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.

A sad, rainy day

I didn't know Karen Clifton. I wish I had so I could have said "thank you" before it was too late. She was a girl from Mt. Zion who was killed last week in Iraq. From all accounts, she was happy to be in the Army and felt that she was doing important work. She died doing something she really believed in. I don't know how I feel about the war. I hate to see people--especially our soldiers--being killed. I do know that I support the people that are over there trying to do the right thing for all of us. I also know that my heart is breaking for the Clifton family. As a mother, I cannot imagine losing a child--ever. I'm sure it meant a lot to them today to see hundreds of people lined up along the highway in Mt. Zion to welcome Karen home. I ended up going the opposite direction of the procession so I pulled over (so did everyone else, thank goodness!) And sat in my car until it was ready to pass by me. It was pouring down rain and I didn't have an umbrella but it seemed wrong to sit in my car while it was going by. When this girl gave up her life for our country it seemed pretty trivial to get soaked in the rain. I cried and cried and I still cry when I start thinking about that poor family and all the other families who have gone through the same thing. Please keep them in your prayers.

Chuck

I seem to favor using two pictures on a layout. One never seems to tell the whole story and three or more can start to look crowded. See the little tooth in the center of one of the bottom circles? I asked Parker if I could put his actual tooth on the page and he said, "Go make a color copy and use that." Good thinking buddy! See, it's a good thing I have him around. Just imagine how much I'm going to depend on him to do my thinking when he gets older! He already thinks he knows everything--I'm sure that only gets worse.

We went to Chuck E. Cheese in Bloomington yesterday for a little getaway. I wanted to go to the scrapbook store and a few other places. I finally wised up and got Happy Meals on the way because they NEVER eat at Chuck E. Cheese. I had a coupon for 100 tokens for $10.00. We were there for about an hour and a half. They are at a weird age where they are too big for the baby stuff and too little for the video games for older kids. However, they have a good time. Parker loves air hockey. I always did too when I was a kid. Jack just goes around putting token into games and staying for about 3 seconds and then running somewhere else. A smart kid would follow him and finish playing all his games. Chuck E. Cheese is another place to make observations about people. Not nearly as amusing as the water park though. I saw a women carrying around a baby who could not have been more than a few weeks old. If I could think of the most germ infested place to take a new baby--other than a public restroom or the doctor's office--it would be Chuck E. Cheese. My doctor always told me not to take newborn out into public for the first few months. I disobeyed that suggestion, but I sure wouldn't have taken a two week old to Chuck E. Cheese. I also saw a women leave her baby who was probably about 15 months old by himself why she took the big brother to the bathroom. Of course, the little guy realizes that mommy is no where around and starts crying and searching for her. I looked around for her but didn't see her so I picked him up and stood by their table with her crying kid. (She took her purse but not her baby.) When she came back I said, "He couldn't find mommy and was pretty upset so I thought I better keep an eye on him." She consoled him and I think she was embarrassed. I didn't mean to embarrass her but come on--take him with you. Oh yes, I saw a woman who had really low rider jeans on but she had rolled down the waistband to make them even lower. She had the body to pull it off. Why wear jeans at all? One final note, it is not safe to be anywhere near Jack playing skee ball.

Christmas in June

Joy and A Trip Down Memory Lane

I just love these photos of Jack. Our neighbor, Steve Bowman, was kind enough to make a CD with all the pictures from his grandaughter's birthday party. Jack was so cute riding that horse. He wasn't scared at all and just had a smile on his face the whole time. These pictures were the beginning of my thinking that I really, really, really want a new camera. The close up of Jack was taken from all the way across the yard, but it's so sharp. I don't need anything fancy, just something with more megapixels and more zoom capability. I also need it to have a sports setting where you can take photos really fast. I actually love my camera, but I think it's time to move on up. So, I'll just go out back and pick a few bills off our money tree and run out and buy one. My want list is soooo much bigger than my bank account.

This book was one of my favorites as a kid. Can you even imagine a book with this title being printed now? I'm sure it would be banned from libararies. Obviously it has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuals but it does make you wonder what the book is about, doesn't it? It could have been called "Something STRANGE Is Going On" or "Something WEIRD Is Going On." My Grandma always had the best books. She signed my cousin, John, up for the Scholastic Book Club and they always had so much to read. She also bought him these children's encyclopedias which were just awesome. She still has all the books and the encyclopedias which I like to borrow for my kids. At this point they don't love them as much as I did, but they will. My parents used to ship us off to Grandma's for a week every summer. When we weren't outside (which was 99% of the time because that's what kids did when we were little!) I was reading books--everything I could get my hands on. Those were the days! I remember getting awfully homesick back then. I wonder what in the world my parents did for that week!? Hey, shouldn't I be shipping my own kids off for a week? I would miss them too much. Well, maybe not. Somehow I don't think it would work the same since we live 2 minutes away from my parents. My Grandma lives in St.Elmo which is a little over and hour away. However, if we told the boys that we were out of town and our house was locked..............................
****Edited to respond to my sister who has left a comment.
The reason that my Grandma memories are different from Tracy's memories are because when we got shipped down there for a week, I stayed with Grandma and Tracy stayed with our Aunt Ann. I liked to play with John who lived at Grandma's house and Tracy liked to play with our cousin Kyra. I don't know what other memories Tracy doesn't remember. She has selective memory anyway. ;-) She is making me sound like I make stuff up for my blog. I need to have her make a list of stuff she remembers and see if I remember it too.

Sweet Little jack

This didn't turn out like I envisioned it, but I still like it. It reminds me of a 50's diner. My mom said it reminds her of a fair.

Water Park Observations

Note to self--don't have children facing the sun when taking photos. Nice squinty faces guys!

Yesterday the boys and I went to Knight's Action Park in Springfield for a day of fun at the water park. This is the first time Jack has ever been and I wasn't really sure how he would do. Fortunately, he is a little bit skittish about water, so there was no running off for him. We had a few logistical problems figuring out how to do the Lazy River and the wave pool with both of them wanting their own intertubes. Everyone has to be in a tube, so it was kind of tricky but I finally managed to talk Jack into sharing with me. (There was no finesse here, I basically said, "if you don't ride with Mommy, you are going to drown.") It was a very enjoyable, expensive day ($55.00 for the 3 of us and we were there for 3 1/2 hours) When we left, Parker said, "you didn't give me any minutes." I didn't know what he was talking about but he explained that I didn't tell him 15 more minutes, then 10, then 5. He's right. I just said that we were going to have to leave in a little bit. Ooops. He is right. I shouldn't forget the minutes. Because my children are not exactly the adventurous type, they didn't wander far and wouldn't even dream about going down a big waterslide. This means that they played peacefully nearby while I had all the time in the world to observe the many wonders of a water park. I'm not talking fountains and slides, people, I'm talking OTHER PEOPLE!!!! You see some really amazing things when everyone is in a bathing suit. When I see women who definitely should not be wearing a bikini, my first thought is always, "gross". (Don't get all offended--this is what I think about my own body in a bikini!) Then I start to think, well, good for them. If they are confident enough to go out in public all lumpy and bumpy and squishy and spilling out--then more power to them. I certainly don't have that kind of confidence. I also like the women who come in complete make-up with hair done and jewelry in place. Even if you aren't planning to get in the water, it is a water park. There is no place for fussiness. However, you don't have to be a disgusting slob and there is plenty of that too. And lots and lots of tattoos. BIG ones. I also made an observation that young mothers seem to look better in a bathing suit than those of us who had children later in life. Even if you are thin, things just aren't where they used to be. Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to be surgically helped putting it back where it belongs. There was plenty of that too. Lucky dogs. I saw a women nursing right there in the pool in the most discreet way I have ever seen and she didn't have anything with her--no blanket, no towel, not even a tissue. She just used her hand to cup her baby's face and you couldn't see a thing. In fact, I will bet that most people didn't even know what she was doing. I have no problem with nursing in public if it is done discreetly. However, I wouldn't give my baby a bottle in the pool, so maybe that wasn't the best place for a feeding. Bravo for her though for finding a way so that my boys didn't see her boobs and ask me a bunch of questions that I don't really feel like I should have to answer at the water park or the mall or the zoo. I am going to make sure that my boys know to be aware of people around them and to be polite. Many, many of the older kids either don't know about this quality, or they forgot it. We were constantly getting bumped and splashed and kicked by big kids. When we were in the 2 foot water which is supposed to be for the preschool set. I saw something truly disgusting. Not much turns my stomach and I am definitely not one to be overly concerned about germs and such. (Which I swear is why my children very rarely get sick. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!) However, I saw a man with some kind of skin condition that was so gross it almost made me gag. He had these large scars all over his torso. I couldn't tell if they were open wounds, but I'm sure hoping they weren't. I have never seen anything like it and I hope I never do again. Bleck!!!! I seriously thought about getting out of the pool in case he was some kind of bio-terrorist who was infecting the whole wave pool with leprosy. Man it was gross. Poor man. I'm sure he got lots of stares. Maybe he should think about getting one of those water shirts to wear when he goes to the pool. Because if I was grossed out, I can think of several friends who might have actually lost their lunch and went up to the ticket booth to ask for a refund. So, we had a good day at the water park and I'm sure we will go back soon. I can't wait to try out my new bikini! ;-)

Mission Organization--Part 1

So last week my friend Dawn came over to help me organize my dining room/scrapbook office. She has the cleanest, most organized house I have ever seen and she LOVES to do this kind of thing, so I finally swallowed my pride and let her see my mess in all it's glory. Trust me, it is very hard to admit that you don't know how to clean. Cleaning seems like it should be natural, logical process, but it isn't for me. My house isn't really dirty, it's just messy. I hate it, Travis hates it--it's embarrassing, but yet, I can't seem to get a handle on it. Anyway, Dawn has vowed to straighten me out--literally. She is amazing! The first thing we did was take everything except the furniture out of the room. Yipes! Lots and lots and lots of stuff. This is where I always put things that just didn't seem to have a home. Then we cleaned. So I wiped down the table and the chairs and Dawn says, "Did you remember to wash the legs and the spindles?" What??? You are supposed to do that too? I have to admit that it honestly never even occurred to me. I only do that if I actually see something on them to wipe off. That is why Dawn is here to help me! So after everything was shiny clean, we started putting stuff back in the room. She had so many great ideas and a clear idea of how the room should function. It looks a million times better and it is already "working" better for me. Even Parker and Jack are enjoying the improvements. Oh yes, I should mention that it took us 5 hours to do what we did and it isn't completely finished because we have a rather large (but manageable) pile of stuff that still needs to find a more appropriate home somewhere else. I was sooooo dog tired that night I practically fell into bed! On to the next room!!!!!!!!!!

And here is a scrapbook page that I did instead of doing the homework that Dawn assigned to me (which is done now so don't get all freaked out Dawn!)

1 Month

This is my most unfavorite portrait of Parker. It just doesn't really look like him. It was taken at Walmart. I think that rug behind him looks like a bath mat. Oh well, even if it's a bad picture, it's still nice to have a photo of that moment in his life. Sorry Jack. I have really let you down in this area!
On our way home from golf this morning I saw a turtle crossing the road. Then I saw a truck deliberatley hit it. The turtle went flying. For some reason, I find this very disturbing. I mean, turtles are the least offensive of almost any animal I can think of. Why would you try to hit one? Jerk. He's probably still laughing about it too. I'm not an animal lover, but come on, a turtle!?