Where have I been?

Seems like it's been a while since I've blogged. I even had some people ask, "Where have you been"?  Well... It's been a busy month or so.

At the end of February, our family went to the Kalahari. It was a family getaway. It was fabulous! We got upgraded to the presidential suite! We had 2 different bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a living room, a bar area and a hot tub right out on our balcony! Peter and I figured that our hotel room was bigger than any apartment that we ever lived in!  The kids enjoyed the indoor water park and theme parks. We watched a movie in our room one day while eating lunch.  Of course, we took advantage of sitting in a hot tub outside in the middle of winter!

The getaway did teach me something... or rather just reminded me.  Foster parenting has really high "HIGHS" and really low "LOWS".  It is kind of like bipolar parenting. Our family was having a blast. Kids were actually really well behaved. They did great not complaining and arguing. And then it happened. Reality hit us when we stopped in the room after dinner. My boy urinated into a garbage can. The garbage can that was just inches away from the toilet in the 1/2 bathroom.  Yeah. Don't have a clue as to why it happened. But it was reality that we just hit a new low. Sigh. But you see, we are foster parents. We are supposed to be the pros!  (Insert your eye rolls here). Well, little guy ended up being done for the night and I got to spend some girl time with my girls at the theme park. The next day, it was like nothing happened and we all moved right back into having a fun vacation!

When that was over, the following weekend I went to a Women's retreat. Can anyone say... heaven on earth?  Oh yeah, my "peeps" and I went to the spa. So relaxing it was. I also have to admit, their trail mix was AMAZING!  It was so much fun. What is kind of fun is my peeps and I are in our 20s, 30s, and 40s.  Three of us from three different decades with yet so much in common!  The second night of the retreat we ordered some pizza and rented a movie. We were laughing and having such wonderful girl time.

For those curious, the hubby did a great job at being the dad on duty all weekend. He was even a hero when he took the kids to Chuck E Cheese!  I also learned how much those kiddos love and appreciate me.

Just when I was thinking it was time to catch up on laundry, Peter and I packed up for a trip to Georgia/Alabama. We sent the kiddos to stay with their best friends. I'm not sure if they even noticed we were missing!  Since I was visiting my friend (that I've known since the 1st grade), I knew there would be some sort of flight drama!  On the way down there, we both overslept and would have missed our flight!  Our friend and hair stylist with the mostest, came to pick us up. When I heard my phone ring I knew I was in trouble!  The encouraging thing was that we were mostly packed and we made it to Atlanta's airport without further drama!

The weather was beautiful in Atlanta, GA and Albertsville, AL. It was nearly in the 70s each day we were there. When we arrived in Atlanta, we got our rental car (really it was a box) and drove west. The hubby and I enjoyed being together and stopping for breakfast. He even went shopping with me!  (He sooooooo loves me!)  We tried reaching my friend but apparently she was preoccupied. Friday night we literally sat in our hotel room the entire time (minus dinner). For that, we found a Mexican restaurant... that didn't seem to know that they should serve cheese with Fajitas. Saturday morning was much the same. We lounge around in our hotel room. Did I ever mention that there isn't much to do in Alabama?

Finally, it was time for the wedding. The bride was beautiful. The church was decorated beautiful. The songs that were song were beautiful. The sisters of the bride were beautiful. The sand ceremony was beautiful. Heck, even the weather outside was beautiful. I suppose ya'll understand... it was all beautiful. 

I couldn't hold myself to together. I cried and couldn't stop crying. The friend that I have known the longest in my life got married. She reached her dream. She never gave up on it, she never compromised. Here she was getting married, and I kept my childhood promise that I would be there. Just like I kept my promise that she would be my bridesmaid.

Then we went to the reception. It was beautiful. The cakes were beautiful. The table decorations were beautiful. The toast that the maid of honor gave the bride was beautiful. Yep. Everything was beautiful. What else can I say?

The next morning we got up early and left Alabama. I think it's the last time I will ever have to go there.

Georgia turned out to be so much fun! Even with the time change (Daylight savings) and going back into a different time zone, we got into town before noon. (It's a four hour drive). We went to the Atlanta Zoo. My hubby and I had such a nice time walking around and holding hands. He made the whole trip worthwhile. He was so cute and charming. It seems like forever since we just had an afternoon date. We laughed at all the other parents at the zoo with their kiddos. It so made us appreciate our break that much more!

The next day, my hubby indulged me to a 6 hour visit to the Georgia Aquarium.  I could spend days in an aquarium. I just love watching everything. I even took him to a 4D show. He joked about how awful it was. I could only laugh when I said, "I know, I've seen it before!". We had such a great time together. No worries, no stress. It was just the two of us.

After the Aquarium, we went to see the Coca Cola World Museum.  I think that by the time we did that tour, we were both a little done with the crowds. It was neat to see it though. I've only seen the previous museum. The highlight of the tour is tasting all the different sodas. Of course my hubby loves all the dry and "gross" sodas that made my stomach turn!  (Although he'd say the same thing about my sweet drinks!) 

It was good to get breaks. Now I'm just working super hard to pull off a PTO Sock Hop. Busy Busy Busy.