Fear and Loathing... and a Swing Dance??

I had my annual social work conference in Orange Beach this week. This is only the second time since Ben and I have been married that he's been home for it. I don't talk a lot about my job (social worker) and the agency I work for (United Methodist Children's Home), but I work with a great group of people and am blessed to have a job that I enjoy (most of the time:). This actually makes me think that I should write a post about my job - maybe soon. Anyway, this is one of the highlights of my year - professionally speaking, so I was thrilled that Ben and Jack got to go with me this year.



I am so proud of myself that I did not try to document every second of this trip by taking pictures. I feel like sometimes I miss the moment b/c I'm too busy capturing the moment on film, but I didn't do that this trip. BUT, I did get the camera out ONE TIME!! The conference is held in a hotel so every day, I would go downstairs to seminars and then come see my guys on my breaks. Sometimes they would venture out places, but the hotel had a pool, arcade (which we insured will be there next year b/c we probably spent more money in there this week than it has made in its lifetime thus far), resturants, and stores so most of time they waited on me to finish up for the day before they went anywhere. Well, I came in one day from a break and this is what Jack was doing:




Yes, that is my two year old (without clothes on) reading, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." I cannot explain this scenario to you!! I wish I had more explanation for you but I don't.

We weren't finished with the fun then though! No, no, not us:) I had a "social gathering" to attend last night and all my great coworkers were there. Well, this year, they rented out one of the hotel lounges for our reception/social/party. So, here come the Foremans: me, Ben, Jack, and of course Dave into the hotel lounge with a live band and bar. I was telling my friend that I am thrilled that my child made it to his first lounge at age two. Glad we squeaked that milestone under the wire before our third birthday for sure!! (For my mother who reads this blog, I would like to state that the previous sentence is SARCASM!!)

Jack had a grand time though - he and Dave sat and watched many "seasoned" people dance and have fun while he drank cranberry juice (a gift from the BARTENDER) and ate ice all night. He even swing danced with me to the very last song of the night! (In all honesty, it was a very mild event and was over at 10 and there were other children there - I think we had the only two year, but still.... :)

So, I would like to offer our assistance to any of you in need. If any of your children are having difficulty growing up too slowly, just send them over to us for a week or so and we can take care of it for you! Our disclaimer: We are not responsible for any moral or ethical issues you have upon their return.

** In light of the nature of this post, I would like to reiterate that we are a family that loves the Lord and wants to give Him glory in all we do!! We only OCCASIONALLY go to lounges (with our child) and read books about drugs!! :-)

Not Me Monday

** Let's try this out - as seen from MckMama:


I did not have a very relaxing weekend.

Friday was not full of fun, unexpected suprises. My in-laws did not come over for a really fun visit.

The security system guy (that I met over a year ago) did not show up on a Friday afternoon wanting to set up our security system. He did not expect me to remember him by sight and we did not stop everything we were doing on that busy afternoon to get our security system. I ceretainly do not have anything better to do on a Friday afternoon.

We did not have a fantastic time out with the Reeves, some of OUR favorite friends:), Friday night. We ceretainly did not stay up til midnight talking and laughing with them. We did not get to see sweet Caroline at the end of the night and that did not just make our day!

I did NOT sleep until 11:00 Saturday morning. I obviously did not sleep until my two year old came in saying, "Mommy, I'm home now!" I did not have the laziest Saturday in history. I did not read TWO WHOLE BOOKS that day and never change out of my pjs. Who does that? Ceretainly, not me!!

I did not forget to iron my child's clothes for church on Saturday and have to race around in my underwear to get that done on Sunday. I also did not shower, dress, AND dress my child and still get ready for church before my husband. Who would even think that is possible??? Not me!

I did not have a GREAT day with my church family and a fantastic lunch at Nana's. I did not take my sleeping child to Bryce's birthday just so I could talk to all my other "mom friends" there. I did not have another great time with the Reeves that night - this time WITH Jack and Caroline!

And, of course, I did not sleep late this morning. I did not lay in bed while my husband got up and got my child dressed. I did not tell my child we were going to see the big water tower (technically true) instead of telling him we were going to daycare b/c I would NEVER lie to my child like that! I did not make my child drink lots of juice on the way to school, b/c I forgot to brush his teeth this morning. No, not me!! I did not drive 5 miles out of my way so my child could see another water tower to appease him enough to get him IN his classroom this morning.

I was not about an hour late for work!! I am not wishing these two days away so I can GET TO THE BEACH!! And, I am not wishing this day away so I can see my two men this afternoon!!

I can't imagaine the crazy, frustrated, not put together woman who all this could happen to!! Glad it's NOT ME - excpet there were some really fun, relaxing things in there!! :)

Have a great Not Me Monday!

Meet Dave: My Favorite Friend

Jack's Story: Dave is a giraffe and he's my most favorite friend. I don't know why people find that weird - it makes perfect sense to me. I've been really blessed to have lots of great friends at a very young age. Friends like: Caroline and Hannah Grace and Joel and Ella Charles (who I'm still getting accustomed to but I know that I'm really, really gonna love one day) and Piper - plus lots of others that go to my church and my school. I love playing with these friends, but there's a problem. Their dads and moms and my dad and mom won't let us be together all the time. That's why I have to be best friends with a giraffe! For some reason, my parents let him go EVERYWHERE with me (sometimes I have to cry a little but they always give in!).

I have lots of animal friends at my house, but I picked Dave out all by myself. I met him in a store. My mom and I were getting a present for baby Ella (who we didn't even know was a girl then). Aunt Dee Dee had just found out she had a baby in her tummy and we were on our way to play with her and Ms. Shonna and Caroline and we stopped at a store. There he was: just sitting around, doing nothing. He looked like such a fun guy but nobody was playing with him. I grabbed him and wouldn't let go. This strategy doesn't normally work in stores, but it did this time!! We got to pay for him and take him with us!! He and I have been great friends since that day, but we've gotten closer recently. See, there are a few things I discovered about Dave a few months ago that made him much more special! I realized:

When he sleeps with me, I don't wake up as much at night.

He can go to my class at school with me and Ms. Kayla will let me hold him all day.

He likes church a LOT and makes me like it much more too.

He speaks in a language and volume that only I can understand and hear.

He LOVES to give my daddy and mommy "night, night sugar" and then I don't have to kiss them quite as much as I normally do.

Dave's a people person. Instead of having to anwer lots of questions from big people, I can just talk to them about Dave. Sometimes I can even let them talk to HIM and I don't have to talk at all!

Dave always likes to do what I like to do. I get to pick every activity and he never tries to take my toys.

Sometimes Dave can get me an extra piece of candy. My mommy will give me one for him, but he always lets me have it. Just sometimes though...

Dave likes to go potty with me. I have to do that ALL THE TIME now and it's no fun, but it's a little better with a friend.

Dave just makes me feel better! I don't get as scared, upset, or sad if I have Dave with me.

So, that's the story of me and my favorite friend. Please pass this along to others b/c I get very frustrated when people don't know who Dave is!! I think by now, everyone should know him and I shouldn't have to explain who he is to everyone. Oh, by the way, everyone asks me where the name Dave comes from. I don't understand this question b/c I think Dave is a perfect name for a giraffe, but if you are one of those that doesn't get it.... I named him "David Weaver" after a friend of ours, but my mom told me that was "not appropriate" since we already had a David Weaver, so she helped me nickname him "Dave." I think it works.

I'm sure you can see by now how great Dave is! Hope you get to meet him soon. If you see me, chances are, you will!

Is It Summer Yet?

With all the cold, Jennilee challenged all us bloggers to put a favorite summer image on our blogs. Here are mine (I have two): BEACH, BEACH, BEACH!!! My favorite thing about summer. I can't wait! Here's to swimsuits, sand, waves, buckets, shovels, flip flops, sunburns, sunglasses, sunscreen, and great friends having fun with us!! I feel warmer already!

We're Having a Snow Party!!!

This title came from Jack B. He started saying it when the snow came and I couldn't figure what he was talking about with the "party" stuff. For another kid, I would have just thought they were referring to playing in the snow, but my child does not like parties. He never wants to go to one, have one, nothing so it was strange. However, he later informed me "Mickey Mouse says that!" and it all became clear:)

I'm going to join the rest of the blogging gang and post some pictures of our fun in the snow. It takes a LOT to get the Foremans out of bed before 10 on a morning we don't have plans, but six inches of snow did it. Thankfully, Hannah Grace and Joel were already spending the week with us and my parents or I don't think Jack would've gotten out of bed anyway. The snow was not enough for him, but playing in the snow with Han and Joel did the trick:)

Jack had a love/hate relationship with the snow. He liked it until it started falling on him and getting him wet. But Hannah Grace and Joel had NOTHING BUT LOVE for the snow!! They would have stayed out there ALL DAY and we pretty much did. We would come inside just long enough to throw our clothes in the dryer and head back out again. It was such a fun day and I was thrilled that Ben was home with us for it.

I really thought the snow agreed well with the house:)

Joel carried snow around all day. I was amazed at how he could stand the cold!


Jack's friend is Dave. I really must write a post about Dave soon b/c he has become a very important part of our family!


Snowball fights!!

SNOW CONES!!!

I was so good at the snowball fights that Jack decided to join me and hit Daddy!

Three cutest kids in the world right here:)

Wacky Tacky Tuesday and a Very Special Friend

I was so excited this weekend to have my oldest friend (who's not related to me) come and visit me and Jack. Karen and I have been very close friends since we were four years old and just have a really special relationship! I dedicated this birthday post to her last February and I think it's really neat that I have this post about her this February:) Here are a few pictures from our weekend.

The last time Karen saw Jack, he was three months old. I think she was pretty amazed at how much quieter the house is now. Jack cried a LOT on her last visit!!

Got to spend a little time with Carrie and Ella.

Jack and Karen (and Dave) read some books and drew some pictures together.

Jack enjoyed using Karen as a pillow too!

For those of you who know Jack well, you know this is our excited look!! Jack looked this way and I felt this way through the entire visit. We just think Karen is a really neat and fun person and we had so much fun catching up! Every time I am around her, I am thankful that God has given me such a wise and Godly friend to encourage me, teach me, and care about me!

And now, just for your enjoyment, here are a few pictures to show just how tacky we can be sometimes....



We make sure to stay comfortable at ALL times, though!