Sisters. . .TJEd Forum

It was so much fun spending a short weekend with Mary & Camille (and Honica, Payden, Brunson & Levi--why didn't we take pictures of them? Sorry.) volunteering at and attending the Thomas Jefferson Education Forum (a homeschool conference).

TJEd Forum & Family Ball

It was so much fun having Mary & Honica join me at the Thomas Jefferson Education Forum! (Payden came also and enjoyed the youth classes.) Thanks to my good friend, we were able to work off the cost of the forum (hence the Hostess tag on my suit--bottom picture). Last year was my first experience and I loved the things that I learned and was anxious to come back. This year was wonderful as well. So many great speakers, so many excellent recommendations on books to read, etc. Friday evening, Mary, Honica & I went to a fancy banquet and enjoyed a great meal and a lecture from Brad Wilcox. Saturday was a full day of great speakers (we all went to different classes so that we could share the information with each other). That evening I convinced Lou to join his family at the Family Ball where we were able to dress up and dance to a live band! Here we are just before the dance.

 

I wish I could say that it was more of a success, but Damian upset Emma in the car and Isaiah fell asleep on the way over, so by the time we got there, I already had tired kids. While Damian & Emma were waiting for their daddy to get ready, they were dancing around the house together, but when we got to the actually dance, Damian wouldn't dance. As it turned out, I think Isaiah had the best time. He loved dancing with me to the music.

I know this is a random picture, but I liked the way my hair turned out with the fresh highlight job and Mary's tedious application of the triple barrel.

 

I LOVE the way Gehrig is looking at his daddy in this picture.

 

Angela, Honica & Mary

 

I just have to add this little tid-bit about the ball. The kids were tired and it was time to go, so we all gathered and began walking down the stairs. We were down the first flight of stairs when we realized Isaiah had taken off somewhere. I knew he couldn't be far b/c we had just barely had him, so I told Lou to take the other 3 to the car and bring it around for us.

Well, I started looking and didn't find him right away. I went through both ballrooms loaded with people and still didn't find him. My friend and her family were looking too. I just knew that he couldn't be far, so I wasn't worried at first, but after what seemed like hours (maybe actually 10 minutes) went by, I really started panicking, so I asked her to make an announcement over the microphone at the dance.

Just as the announcement was being made, I saw him from the back, his little body standing up to a table in the hall where we had been and a young girl told me that she had found him underneath the table--EATING A CHOCOLATE BAR! There had been a small concession stand where they were selling candy bars for $2, etc. I guess while we started walking, he swiped one and dashed under the table.

I was so happy to find him, I grabbed him up and took the candy bar away and set it down on the table and interrupted their announcement to say that I had found him. It turned out to be extra embarrassing because he was so angry at me for taking the candy bar, that he was calling me the worst names he could think of (stupid, idiot, etc.)and scowling. Except for the fact that my 2 year old has a potty mouth that really makes me sad, the event can be looked at with some humor now--now that I have him safe and sound!

Oh, and lest you all worry about the stolen candy bar, Lou paid for it and finished it off in the car while I visited with a friend I met just as we were leaving!