Parker's first day.

Parker started in his new class today and had a GREAT day! He is in a new first grade class but he is in there all day. They came to get him to go back to his old class and his new teacher, Mr. Elder, said that he was doing great and to just let him stay there. When I came up for his cupcake party---just to make the transition easier for him and the other students--he was having a wonderful time. The other kids all made cards for him. It was so sweet. I just love his new teacher. He gets the kids so excited about learning and makes sure that Parker feels included. He gets rave reviews from every other teacher and parent. I wish there were more male teachers. They seem to reach the boys a little better. I am just so grateful that Parker was able to get him this year. I think he will be key in this transition for Parker. Parker is already in the highest reading group. We are working on comprehension though. This is also the last year that he will be at Zachary Taylor. Because our home school is Chancey and Parker is too smart for ECE classes he has to go to school with his brothers next year. I have to give huge kudos to ZT for really working with us and Parker and also having such a wonderful caring staff. The school may look a little rough around the edges but it is a wonderful nurturing place.

Well I just realized how rambling and random this post is so I am going to get kids into bed so I can go there myself.

Another whiny post.

I think I am using Blogspot as a dumping ground so I don't take the negativity out on the family. I would love to post how perfect my family is and how wonderful life is daily but that is not reality and I usually don't read blogs that are like that. I call them "Shiny Happy People".

So here is my latest whine. After being in my ward for eight years I still feel like a stranger. I have friends that I say hello to in the hall and we sometimes go to parties at peoples houses but for the most part I could sit in the corner and no one would notice. In case you think it is in my head....this past summer we were at a pool party and I said hello to a lot of people, did my best to strike up conversation, etc. I got the rhetorical questions and answers from people. After doing my round I decided to see how long it would take for someone to say anything as all to me. I sat in the middle of everything and at the end of 45 minutes I gave up. Not one person so much as said hi. Also being that I have been in the ward for eight years you would think that I would have been invited to be in a playgroup or a babysitting swap but nope. I even tried three different times to start one but failed every time I tried. For one reason or another people backed out, decided against it, too busy, whatever.
Also reading other people's blogs and seeing pics of baby showers, playgroups, etc and most of the people in the pictures are those who are my age and not being invited to any of them really hurts my feelings.
After reading blogs about these types of groups I have to wonder what I have done or not done to be so isolated. It is sad to be in a room full of people and feel totally alone. I know the phone runs both directions but this is not a new thing. After several years of trying I have given up. Watching new people move in and getting absorbed into one group or another is depressing. I guess this is why the thought of moving to Dallas is not all that earth-shattering for me.
I have wonderful friends in my neighborhood who would be at my house in a millisecond but it would be nice to not feel like this at my own church.

Oh well. Someday I guess I will split into a new ward or just outright move.

So this morning Parker did not want to get out of his warm bed. He walked into the hall and pretended to fall over the shoes (that are in front of the shoe cubby rather than in it) and said "Help! I am being attacked by shoes!". It was funny and gave me a good laugh on a cold Monday morning. He starts in his new class tomorrow morning and we are all excited for him. I love his new teacher and he will be in the top reading group as well. Yea!!!

Thanksgiving revised.....

My sister has guessed correctly. We are in fact using this as an opportunity to start a new tradition. Since (as stated in the previous post) we are not going home and not having anyone over for the first time, we have decided that this is the "anything goes" Thanksgiving. Each person gets to choose one food for Thanksgiving. So far we are having: cheese pizza, donuts (dessert), turkey breast, green bean casserole, chicken nuggets, and mac and cheese. We are still finalizing the menu tonight.
I am sure that the pilgrims made a stop at Domino's and Krispy Kreme after the Indian photo op.

Dreading Thanksgiving.

Growing up we would always have a big thanksgiving. At the very least my grandparents and several cousins would be at out house or all of us would be at my grandparents house. Having never lived in the same place as my family since we have had children has been difficult around the holidays. Each year it seems to get harder. This year will be the most difficult because our go-to holiday friends have moved (thanks Holly!). The Casos' adopted us early on since their family was out West and anyone who needed a place to go was always welcome at their home. Thanksgiving was usually a huge event with residents, people from the ward and neighborhood. This year we are on our own. Even the people that we have been with the past couple years are either going home or have plans.

I just want to skip it. Two of my kids are not going to even touch whatever I make (vegetarian and picky eater) so what is the point of going all out for two adults, one child and a toddler?

Wake me up the day after.

A child's prayer.

Every night before the kids go to bed we say prayers. The other night we asked Parker to say it he said "Nope. Let's try....Connor". So we convince him that it is his turn. When the kids end their prayers they generally say: In the name of thy son, Jesus Christ, Amen. Parker put his own little spin on it. He ended with: In the name of your cousin........

We all tried (and failed) not to laugh.

On a side note. Parker is a regular first grader. He is in a regular class with no aide, no shadow, nothing. He is just another kid! There were times that I wondered if this would ever be possible but finding out what was wrong and addressing it has changed all of our lives especially his. Parker's old teacher is so sad that he is leaving the class that he started eating lots of chocolate during our transition meeting. We love his new teacher and next year he will be at Chancey with all of his brothers. I don't know if one school is ready for all four Farnsworth boys. It will be interesting.

I am going to post something good for once.

Since I have been griping and whining lately (they say go with your strengths) I decided to post something a little more positive.

First I have to say that I just adore my husband. He is a wonderful man I consider myself so honored to be married to him. Like all couples we have worked through difficult times but he has grown into someone that I hope my sons will try and emulate. He is an amazing father who cherishes the time that he spends with his sons. He is demonstrative to all of us and definitely not afraid of PDA. I also love that he is good with technology because I am not and one of us needs to stay a step ahead of the kids.

Second, I love, love, love my sons. I was just simply not meant to have girls. My boys don't care what they are wearing, if it is clean, if it is theirs, if it matches, if it is pajamas, if it is inside out, backwards, etc. Sometimes this is a bad thing (school, church) but they are so not interested in labels and if they are in fashion or not. I don't think I would have the patience to match a dress with bows, socks, shoes, purses...... I love to go catch frogs and crawdads with them. I would rather go four-wheeling than shopping and I am ok with picking up worms (I grew up baiting my own fishing poles so there). They are so laid back with themselves and everyone else. I also like that when boys fight they basically punch each other (Our rule: Don't throw the first punch but throw the second, third, fourth, etc) and they are over it. Also (they will be so happy when they find out I wrote this) they still crawl into my lap (even the oldest two) and want me to come snuggle every night. Boys love their moms.

Third, I have a GREAT family. My sisters are the best and I wish I could see them more so we could talk about how awesome we are (our awesomeness peaks when we are together) and eat no-bake cookies all day. My parents are very supportive of me and I wish they were closer to us so they could be with the kids more.

So there I can write something positive.

What is wrong with this world?

Apparently my posts have taken a dark turn and I wasn't going to blog about this but decided to anyway. I have a friend from yoga class who is just a wonderful person. Until a few years ago she and her husband were living the American dream. Gorgeous home in the best school district in KY, two beautiful kids, she was a SAHM because his income as a pilot allowed her to do so. He had back issues and was prescribed painkillers. He became addicted to them and the spiral downward went fast. He started taking more than just the painkillers, they split up over the issue and last week his children found him deceased on the couch. He was not a overweight, never-exercise, Big Mac person. He was incredibly athletic as was the whole family. Until he was given this prescription he had not been an addict. This is such a common occurrence that you would think the doctors would have started using something else or perhaps monitoring the patients. From what I have read these painkillers (I don't want to mention the name because I don't want a lawsuit) are more addictive than heroin and coincidentally many, many heroin users got started on pain pills and graduated to heroin because it is cheaper (check Oprah.com---apparently there was a whole family that was in this situation).

There has to be some accountability on the part of the medical community. I love my doctors but seriously put the prescription pads down!!! I watched a woman who is not yet 40 years old bury her husband (41 years old) while she sat there with their two children. The oldest is 11 and the youngest is 9 I believe. This is NOT RIGHT. If this medication is so addictive why is it being handed out like Pez with little or no follow-up? Honestly if I were my friend I would have a herd of attorneys on retainer right now. Today I listened to a parade of friends and family talk about this man, I watched his brother and parents sob, his high school friends talk of their loss and ultimately Taps was played his 21 gun salute was given and then everyone went on with their life.

Nobody should have to pay this kind of price because they had back surgery. Seriously.