Stars, Stripes, Streams, and Steel

This is a post within a post, within a post!  

First...
The boys had their 18 month check-up on Friday.  Yes, they are actually 19 months but with the end of the school year being so busy I needed to wait and not take off work.  They are both doing great and are practically perfect :)  Here is a very quick and abbreviated rundown.
A:  27 lbs and 33.5"
F:  25 lbs and 33.5"
Both boys eat great and love their big boy cups.  They have been bottle free since 10.5 months and are always sneaking drinks from our cups.  They love straws and use a spork at every meal.  When the doc was going through the list of things they can and can't do Kale and I laughed about the "speaking 2-6 words" let's try 20-60!  They can name tons of body parts: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, arm, fingers, belly, leg, knee, foot, toes, back, and bottom!  They can also identify and make the appropriate noises for all things that go (cars, trucks, trains, motorcycles, etc.).
Anderson loves to identify and have mommy draw hearts.  Our driveway is COVERED!

 He can also name and "draw" a circle.  Rooster is great about telling you thank you after he gets something.  It is so cute to hear him say, "Thanks Momma."  Fletcher likes to catch and throw balls.  The boy has an arm!  He also loves to watch daddy mow.  Both boys can look at family photos and name everyone in them.  This includes grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.   The newest fascination for Anderson is stacking cups, blocks, toys, and movies!  Fletch likes to count "1,2,3, GO!" and take off around the house.  They like to hold hands and give hugs to one another.  Growing bigger and smarter everyday!

Second...
This weekend Aunt Sarah came home.  We spent Sunday out at Tanyard Creek splashing and playing in the water.  It was a perfect day for a picnic and family time.  The boys had fun skipping rocks, throwing them into a bucket, trying to catch crawfish, and getting all wet.  Fletch fell ALL the way in the water within three minutes of getting to our spot.  It took Rooster a little bit longer, but he fell in too!  Neither one of them got upset about it, they just kept playing.

                                                                            Yes, that's a crawfish in her hair!

Skipping rocks with dad.

Splish Splash

Digging for fish!

                                                      

Third...
Today we drove out to Newton County in search for the perfect place for the men's baptism later this summer, July 28th.  We decided to have them baptized on the Buffalo River.  It is a special place for Kale and I and one of the most beautiful places in our state.  You truly can see God's work in the beauty of nature.  We looked at a few different locations and finally settled on Steel Creek.  It think it will be just perfect with the beautiful bluffs in the background!

Now it is time to grill hot dogs and finish our day with some backyard playtime.  I hope everyone has had a great and safe Memorial Day weekend.  We sure did!  

-Stephanie 

Welcome Summer

Today marks another end of a successful school year.  This was also a tiny milestone in my teaching career, ending my fifth year! This past year was full of great lessons, awesome modules, terrific teamwork, and incredible students.  I feel confident that all 21 of my kiddos will achieve and succeed to their greatest potential next year in third grade.  I am very proud of the group that I had, and am anxious to meet my upcoming class.

My guys took me out to dinner tonight.  We ate at the Flying Fish in Bentonville and it was tres yummy!  After dinner they gave me a little gift.  Some "cool mom" shorts and a new Razorback t-shirt.

Kale said that since I am going to be a Razorback in the Fall I needed some new gear!  That's right, grad school here I come :)

Until then, I plan on soaking up all 88 days of my summer vacation.  I feel it has been well earned! 
I wish all my teacher friends a safe and happy break.  I will anxiously await all your summer stories when we meet again in August.

-Stephanie

Fun in Bella Vista

This week is Police Appreciation Week!  Since our Pop just happens to be the Chief in Bella Vista, we went out to visit him tonight and show a little appreciation.  The boys had a grand time.  They got to sit in a police car, a police Ranger, and explore a fire truck!  Anderson had the best time "driving" all of them, while Fletch was a little more cautious and enjoyed looking and taking it all in.

 BIG firetruck

Cool ride Pop!

 Farmer Line Up!

 Being cute at dinner.

When we came home Kale mowed and the boys and I played out front.  We got out their John Deere gator.  I plugged in the battery and it only took seconds for them to figure out how to drive it!  Let's just say they are a dangerous pair.  Kale got his foot ran over and I have a tire burn on my leg.  I got that while chasing them down the driveway trying to get Rooster's foot off the gas.  We still have some skills to master before 16!

Watch out!

 Fletcher was trying to fix it!  Smart cookie :)

-Stephanie

Cookies

This time of the year is so hectic at school I had to take a little break from work and Fletcher and I baked peanut butter cookies.  He was a great help.  His favorite part was using the handheld mixer... it's more fun than the KitchenAid because it vibrates your fingers!

They turned out delicious!  We made them for our friend Carrie.  The only thing is there are only 5 left!  The boys REALLY liked them... like two and a half cookies each liked them!  Oh well, I'm sure she will enjoy her 3 :)

While F-Mac and I were slaving away, Rooster was practicing his cup stacking skills.  I was mighty impressed.  He stacked from biggest to smallest, a pyramid, and them unstacked, putting them inside of one another.  Way to go Rooster!

Have a great night everyone.
 -Stephanie

I stumbled along this picture tonight... just wanted to share a favorite!

Momma's Day

Today is Momma's Day, and it was a great one here at the Farmer house.  I am so thankful for my Mom and all that she does for both me and my family.  I am also honored to be a mom...  Especially to the two most amazing little men.  Thank you God for my precious little handfuls!

Here's to another year full of love, fun, and milestones.    

Last year...

 This year...

-Stephanie

Dinner Progression

Kale and I have experienced a wide variety of "dinner" times in our short 4 years and 11months of marriage.
From the beginning we have tried to get ourselves in the habit of eating at the table.  We started with the newlywed dinners.  You know, the wife attempts to have a home-cooked meal ready and waiting when her husband gets home from work.  This isn't just dinner, it's a whole spread, complete with a fresh cake for desert.

Then we moved into the, we both have jobs and are making money, while living in an apartment, let's hit up Buffalo Wild Wings on Tuesday and Thursdays for 60 cent wings, and various fast food chains to fill in the other days of the week.   Not real big on saving money like we should have been during that stage!

Next was the we just bought a new car and a house stage, thus resulting in pizza rolls, grilled cheese, and frozen 88 cent burritos.  Anything cheap!

Following that stage, which lasted a bit to long to be healthy, we got pregnant!  Back to good healthy dinners, minus the dessert (ice cream doesn't count ;) )  This was a fun stage.  We cooked together a lot and had fun trying new recipes.  It seems like every night was something new, except for the once to two times a week we ate at Abuelo's.  What can I say, the boys like Mexican food!

Then we had the boys.  Dinners were not eaten until about 9 o'clock at night as we were about to climb into bed.  We'd look at each other and comment on how hungry we were, just to remember we hadn't eaten yet!  So, we'd scramble an egg or do some other late night cooking and chow down at the table before we hit the sheets. 

 Now we are at the newest most interesting stage yet; teaching toddlers how to sit at the table, use a fork, and attempt to have manners.  Challenging, yes!  Boring, no!  The men are doing great.  They are loving using forks.  They really are doing a good job at it.  Tonight they had steak, apples, mac and cheese, garlic bread, and milk.  I know, I know, nothing green.  Wal Mart trip will be tomorrow!  Here is a little peep at what dinner time with the Farmer Fam is like these days.

Hope you had a great dinner, and your bellies are full; our's sure are :)

-Stephanie

A Wet Thumb

When we got home from our Saturday evening drive, I asked the men to help me water the flowers.  I should have known it would end like this... They have "wet" thumbs instead of "green" thumbs!

The well watered flowers, and dirt, and porch, and chairs, etc.

-Stephanie