in his den. Kegan Borgic was 2nd and Destin Wilson was 1st. Ross got 2nd place in his den. RJ Lindemann was 1st. Congratulations to all the boys.

Artwork

2010-01-21T20:20:00.002-06:00

You may have to click on the picture to see a bigger version. Ross made this little piece of artwork tonight and I thought it was pretty cool. I am really not sure what goes through his head. He pulled a card today for growling in class. Apparently, everybody thought it was funny, so that makes it ok. I told him he might as well fart in class when he leans over to tie his shoe. Everybody thought that was pretty funny. I guess I know where he gets it.

This is me on the treadmill!

2010-01-11T19:51:00.001-06:00

Road Trip Alley?

2010-01-05T20:00:00.003-06:00

Ok, here is my most recent rant. On the last nice day, well it was at least 35 degrees, I went for a run north on our road and there were so many beer cans!! I think that we must be a high traffic area for the "road trip." I know what you are thinking, I am worried about global warming and all of Al Gore's theories on our earth and how we should live......NO, I think Uncle Bob has cleared that one up for us(See "Uncle Bob's Take" at right, I would reference specific posts but it is too good, you should read them all.)
It is just very frustrating for me, I like to enjoy the outdoors and hate to see litter. Now as you know, it is not the beer that I have a problem with either, well maybe all the Busch cans....ick, but seriously there won't be a trash can where you end up??? You can't just collect them in your cooler and then throw them away or recycle them? And not only are there about 100 beer cans but also about 20 Polar Pop styrofoam drink cups that will not desintegrate or be picked up by someone who turns them in for cash. So until I take my boys down the road to pick up trash, I will have to look at them on every run! At least there is snow coming to cover it up.

Painting by Number

2009-12-30T08:32:00.002-06:00

I don't know where to begin... the boys were painting little ceramic birdhouses that they received during Advent. Next thing I know, they want to give themselves beards like Uncle Bob. One thing led to another and they ended up like this. What they didn't realize was how fast and hard the paint would dry. All of a sudden, they all started going, "Ouch, my face hurts!"

Merry Christmas to Us!

2009-12-27T17:45:00.002-06:00

Well, Evan and Ashley were looking for a jeep so Chad said he would help "look" around here since they would be coming home soon. Chad found one that wasn't really what they wanted but decided to check it out. He said that he should, "just in case it would work for them, it is a sharp looking jeep"(he reasoned in his head). It was at a dealer, and suprisingly there was alot of interest and possible offers were coming in. Ummm after test driving it and a couple long conversations with Hank(thanks Hank), we are the proud owners of an '04 Jeep wrangler. The one in the picture above is not ours, but you get the idea. Chad weighed the pros and cons and came up with more pros, plus they traded for the red one. I am still a little sad to see the red one go. I am now looking so forward to a ride in the jeep. I prefer sun, sand, and a bikini top, but snow will do. If you see weird people waving from a silver jeep, it is us.

Happy Birthday Luke Jyles!!!!

2009-12-10T09:21:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures from over the years of Luke. It took me a long time to pick them out. So many good ones to choose from. I can't believe it, but he is two years old today. We are having a big party for him tonight. I aksed this morning who was two and he said, "me". He's so smart. More pictures below as I couldn't figure out how to post more that four at a time.

Luke Jyles - more pics

2009-12-10T08:43:00.002-06:00

Cole

2009-12-05T10:11:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures of Cole. Our little boy just turned nine. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. He had some friends over for a sleepover and then we celebrated with a party on his birthday with our family. You know in only seven years, he will be driving. He is closer to getting his driver's license than the day of his birth. Where did the time go? And, when did he start drinking Bud Light?

Funny Cats

2009-12-01T17:59:00.001-06:00

My boys love this video. We couldn't stop laughing! My favorite part is the cat on the ceiling fan.

Halloween Pictures

2009-11-14T09:05:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures of the boys.

Cole went as Commander Cody. Ross was Aniken Skywalker and Luke was Yoda.

Obviously, we are big Star Wars fans.

The Black Eyed Peas on Oprah's Show in Chicago

2009-11-10T07:45:00.001-06:00

Whatever happened to the Titantic?

2009-11-08T09:37:00.003-06:00

A) It was hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia?
B) It sank off the coast of Atlanta?
C) Nothing. It was a government conspiracy.

Nobody really knows for sure. What do you think?

Trunk or Treat

2009-11-01T11:55:00.003-06:00

We went as Eagle fans to the Cub Scouts this year. The boys had a great time. I think they really liked the hair color. They did the same thing the next day for Orange and Blue Day at school. You should see the sheets on their beds!

Smelly Kid? Add Baby Powder!

2009-10-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

More old pictures...

2009-10-14T17:58:00.002-05:00

For some reason, Ross is always eating in these pictures. The one of Cole is at Mom and Dad's old house. Note my old truck in the picture?

Oldies, but Goodies

2009-10-11T20:33:00.002-05:00

As you may have noticed, we have been down for awhile. I keep all of our pictures and video on an external hard drive. Well, it crashed and I have slowly been recovering and moving pictures. So, I look like Chevy Chase while I sit here looking at all these old pictures and crying. Anyway, till I get up to date, here are a couple pictures of the older boys. There really are some good ones. Too bad I don't have time to post them all.

First Day of Soccer

2009-09-14T15:45:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures from the first day of soccer. Both boys got to play goalie and downfield. And, they both played really well. Ross scored four goals and Cole scored eight! I must say that I was really impressed with Cole. I guess I didn't realize how good he was at soccer. Hopefully, they will have it in the schools by the time he gets there!

Luke's New Wheels

2009-09-13T08:47:00.002-05:00

Check out Luke's new wheels! Since the poor boys gets absolutely nothing new for himself with having two older brothers, we decided he should get a new bike since he loves riding. This one fits him perfectly and makes all kinds of noises.

opossum!

2009-09-07T10:41:00.002-05:00

While we were gone, a opossum snuck into our garage. And, he ate all the kitty cat food. Whiskers should have fought him, but she didn't. We waited for him to play dead, so we could throw him out. Since it was pretty late, we gave up and chased him with the broom. Guess that's better than a skunk. We took some pictures while he was hiding.

Story by Cole & Ross Farley

First Day of School

2009-08-22T08:00:00.004-05:00

Well, Friday was the first official day of school in Jasper County. The boys all wore their tie-dyed shirts that they made with MiMi. Cole is now in the third grade and Ross is in the first. It will be nice to have them in one location this year. Now, I only have two stops in the morning... school and Susie's. Hope all you kids and teacher have a great year!

Back to School

2009-08-20T06:35:00.003-05:00

I went back to work last week. And I must say that it is just not as fun as hanging out with the boys all day, getting up when we want and going to bed late. Oh well, I do enjoy my job and the students, and today the nursing students come either for the first time or for their second year. I always look forward to meeting them and getting to know them(say a little prayer for them, they need it). I really don't know what it is but I love the start of a new year. Maybe it is the newness of the semester, the eager yet puzzled faces, the smell of fresh notebooks and backpacks, newly sharpened number 2 pencils ready to fill in their first scantron card........I have just always loved school and the possibilities it brings. I am sure it will be a great year.

I also know a lot of other students going back and continuing their education. I wish them a fast semester filled with understanding instructors and straight A's. And NO group work!

The boys go back to school tomorrow along with all of their friends that they are so excited to see. And honestly parents go back to doing homework every night too:) Have a fun year everyone!

Great Book!

2009-08-16T13:26:00.002-05:00

This is an excellent book. Chad would classify this book as a "Real page turner." I rented it from the new books at the library. I read it, then Chad read it. We both finished the book in a couple of days. I just could not put it down.

It is about a girl who grew up in the witness protection program. Besides a good story line, there is a lot of info about the witness protection program that I found interesting. This is the first book for this author, hopefully he will choose to write another.

Who's up for round 2?

2009-08-07T08:15:00.001-05:00

Well, we are headed back to the river this weekend. We went about two weeks ago with the Zumbahlen's. The kids had a blast. I bet they ran in and out of that river for three hours. Then, we came back to our house and they swam for another two. Needless to say, they finally slept in the next morning.

Just a cute picture.

2009-07-26T09:33:00.002-05:00

Something different. This was just a cute picture of the boys cuddling on the couch. Took me five shots to get this picture.

License Plate (you wish you had)

2009-07-22T21:39:00.005-05:00

I know that I tried to get this plate about five years ago when Holly and I bought a Chevy Tahoe and I am pretty sure that Hank Baltzell tried when they bought their Tahoe a few years back I also figure that Cliff Kinkade tried to get it last year. Of course, we can all agree that this would suit Terry Smithenry.

Well, here is the reason that we couldn't get it. Somebody else already had our same bright idea! We saw this plate in St. Louis on a Chevy Tahoe when we were leaving the Cardinal game. Apparently, this guy shares our same taste in sports, vehicles and women!

Cardinal Pictures

2009-07-22T08:06:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the pictures from the other night. We all had a blast. Pujols hit two homers and one was right above our heads. Carpenter threw a great game and we won 6 to 1. Needless to say, Holly & I missed some of the game while we were getting stuff to eat, drink or taking the kids to the bathroom. Thanks to Papaw for the dollars, so the boys could get a souvenir.

What I really need.....

2009-07-20T22:50:00.003-05:00

Is a housekeeper!

Watched Alice everyday after school and always thought that it would be great to come home to fresh baked cookies everyday after school.

And I just think Florence would be funny to have around.

But seriously, wouldn't that be great!!! Now I know many of you are thinking, "Holly, you have a house cleaner." Folks Melanie is wonderful but a housekeeper is something entirely different. This person would do the grocery shopping, cook for us and clean up for us for EVERY meal. Do our laundry and put it away. Can you imagine how awesome that would be? The amount of time we all spend on these tiresome chores. I could sleep in clean sheets so much more often!
I have decided that after being home all summer with the kids here all the time I cannot keep up with the constant mess. The dishwasher gets ran twice a day and usually it is every other day when I am working and kids are in school and Luke is at daycare.

I wonder if we could some how work an Alice into the picture. I would let her off on Sat. and Sunday.... I am very generous(althought that would make a bigger mess when she/he arrived back on Monday). Just a thought.

St. Louis Cardinals

2009-07-17T10:44:00.002-05:00

Tonight, we are taking the big boys and Uncle Bob to the game. Right now, the Cards are in first place and Carpenter is pitching tonight, so it should be a good game. However, it might be a little chilly. It is the middle of July and we're going to be taking jackets. Isn't that crazy? Where is all this global warming Al Gore promised me?

Happy Birthday, Ross!

2009-07-14T07:47:00.002-05:00

Sunday was Ross' birthday, so we had a little party for him at the house. Of course, he got some great gifts and cards. He is now six years old and getting so big. I can't believe how fast the time flys!

Save me from this Cartoon!

2009-07-11T08:18:00.006-05:00

This must be the dumbest cartoon ever created. I listened to this from the other room yesterday and couldn't even understand half of what they were saying. Has anyone else seen this? It is on Cartoon Network, which isn't my favorite channel. They have another cartoon called "Chowder" where all the characters are named after food. It is only slightly better. If you enjoy these two I hope I didn't offend.

Now, below is my favorite cartoon on TV. Phineas and Ferb made it's debute last summer and we DVR new episodes if we can. It is about two brothers who build things in their backyard and they have an older sister Candace who always tries to "bust" them with their parents but something always happens and whatever they built disappears right at the last minute before the parents can see it. In the below picture is my favorite episode where they build an amusement park in their back yard and all the neighbor kids have a blast. Too funny. If you haven't caught it, you should. They even have a pet platypus that is a secret agent. Now that is creativity.....go Walt Disney.

What is your favorite cartoon??? What is your least favorite???

Is Summer FINALLY Here?

2009-07-08T13:54:00.002-05:00

I couldn't resist posting this cute pic of Luke on a day warm enough to dress in a sleeveless outfit. We sure are hoping for many more around the Farley household.

Black Gold

2009-07-06T12:44:00.003-05:00

We are finally composting. After prodding Chad for a couple of years and even buying him a plan to build a compost bin(trying to utilize all those tools he had to have for his shed), he finally BOUGHT me a compost tumbler for my birthday. He suprised me with it this week-end.
I have always wanted to try composting and after moving up here to the mound of clay, all the research I did said that adding in compost to the clay soil in gardens and flower beds would make a huge difference. So we will see. Happy to me!

Holiday World

2009-07-04T10:33:00.003-05:00

Well, this week we made our annual trip to Holiday World. I don't have the pictures back from our water camera, so here are a few of the other ones. It was a little different this year in that the weather was 78 degrees and cloudy. We still hit both parks and did all the rides, but there were a couple times that our teeth were chattering. We probably spent a little more time in the dry park, but it was nice for a change. This year, we still just took Ross & Cole. Maybe next year we'll take Luke. Then again, maybe not.

And then the fight started...

2009-06-30T12:22:00.002-05:00

I rear-ended another car this morning on the way to work. As we were sitting alongside the road, the other driver slowly got out of his car. You know how sometimes that you just get soooo stressed that little things seem sooo funny? Well I couldn't believe it.... the other driver was a dwarf. He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, "I AM NOT HAPPY!!!" So, I looked down at him and said, "Well, then which one are you?" And then the fight started.....

Lowrider Truck

2009-06-29T16:13:00.003-05:00

Dad's looking to sell one of his trucks. Let me know if anybody has any interest. Otherwise, I am going to put it on eBay next week.

.

1995 Chevy 1500, V8, Leather, Loaded, 92,000 miles, w/Stepside RST Package by Regency Conversions.

Fan Falls 12 Feet

2009-06-27T09:33:00.000-05:00

Fan drops 12 feet from upper level
Man passes out, falls over railing, rushed to local hospital
By B.J. Rains / MLB.com

ST. LOUIS -- A 34-year-old fan passed out and fell over an upper-deck railing and onto two fans seated about 12 feet below during the first inning of Friday night's Cardinals-Twins game at Busch Stadium and was immediately taken to a local St. Louis hospital.

The fan, identified by a friend as Chris Hoffman of O'Fallon, Ill., was seated in the front row of section 454 when he apparently passed out during the National Anthem and fell over the railing. Hoffman landed on two Cardinals fans seated in section 354, about 10-12 feet below, who were unharmed but visibly shaken.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and found him with his head down near the pavement and his feet still dangled over the seats in the row behind him. He was seen moving his arm but his face was badly cut and covered in blood. After he was attended to for about 10 minutes, Hoffman was strapped to a stretcher and taken immediately to a local hospital.

The National Weather Service issued a severe heat warning for St. Louis for the entire weekend as temperatures reached 96 degrees on Friday and were expected to reach 99 on Saturday.

The Cardinals were asked by the city of St. Louis to move Saturday and Sunday's day games to night games because of the heat and its potential danger to fans, but the Cardinals were unable to switch the times on that short of notice. No other information about Hoffman's condition was available.

B.J. Rains is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Charlie bit my finger - again !

2009-06-24T07:57:00.001-05:00

Everybody told us about this video when we named our dog. Now, the boys can't seem to get enough of it. Even Luke loves it.

The Clapper

2009-06-19T07:06:00.004-05:00

Ok. On a lighter note, I'll tell you a funny story. About a year ago, I broke the switch in the lamp beside our bed, so it is always on. I just plug/unplug when I want light/dark. About six months ago, I was walking around in the electrical department at Menard's when I came across the solution... The Clapper. I love this thing. It is handy and it is dandy. I couldn't wait for the first night. I already had the light on and was reading when Holly came to bed. I just looked at her and clapped my hands and we both broke out laughing. Outwardly, she thinks that I am a dork. Inwardly, she is jealous and has been trying to break the switch on her lamp. I told the boys that it was voice-activated, but that only lasted a couple weeks. Now, when they walk by our bedroom, they just clap their hands to mess with the light. Honestly, this is not the first time that I have received applause in bed.

DAD

2009-06-17T21:50:00.002-05:00

Thank you all for your prayers these past couple days. To bring you all up to speed, my Dad fell yesterday and hit his head in the basement. He was disoriented and decided to lay down for a nap. He is taking Plavix which is a blood clot inhibitor. Therefore, he lost a lot of blood. We called 911 and took him by ambulance to St. Anthony's Hospital. Air Evac flew him to Carle Hospital because of the head injury and loss of blood. Luckily, he only has a laceration on his head and a broken vertebrae. He was given lots of fluids and they were able to stabilize him. General Moore did a nice job of sewing him up from the inside out and they kept him overnight for observation. We brought him home today and he is still very tired and weak. We continue to thank God for sending me out to his house. Please continue to pray for him and remember that there is a higher power and that God has a plan for everyone of us.

Taste like chicken?

2009-06-09T21:32:00.002-05:00

Who knows? Who cares? I'm not about to find out. Tonight, I shot PePe LePew. I have been waiting on his return. After the earlier sightings, I brought home a choice weapon for the job. We haven't seen him till this past weekend. Cole was riding his bike into the garage and came running back out. Apparently, the skunk was in the garage. Evan saw him later rounding the house. Well, I was on the front porch tonight talking to Gary Griffith. Holly ran out to tell me that the skunk was on the patio. I grabbed my gun and headed to the back yard. Luckily, I got caught up with him before he made it to the tall grass. I fired a warning shot and took him on the second shot. Needless to say, it's kinda stinky outside right now. Good thing the wind is out of the west. I am hoping some deranged animal will eat him tonight. But, not me!

Check out my big snake!

2009-06-05T07:39:00.001-05:00

Most of you know that I am not fond of snakes. I have killed my fair share at the new house, but this was the biggest to date. And, I killed it with my bare hands. Ok, I used a hoe to cut off his head. The others have been killed by weedeater and/or shotgun. I think I ran over one repeatedly with my truck. Anyway, I was on the dock with Ross when this little beauty tried to sneak by me. Luckily, I was able to get to the barn and back before he ate Luke.

Beer-Guzzling Granny

2009-05-29T19:45:00.003-05:00

For Mother's Day, we got my Mom a nice beer mug that could hold a little over two beers because she is such a boozer. No, just kidding. We actually ordered 24-ounce water bottles for both our Moms with special engraving like #1 Granny and #1 MeMe. Needless to say, we were pretty surprised the beer mug showed up instead of our order. The lady at the company was really nice and said they would send out the water bottle and we would have it in time. They also said they didn't have a need for the beer mug since it said #1 Granny, so we could just keep it. We decided to give it to Granny and act like that was her real present. I must say that either Granny really liked the beer mug or she didn't want to hurt our feelings and put on a great performance. Either way, we also gave her the real gift which she also seemed to like, so who knows.

Patriotic Parade

2009-05-25T08:14:00.004-05:00

Here are some shots from the parade at Willow Hill. Ross did a great job although I think we embarrassed him with all the pictures. I wonder how RJ feels?

Shake it!

2009-05-23T07:22:00.005-05:00

Here is a small clip of the boys dancing at Guiseppe's (spelling?) First Communion Celebration. They spent most of the night sipping kiddie cocktails and dancing. Kind of scary about what it's going to be like in ten years... or more... maybe less...

Charley & Me!

2009-05-15T09:43:00.003-05:00

Sorry to make you all wait so long. We have been a little busy lately. As you can see, we decided to go against public opinion and name the puppy Charley. The boys were really excited when they saw him for the first time. They have been out playing with him every morning before school and all night. He follows them everywhere. It is very cute. I think he is adjusting to his new home. Last night, he didn't cry at all when we put him in the kennel. I think he was wore out from all the action. More pictures in the future...

When is it going to quit raining?

2009-05-13T19:01:00.002-05:00

This photo was taken during one of the brief period of warm sunshine this Spring. Last Tuesday, Lea and Nikki came over to soak up some rays while the boys hit the pool. Here is a picture of them warming up in the front yard. The pool was only about 70 degrees that day. Nothing like putting your hot bod in a cool pool!

Happy Birthday, Holly!

2009-05-12T07:40:00.001-05:00

Hope you have a great day! We love you!

Please Help Us Pick the Puppy's Name.

2009-05-10T07:44:00.003-05:00

Well, he is coming home on Tuesday. Please don't tell the boys, it is still a secret. Although I hate to admit this, but we got a dog pen from my aunt Lynn and uncle Maurice yesterday and put it up and the boys still haven't caught on. I think we have been talking about getting a dog for sooo long that they don't really believe that it will be soon.
Anyway, we need a name. Right now we have narrowed it down to "Charley" or "Jasper," please vote on the side. And if you have some other suggestions, feel free to post them.
This seems just as hard as bringing home a baby!
Thanks

Marley & Me

2009-05-08T08:30:00.002-05:00

How many of you have seen this movie? Well, a long time ago, we decided that we wanted to get the boys a puppy when we moved to the country. We have always wanted a really light yellow lab. I know we have been in the country for a couple years, but it has been one thing after another. You know like building a house, having a baby, etc., etc. Well, the time is now and now is the time. We have been looking for a couple months, but have not had any luck. I don't know how people adopt kids. We can't even decide on a dog. Anyway, we have finally found one that we really like up around Joliet. Hopefully, we are going to get him next week. Don't tell the kids. It is a secret!

Fishing Time

2009-05-03T10:44:00.002-05:00

We went fishing for a little while yesterday afternoon. Luke was not much help AT ALL. Ross got bored right after his first fish. But, Cole caught a half dozen nice bluegill and this one nice crappie. He also hooked a really nice bass that broke his line. He was super excited.

Natural Disaster

2009-04-29T20:52:00.004-05:00

I am feeling like we have a natural disaster at the Farley household. LUKE is a disaster! Cute, but a walking (more like running) disaster!! He constantly goes from one mess to another and into so many things that he should not be into. I vaguely remembered toddlerhood with the other two and I don't remember it being this bad. Maybe I am just older and more tired.
Any tricks would be appreciated. Some legal way to keep him tied up?

Cole's Shrooms

2009-04-19T08:59:00.003-05:00

Cole found these three big mushrooms last night while golf ball hunting at Papaw & Granny's. I asked him where he found them, but he wouldn't tell me. Good boy!

It is time...

2009-04-17T09:56:00.002-05:00

For those of you seeking the elusive morel, now it is time. We took the boys mushroom hunting last weekend and found about 25 or 30. We probably could have found more, but it is kinda hard looking for mushrooms with a 1-year old. We also ran into a problem with our first patch. Apparently, there was a "controlled burn" this spring. While it does make it easier to find mushrooms without any leaves, I guess they don't grow on bare ground after a fire. So, we had to go to one of Papaw's patches. Sorry, Papaw, we wish you could have been there. I am sure they will grow back for you to pick this weekend. :-)

It is almost official...

2009-04-15T06:58:00.003-05:00

I have heard from Mr. Alburtus and will probably be sworn in to the school board on the 27th or 28th. I cannot wait to start my new post. I think it will be a very rewarding position.
I want to thank everyone for your vote and support. I also appreciate all the cards, emails, and kind words. I feel blessed to have such great friends.
Holly

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T07:07:00.002-05:00

Easter Bunny-

I don't know if you are a real bunny or just a guy dressed up in a rabbit costume, but either way, thank you!

Ross Farley

What do you want to be when you grow up?

2009-04-10T13:19:00.003-05:00

A couple weeks ago at our pack meeting for Cub Scouts, we had a costume party. The boys were told to dress up for what they wanted to be when they grew up. Without hesitation, Cole said he wanted to be an Insurance Agent like his father. He said that he wanted to work long hard days just to make sure his customers had the right coverage for the best price. I was so proud of him. Ross, on the other hand, decided that he wanted to be a Power Ranger. However, I am not quite sure why he is wearing a hockey mask. Anyway, I told him that every household needed a superhero and that I was proud of him. I don't know how kids can decide when they are eight years old. I'm almost 35 and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.

Go Vote!

2009-04-05T15:22:00.003-05:00

Well Folks, April 7th is the big day. Even though this election seems small and insignificant and the weather may be less than desirable, get out there and vote.

As Tim Farley said on his blog you can get your voice out there by voting for people who share your views or at least you feel they will exercise good decision-making.

Most of you know that I am running for the Jasper County School Board and I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday. My only agenda is a good solid educational foundation for the kids of Jasper County.

Holly

House for Sale

2009-03-30T21:10:00.003-05:00

On April 12th, we will officially be here for two years. In that time, our closest neighbor moved away and today, two more houses down the road went up for sale. Was it something we said?

Smelly Garage

2009-03-28T08:01:00.000-05:00

We have a local skunk that has been sighted hanging out around our house several times. Last year, I pulled in the driveway with the top off of the Jeep and he was waiting for me. Thankfully, he wasn't scared of guys in trucks. We have seen him out visiting the rabbits and walking around the concrete. We have been leaving the garage up just a bit for the cats. Well, the other morning, our garage had a not-so-pleasant smell. I saw one cat, but heard something crunching the cat food on the other side of the car. So, I carefully went around the other side of the car to find... the other cat. Luckily, the skunk was gone, but he must have been in our garge, because it stinks! And, the cars, stink! And, the cats, stink! I drove my truck to Peoria, went to a four hour meeting, came out, and it still stinks! Any suggestions?

Day 6

2009-03-23T08:45:00.003-05:00

Ok, so our last day was pretty laid back. We left Dad & Mom's and headed back to Orlando. We stopped by Wal-mart to pick up a new GPS and I ran over the rack that holds the carts. It was Friday the 13th after all. Looks like I probably need to see my friend Jay Nail. Anyway, we ate at a Perkin's and after the meal, the waiter starts making these balloon animals. Needless to say, his stock went up. We went shopping for a little while and ran into this parrot guy. And, for a small fee, we were able to capture that moment on film. I think we were set up. Then, we went to play mini-golf at the Pirate's Cove. Luke took at nap, so just me and the big boys got to play. They love mini-golf. I don't know why we have never played up town. I guess that would be too convenient. We finally ended our day at Downtown Disney. We started at the other end this time and got to see Lego Land. Wow! I am impressed. To think that somebody gets paid to play with legos all day. Where do I sign up?

Day 5

2009-03-21T09:03:00.003-05:00

On Thursday, we went down to Mom & Dad's place. Holly stayed with Luke and Mom while Dad took the rest of us on an airboat ride. It was really cool. We went down to Lake Trafford where they have like some 3000 alligators. We were up close and personal with most of them. You could reach your hand out of the boat and touch them. I didn't realize we would see so many or get so close. We all had a great time!

Day 4

2009-03-19T19:35:00.003-05:00

On Wednesday, we went to Universal Studios. It was very cool. Most of the attractions were interactive shows and/or simulated rides. I think everybody's favorite was the Simpson's Ride. There was also a Kid Zone where the boys could play in a huge play area or a little water park. There was also a roller coaster that they rode over and over. (I didn't ride. I just took the pictures. Dr. Bloomberg will thank me later). The park wasn't nearly as busy as Disney, so we hardly had to wait in lines. Very cool.

Day 3

2009-03-17T20:41:00.004-05:00

This was supposed to be an easy day, but it was very eventful. We started out the day at the pool. Luke was not a big fan. He liked the pool, but did not want to be held. Bad combo for a little guy that can't swim. The big boys really weren't in the mood to swim for some reason. We ended up watching these two ducks get it on in the deep end till some old guy broke them up.

We went to Disney's Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue in the afternoon. This was a real treat. We all really enjoyed the show. Big shout out to the Cucinalla's for the recommendation. The boys had a blast and we were all laughing the entire show. Even Luke seemed to be really entertained. I think it was the cute girl behind us that he kept checking out.

The day ended on kind of a sour note. Somebody broke into our truck and stole the GPS. Why? I don't know. They didn't take the power supply. They didn't take the Nintendo DS, the iPod, the digital camera, the DVD player or anything else. Maybe these crooks weren't the brightest. Anyway, we were able to get the glass replaced ASAP and the maintenance man at the hotel cleaned up all the broken glass. We are just lucky to have a great insurance agent! ;-)

Day 2

2009-03-15T12:33:00.004-05:00

Today, we went to the Magic Kingdom, so here we are some pictures from the rides. I think the big boys' favorites were Splash Mountain and Thunder Railroad. We rode each of them twice. They were my favorites, too. We didn't hit all the smaller rides this year. Luke rode the Tea Cups and the Merry-Go-Round, but really enjoyed the little Water Park. We stayed till close and watched the fireworks. They were awesome. It is really hard to enjoy the ones in Dieterich after that display. (no offense to you people in Dieterich) All the boys were actually very good. We had a blast!

One not so magical moment was when a trio of older European gals cut in front of us in the fast pass lane. They didn't speak a lick of English and were very rude. When they got to the end, they only had one pass for all three of them. But, since it was Disney, the attendant let them all ride and gave them a stern warning. I think they should have kicked their butts out of the park.

Day 1

2009-03-11T20:03:00.002-05:00

Well, we made it to Florida in a little under 16 hours. That wasn't all driving time... Luke did fine after he realized that he wasn't going to win the battle. The first night we went to Downtown Disney and ate at Planet Hollywood. Here we are shopping for something to spend Mammer's money. Apparently, Ross loves to shop or at least buy everything he thinks he wants at that time. Cole seems to have more energy than all of us. I am not sure he will ever wear out. More to come. It has been an interesting time so far. We are having lots of fun!!!

Don't Glitter!

2009-03-01T17:19:00.004-06:00

This week when it was warm, the boys and I took a walk up our road. Ross said to me, "Mom, why do people glitter?!" I tried very hard to keep a straight face. It was so cute.

On the way home he said, "We should pick up some of this glitter." and he did, he filled the bottom of the stroller with trash from our road. I am so proud of his stewardship.

So think twice before you litter....Ross has his eye on you.

(The above pic is not of our road, thankfully it wasn't that bad.)

Bald Eagle

2009-02-28T10:04:00.002-06:00

Chris Hyatt took these pictures on Friday near her house after lunch. This bald eagle was working on a deer in the road ditch while secretly thinking about eating her cat for dessert

Cave house up for sale on ebay

2009-02-25T09:08:00.001-06:00

Latest Complaint.....

2009-02-24T15:39:00.003-06:00

It is laundry! Uugh! This week-end I washed Luke's mattress pad and sheets 3 times because he peed through his diaper. I was out of "overnight" diapers, the even more expensive diaper made by Huggies. Although I am glad they make them or I would be washing his bedclothes everyday, he even pees through at nap time.
And another thing to add to my griping is white shirts for boys. I don't even know why they make them! And even worse, why do I buy them? Last night Cole had an off-white thermal henley on and got koolaid(red, of course) on the underside of his sleeve and on the bottom front. I asked him how it got there because it wasn't a spill type issue and he said that he didn't know.
Now I can't leave Ross out, he has a couple of those shirts that look like two shirts but they are really one and the long sleeves are white, or should I say were white, now they are sort of a dingy gray color from all the dirt. Very frustrating.
Ok, I feel better.

Vicki leaving housewives???

2009-02-21T09:21:00.004-06:00

NOoooooo, say it isn't so! I have read two gossip sites that say she may not come back. Well Vicki, I promise to tell you next time I bring you a suprise coach bag!! I now understand the etiquette of giving gifts. I will at least send you an email.

I love her so much and I think she is sooo jealous of Gretchen and her hot body(who has really started getting on my nerves). And maybe Vicki, you shouldn't have aired your problems with the "depleted Love Tank" on at least three episodes. No wonder your husband is a little pissed.

Maybe if I pray hard enough, she will come back.

Snow Pictures

2009-02-18T19:53:00.003-06:00

Found a couple more pictures from the snow...

So what is your favorite Valentine Candy?

2009-02-15T21:06:00.005-06:00

This year we got a ton of Fun Dip, which I personally love. This year I found that it was pretty difficult to just buy the kids Plain valentines cards with no candy attached. Apparently the other parents in Cole and Ross's class only found cards with candy attached as well because we got a load. And the only chocolate we got was from Susie. I guess I can throw away what is left of the fall parade candy now.

Luke's First Haircut!

2009-02-13T19:57:00.003-06:00

Here are the anxiously awaited pictures from Luke's first haircut. He did awesome! Shelly said it was better than either of the other two boys. He just sat there and ate his smarties. Every now and then, he'd try to see what Shelly was doing behind him. He looks SO cute now! Not that he wasn't cute before. Great job, Shelly!

Happy Birthday, Chachi!

2009-02-11T20:31:00.001-06:00

Hope you stay dry on your birthday!
We are still impressed by your dexterity even after a couple cold ones!

Tag, we're it!

2009-02-05T19:16:00.003-06:00

We got tagged by Sarah D of Sarah Sez. Here were the instructions...

1. Go to where you store your digital photos & open the 4th folder.
2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag an additional 4 people.

This is a picture of Ross posing during one of Cole's soccer games in the fall of 2007.

He's pretty cool!

We're going to tag:
George & Laura
Fred & Wilma
Ashton & Demi
Mario & Luigi

Happy 46th Anniversary!!

2009-02-03T16:03:00.001-06:00

Here's to Mom & Dad in sunny Florida on their wedding anniversary!

Hope you have a great day!

Just a few pictures for Granny...

2009-01-31T11:44:00.002-06:00

I know you are missing the boys, so here are a couple extra shots.

Winter Wonderland!

2009-01-29T10:49:00.005-06:00

Here are some pictures from the last few days. We have been sledding, 4-wheeling or playing hockey about everyday. I think today we are going to rest and just make a snowman. I don't know if it will be anatomically correct like the Hemrich's, but we'll see...

This weeks episode of John and Kate plus 8

2009-01-28T20:19:00.002-06:00

Ok, just curious what anyone else thought about the "New House" episode this week. First of all, love the house, it is just what they need. What I did find odd was that the kids aren't allowed in their parents bedroom in the new house. They can stand at the door and knock or yell in, but they can't come in unless invited. I think Kate's exact words were, "After today you will not step foot in here again, this is our room." Wow! The house is enormous Kate, I think you can find some private space now and then.
I wish we would have had those rules last night when Ross crawled into our bed and then proceeded to puke at 4:30am. With the J&K+8 rules it would have been much easier to just clean a bit of puke off the hard wood floor outside our bedroom door, although I don't think we will be making those rules anytime soon.
Amber, you just had to tell me about RJ puking in your bed, I knew something would be coming our way:)

Luke hitting the bottle!?

2009-01-26T19:13:00.001-06:00

Well, I figured out why Luke was sick last week. I was taking the pictures off my camera and I came across this one. I guess he had one too many Miller Lite's.

Pinewood Derby

2009-01-25T07:43:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was the Pinewood Derby for our local Cub Scouts. The boys were all really excited about the races. Our boys worked very hard on their cars along with me and Papaw Kent. Cole ran with the scouts and got second place in his den. Ross ran in the open class and won his races with gusto. You can check out the blog on the Cub Scouts for all the standings.

Ride 'em Cowboy!

2009-01-22T10:12:00.005-06:00

Here's some video of Luke riding his new horse that Granny & Papaw got him for Christmas. This was taken a couple weeks ago. Right now, he is upstairs taking a nap since he woke up with a fever and congestion this morning.

And the winners are...

2009-01-19T07:08:00.001-06:00

Tim Farley & Melanie Herndon!!!

Euchre Tournament!!!

2009-01-16T09:16:00.003-06:00

Saturday night will mark the 15th anniversary of our annual euchre tournament. I must say that a lot of things have changed over the years, but not the faces. We started having the tournament at my parent's house when we were home from college for Christmas. Dad & Mom would cook all kinds of wild game for us to eat and we'd stuff our faces. Then, we would play cards in the shop that wasn't very well heated. We would beg/borrow/steal a wide array of heaters to keep the place warm because it was always super cold. We started out playing double elimination and would easily play until 4 in the morning. Needless to say, we weren't getting up with kids in the morning. We had the tournament at the Upper West Side a couple years because of bad roads and again, the heating problem. After a nasty peanut/popcorn/food fight, we weren't allowed to come back. Jill & Ben Bierman hosted the tournament for several years after my parents moved to the golf course and before we moved to the big house. Now that we are all old and married with kids, we don't play double elimination anymore. And, we don't have the big feed that my parents used to make for us. But, we still drink our fair share of beer and have a good time. Last year marked the first year that we hosted the tournament at our new house. I like to think that good times were had by all. I haven't kept track of all the winners and losers over the years, but it is safe to say that I have won my fair share. Hank Baltzell has also been crowned victorious several times. Whether or not you are a winner or a loser, you better bring your "A" game cause on Saturday night... It's on like Donkey Kong!

NO School?

2009-01-14T19:45:00.002-06:00

NO problem. This is how Cole and Ross spent their day home(due to ice) last week. It was my last day of christmas break before heading back to school so we took Luke to Susie's house and hung out. We even went shoe shopping in the afternoon.
The roads really were not bad around mid-morning. I think Jasper county should consider having delays instead of cancelling.

2009-01-11T12:18:00.001-06:00

Head on over to Sugar Sweet thoughts and enter Christina's contest to win a free blog design. She is starting her own design business, very good idea. Good Luck Christina!

http://christinagblogspot.blogspot.com/

Batter Up!

2009-01-10T09:42:00.003-06:00

On Sunday, Uncle Bob is coming over to see the boys and play some Wii. I gotta warn him. The boys are going to kick his butt. I'll bet he's sore on Monday. I was able to beat the kids in the first few days, but now I can barely beat them in boxing and I can't even come close in baseball. Last night, Cole got five stikes in a row on bowling and Ross calls himself the home run king. I say... Good Luck Uncle Bob! You better bring a sack lunch cause you're going to need it.

Book Suggestion

2009-01-06T09:40:00.002-06:00

After reading Sarah's blog this morning I remembered that I have been meaning to make this post. I am on to a new author, Mary Kay Andrews. Last year my mom gave me some books and these two were in the bag(Thanks Mom!). All the books are funny and set in the south. Currently I am reading "Savannah Blues" which is also enjoyable. I even got the nurse at Dr. Walsh's office hooked on her because we like to discuss the most recent books we are reading. So, if you are looking for a light and funny read try one out.