Happy Scrappy

This one (above) is a total scraplift of a Shannon Tidwell layout. Loved it so much I had to do one myself.

The best.

This may be the best picture I have ever taken of Parker and Jack. They both have their true smiles, they look genuinely happy--which they were because we were fishing. Love it. Can't wait to blow this one up and hang it on my wall and scrapbook it too of course!

Jack caught this GINORMOUS snapping turtle. It was really just huge. At least 18 inches long. It's swimming around now with a hook in it's lip. YIPES! He also caught the big bass that he is refusing to touch. If you look close, you can see the little blue gill that Parker caught. Fishing with them is fun except for the agonizing fear I feel worrying about them falling in. I know, they should probably have life-jackets on. They aren't going to drown, they would split their heads open on the rocks first. Maybe a helmet is a good idea.

Connie & Paul

You have to watch this. It is so sweet. If this doesn't make you smile AND tear-up, you are made of stone!
http://www.glumbert.com/media/connie

This is one of my favorites too. I cry every time I watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oxTy7KIAaA

Missed Opportunities

Don't you just hate missed opportunities? They come in all shapes and sizes. I have been regretting a missed opportunity since last Wednesday. The boys and I went to the Aldi right by our hotel to buy grapes (so Parker could make wine which is a whole other post.) If you've ever been to Aldi, you know that the prices are great but you pay in the amount of time you spend waiting in line and you have to buy bags or bring your own. We were the 3rd in line and there was an elderly woman in front of us with a whole cart load of groceries. We had grapes and baggies (to squash the grapes in silly!) Anyway, the lady is in the process of paying for her stuff and the cashier says, "Did you bring your own bags today?" The lady says, "Oh no. I forgot. I will have to get in line again." The cashier was already ringing our stuff up and it occurred to me to just reach down and throw a handful of bags in with our stuff BUT I DIDN'T. So then I pay and I turn around and there were like a dozen people after us. That old lady was going to be waiting a long time just to buy some stupid bags. I was so mad at myself for not helping out. It wasn't an afterthought--I thought of it while I could have easily done something about it but I didn't act. It also makes me mad that the cashier didn't just say, "let me just ring you up for some bags" and then ask me to hand them to her. YUCK. I hate the way that whole scene went down--I'm still feeling bad about it. So, the moral of the story is--help when you have the opportunity. Also, bring bags to Aldi.

It feels good to scrapbook again!

World Series

We are back from the USSSA U14 World Series in St. Louis. Let's just say that the Decatur Commodores performance was less than impressive. I couldn't believe how sad I was when they last game was over. I have so enjoyed spending time with these families. They have totally taken us under their wing and helped me with the boys. It has been a pleasure to spend our summer with them the past 2 years. I will miss them. It's so strange to think that we won't see some of these folks again. I just hate that. I'm so sentimental. Parker and Jack had a great time in St. Louis and they weren't too bad. Although, 5 days in a hotel is way too much for us at this point. If we were spending all day sight seeing or doing an activity, it would be different, but this was a one game per day kind of tournament so there was a lot of down time. I'm itching to scrapbook so check back for some new pages.

A day in the life

Here is a day in the life of the Foreman's:
- woke the boys up at the crack of dawn (that's 6:30 at our house) to have time to get them ready to take Parker to golf all the way across town
-fairly good start to the day
-making good time so decide to stop at McDonald's for breakfast.
-realize I have left my wallet at home
-drop Parker off at golf
-drive all the way back home to get wallet
-turn around and drive back to the golf course
-time spent driving 1 hour--seriously
-pick Parker up and go back to McDonald's
-drive to Staples parking lot to eat
-eat our yummy, fattening food
-go into Staples and enjoy all the goodies at an office supply store
-go to church to make copies
-go home to work on preschool stuff
-go to post office to send preschool stuff
-go back to church to make more copies
-go home to eat lunch
-go to Walmart to buy drinks for baseball pizza party
-forget ice
-don't care
-come home and do two loads of laundry
-work on more preschool stuff
-Jack comes down and says, "I pooped on the potty."
- I don't believe him and he says, "I'll show you"
-He leads me up the stairs.
-I notice that his little booty is bare and he still has a bit of poop there so he definitely pooped--I just don't know where
- Go to the bathroom--POOP IN THE POTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- big celebration
-back to the preschool stuff
- Travis comes home
-head to the party
-lots of nice visiting and happy little baseball players
-go home
-bathe filthy children
-Parker crashes from a very long day
-Jack runs around because of a late nap
-Fall into bed at 10:30.

Accomplishments for the day--well, the only thing that really matters is poop in the potty and happy little baseball players.

I'd say it was a pretty good day.

I like this picture--sitting together looking at a toy magazine. Love their opposite coloring.

The next Albert Pujols

The season is over. He LOVED every minute of it! He is so into baseball and how the game is played. He exceeded our expectations which is always fun. Way to go Parker!!!!

Parker to the rescue

For about the past two weeks, I have been consumed with worrying about the future of our preschool. In order to keep a highly qualified teacher, it was necessary to seek exemption approval from DCFS. It's honestly mostly an administrative type thing and will have little or no affect on the quality or high standards of our preschool. However, emotions became involved and when you think with your heart instead of your head in matters like this, it usually leads to trouble. You forget logic and reasoning and focus on hurt feelings. Anyway, it appears that we temporarily have a solution and can move forward. I know it isn't over yet, but at least we took some action in order to get going with plans for the new school year. And to think, I volunteered for this position! NEVER AGAIN!!!

Anyway, I have spent a ton of time on the phone and on the computer and sorting through paperwork dealing with all of this and I haven't got to spend much quality time with my boys. Parker is so perceptive and sensitive and quite a good eavesdropper so he understands a lot of what is happening. He definitely knows that his mommy has been upset and stressed out. So he brought this to me.

Thanks Parker. I needed that. I love you, I love you, I love you too buddy.

@#$%^&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what happened to my dining room rug. That is latex paint. You might recognize it Dawn.
This is who is responsible. I banished him to his room for the rest of the day. I was alternately crying and cussing while I cleaned it up and Parker was observing the whole thing and trying to console me and help out. Then he said, in the sweetest possible voice, "You know mommy, you probably should have put the lid on tight." He's right, but it still sucks. So much for that rug I guess.

UGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Jack

I have begun buying "school" clothes for Parker. He is holding on to the "no cuffs" requirement still so I have learned that when I see a shirt with no cuffs--buy it. In every color they have. Good old Target is coming through for me as usual. Jack will be getting a whole bunch of never-worn shirts this fall because the ones with cuffs that Parker refused to wear will fit Jack now.

Lots and lots of stuff going on but it's either confidential or boring so I guess that's all I have to say for now.

Enjoy these little firecrackers. By the way, the outfit that Jacob has on was Parker's. However, Parker wore it when he was 11 months old. Jacob is almost 5 months old. Big boy (and Parker was a runt too!)

this and that

This is me and Tracy way back when. See the mess? Nothing much has changed with me. Tracy, on the other hand, developed into a bit of a neat freak.
A few things I've learned this week:
- DCFS sucks
- never volunteer to be the president of anything
- Parker is definitely not a morning person
- potty training sucks
- some kids don't care if there is poop in their underwear
- Jack is one of them
- summer is going too fast
- seriously, never volunteer to be the president of anything
Have a lovely fourth of July.