Kids and Cameras

The camera on my phone has been used by my younger brothers, kids I babysit, and even a couple of my piano students. I actually kind of love looking through the random pictures they take. To see the world through the eyes of a child often involves feet, ceiling fans, up the nose and tongue out.

Jacob is the Picture-Taking King! And what's funny is when I try to take a picture of him he covers his face and runs for dear life! I've found that if I act like taking his picture is no big deal, it's just what us adults do, he'll let me do it. For such a silly kid, he does not like feeling like a child.

Last week my mom was sick so Bret and I took Jacob to his Pinewood Derby. Little did I know I had the same thing my mom had and would start feeling it while at the pw derby, but that's another story. Jacob took my camera and captured some amazing shots of tracks, cars, flags, backs of heads... all very VERY close up. At one point Bret said "Where's Jacob?" We found him posing like this.

He also took multiple videos like the one at the bottom of this post.

Aunt Lois is sewing our bridesmaids skirts for Lindsay's wedding so this past Sunday we went to Globe to be fitted. Jacob and I snuck(it's a word, right?) out to see the horse where I stole some cute pictures.

He came up with these poses all on his own. In case you're wondering, he's holding up one finger because this is his first time seeing a horse.

La Casita. After over $6 and twelve tries...
He was so proud!

Que hay de nuevo?

1. We ate at Pie Zanos today. It's new. Custom made pizza and yummy!

2. The sun came out today for the first time all week. I thought I was going to die yesterday driving in the storm.

3. I'm planning my first piano recital. I LOVE teaching more than I thought I would!

4. Lost starts up again Feb. 2. Bret is taking the evening off work to watch it with me.

5. Today Bret was summoned to Jury Duty.

6. Bret's guitar is broken.

7. We are loving not having to walk up three flights of stairs multiple times during the day, but have sprayed for bugs twice in the month we've lived here.

8. Jacob turns 9 tomorrow and next Thursday is his 5th year as an official Bennett. I love everything about him and every minute I spend with him. I wonder if he will ever know how much he blesses our family.

It's Done!

This is now my favorite thing in my house. Every time we reach for a can of tuna we will have such fond memories of building it together. Also it's awesome! I won't be surprised if we are soon mass producing them for all who see this post.

It is so full of food I don't know how we ever survived with the small pantry we had before. Maybe we'll need to build another now that we are such expert shoppers!

I always hear about people buying $200 worth of groceries and only paying $4 and I think 'maybe if I could do that I wouldn't HATE grocery shopping as much as I do' (and I really do hate it! It is the VERY LEAST thing I like to do. I usually trade it for cooking, cleaning, dishes, laundry, and every other chore. Bret is slightly insane and actually likes to grocery shop, but doesn't always have the time. Therefore, I have to do it, so I put if off because I hate it and we end up eating fast food and take out, which is gross. This is the longest parenthetical phrase ever). So I googled it and saw that there are actually lots of people who have mastered the art of couponing.

I just started and don't really know exactly how the experts do it, but I clip every coupon I find and then look through the weekly Fry's ad and match what's on sale to the coupons I have and surprisingly lots of things match up! Then I make my list and only buy what is on sale (with my Fry's VIP Card) AND what I have coupons for.

I've only done this twice so far. I still don't have very many coupons but I saved 27% of my first bill and 35% on the second, a total of $60. So far so good! And I enjoyed it! My goal for next time is to save 40%. I need to get some kind of folder to organize my coupons in so that I can take all of my coupons to the store with me when I shop. Some things match up that aren't listed in the ads. Any ideas?

If anyone else does this or knows anything about it, I would LOVE some advice!

Notice how I added a personal touch to the post instead of just a picture? I'M TRYING!

-a

Oh my...

I'm not big on resolutions. I can't say that I've ever officially had one, but every January I set goals for myself in the upcoming year. One of my goals this year is to be more free-spoken. I don't know why I am so reserved, but I am and I always have been. I've never wanted to change until now. Suddenly I feel so strongly that I need to open up and be more honest with myself and about myself to those around me.

With much hesitation, here I go...

1. I've never bore my testimony in Sacrament Meeting. Not because I'm scared, but because it just feels so personal. I can give a talk, no problem, but as soon as I get to the "I know..." part I feel naked in front of a room full of people. Maybe the Lord is urging me to let go so that it will be easier for me to share the gospel.

2. I write often. I sometimes feel inspired to write when my emotions are running high. Usually I'm the only one who sees any of it. Sometimes I find my handwriting on pages that have been tucked away for a while. I don't recognize or remember writing it and think 'This is too good. I couldn't possibly have written this' and it feels more genuine than any compliment I could have received.

3. Sometimes I have 'sad days'. They mostly come in the winter, but I just never know when to expect them. I wake up sad and spend my entire day counting down the minutes until I can go home and crawl into bed.

4. I love all things beautiful. In my free time I browse fashion, interior design and art I can't afford. If I wasn't so frugal I would wear Carolina Herrera while hanging Andy Warhol paintings in my eclectic apartment.

5. I am happiest when I'm around family and know that my most blissful days will be as a mom.

This is silly, I know, but these small confessions are somehow a big deal to me. Simply typing them was difficult and now I have to click Publish?!

This is in no way a 'pay attention to me' post, but my attempt to make personal changes, in a public way.

Moral: If I start getting personal with you blog readers, don't pity me, don't feel bad for not reading, and know that I am being 100% honest and it feels great! Or will... with time...

Love you all!

-a

Build a Pantry?... No Problem.

This week we moved into an apartment on the first floor. It's in the same complex just 4 buildings down from the one we were in so we thought it would be exactly the same. There are a few small differences, but the biggest was that we now have no pantry. So Bret made us one.

He did a great job and had it done in less than 2 days. When he was cutting the wood I asked if he had ever made one before, he seemed so confident. He said he'd never made anything before. Gotta love the Farnsworth men! He didn't even Google it. All it needs now is some primer and paint.

Since our move we've had food stacked anywhere and everywhere. I'm so excited to go put it all away and finally finish unpacking!

Christmas in Mexico

This year we spent Christmas at Bret's parent's house in Mexico. We haven't been to their house in almost three years so needless to say we were excited crossing the border.

It was a long drive...

We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked, but we made the best of it and had tons of fun. We took the bikes to the top of a mountain to try out it's newly paved road.

The Colonia Juarez Temple

We played games and had a white elephant gift exchange. We also ate great food; Christmas ham, tamales, tacos, shrimp, pina coladas...

And we took home lots of Mexi-Cokes. We had a GREAT Christmas!

...

Straight No Chaser - 12 Days of Christmas

4 Down 4 To Go...

Lindsay is marrying Scott Persons in March 2010! We are so excited!!!