Remember the Alamo.

Another end...this time it's flag football. Rusty's team ended with the rest of the season but Flip's team got to go to the "Superbowl." It was an eye opening experience. We got a peek into the world of professional pee-wee footballers in training. Apparently, other leagues sit seasons out so that they can train for the Superbowl of flag foot ball. And still other teams pull the all stars from all the teams in their league to compose a team of the fastest, most agile children under the age of 5...really? Yes, really. Well, we took our team of mostly first year players. It was a beautiful day out. The game(s) were at a different field than we normally play on. When we got there, the boys were their normal 4 year old selves...wiggly, not listening, flying around the field. The team they were playing was lined up doing push ups and yelling out chants. We soon realized they had an offensive AND defensive coach. They had plays called "Sponge Bob" and "Superman." They had cheerleaders. We just had a good time. We lost but the kids enjoyed it and we did as well.

We also took a little car trip to Rainbow river...I am going to skip all the night-marish stories about waiting in line for 2 hours to rent our tubes, Mike locking his keys in the car, and cranky kids and just say that when we finally got on the river, it was a wonderful time, wonderful day and something I had not done since I was kid. I enjoyed taking my kids and the ride went too fast.

And then there is Texas...via Alabama. Ruthie had no gymnastics the week of July 4th so I loaded the four little ones into the car with DVD players, Game boys, coloring books and snacks. We hit the road early and headed for Dinah's Mamma's house in lower AL. We made great time and the kids were awesome the whole way. We spent the fourth with them at a lake with yummy southern fixins and lot's of fun times.

When our time in Alabama was over, we loaded back into the car and hit the road for my grandparent's house in San Antonio. I really had a good time driving with the kids. We stopped at rest stops and got out to eat. They were so good the whole way that when they weren't talking to me, they were quiet doing something else and I was able to listen to my music and just enjoy the drive.

After spending one night in a hotel, we met my mom at my Aunt Becky's house and spent the afternoon swimming, eating and getting caught up with them and my cousins. Then, it was back on the road to San Antonio. I had been meaning to get out to see my grandparents for the last year...but, with four kids, there's always something. When we got to the village (Air Force Village) I was amazed to see the improvements taking place. They now have a wonderful gym equipped with all the bells and whistles and a nice size lap pool. They are also in the process of building new condos all over the place.

My grandparents are now living in the assisted living area and they seem to be happy there. Now that I am a older, and a mom, I am not happy to see them there. I would like to see them still living independently and closer to family. Since they will hear none of that...to the point where they would not even ask anyone to take them to my cousin's wedding even though it was breaking my grandmother's heart, I have decided that I will have to find a way to get out there a few times a year. I did manage to talk them into going out to eat a meal. They took us to a little restaurant outside the city and we had great Mexican and even better desert. They put us up in a very nice two bedroom condo where they came over to visit with us.

My memories of them as a child are so different than the people I see today. I remember them being kind and generous but now they are loving and emotional. We cried together a few times and we talked about things that were "grown up." At 32 years old, I feel like I finally got to meet them as people...not too sure that makes any sense at all but they are two pretty cool people who have seen a lot in their lives, helped a lot of people and loved their family deeply.

When the visit was over, we loaded the kids into the car and hit Schlitterbaun, the World's #1 rated water park...and it was a blast...except when Ellie fell out of her tube on a slide and my mom nearly had a heart attack! Then it was more miles and more miles, a drive by of New Orleans in a torrential down pour and back home...a very full week.


Although neither Flip nor Ellie are facing the camera and there were other pictures where they were, I like this one because my grandmother was laughing out loud at one of the absurd things that regularly comes from the red head's mouth.

Once a week, my grandfather prepares and delivers little bags of cookies to all the residents and staff of the health center. The kids really enjoyed helping with this and my grandparents really enjoyed showing the kids off to everyone. I included the picture of Ruthie's back because as we walked around, Ruthie just naturally took over pushing my grandmother and I got a little choked up because I can remember that is exactly what my brother, Rusty would do. Every time we went anywhere with my grandparents, you would find Rusty behind her chair.

After a morning of visiting, we took the kids downtown to the Alamo and the wax museum. I liked the one of the kids with Lance Armstrong because not a few weeks later, Adam and I accidentally found ourselves in Paris on the last day of the tour and got to see the finish LIVE! That post is coming soon, I promise!

Flip's World.

Philip Dean Jerger AKA "Flip" graduated with all the pomp and circumstance from preschool with honors. His honors are: being all boy, best in sound effects, and "most likely to live it up all the days of his life." This graduation was a little different for me because he is so different. Ruthie and Rusty both had a serious side to them. So, I didn't worry about what Kindergarten held for them. I mean I worried, the normal worries...did I do everything I could to get them ready but I didn't worry about them sitting still and listening. I didn't worry about them following the rules for the sake of following the rules. Flip is well, Flip. He lives in his own world and he likes it there. Everything makes crash noises in his world, especially his hands. He walks to the beat of crash noises, falls asleep to the rhythm of crash noises and he plays with cars, power rangers and Legos that crash, with noise.

Going into the ceremony, I knew they would sing One Small Voice. The graduates always sing this song and I cry every year. I told him, (he's a bit of a ham on the stage) to please sing out so I could hear his voice during that song. He did so well during all of his songs, only "zoning" into Flip's World at one point during the Florida Alphabet. And then it happened. The music started and wouldn't you know that during my song, the one I wanted him to sing for me, he stood there, filled his cheeks with air and proceeded to pop them with his hands. I had to laugh because it was so "Flip." I looked up at him and he looked down at me and I made a face to let him know I was sad he wouldn't sing it for me...and he left his world, like he sometimes does to be part of mine for a little while...just to make his mommy smile, and cry.

Like Father, Like Son.

Rusty took on swim team this summer and developed a love/hate relationship with the sport. He loved the first meet and enjoyed the practices for a while. He really liked practicing the starts and getting his ribbon at the end of every race be it a first place or fifth. He swam every race like his life depended on it and got out of the pool like a mad man was after him. Toward the middle of the summer, the daily workouts got to be "boring" and the waiting for each event at his meets got gruesome. But getting out of the water and seeing the pride on his daddy's face never got old and I kind of liked seeing the excitement in Adam's face as we pulled up to each meet.

This little man is one who holds football in his heart. He anxiously awaits the start of flag football season by killing time in the pool. When the first whistle of college football season blows, he will crawl up on the couch and snuggle in next to his father. He will memorize worthless stats only to be quoted back to his daddy who has also memorized them and they will smile at each other with pride. He will look to his mommy to encourage him in his love for football and I will try to make him fall in love with some other sport because I can't bear the thought of him getting hurt. He will worry about his size and get mad at God for making him so "skinny." He will try his hardest to eat more and grow bigger but he will still just be my little man. He will grow up loving Auburn and dreaming of someday going there...to do what? To be what?

For now, this is just a summer thing but I can see the dreams Adam is holding on to and I can see the talent in a little boy who may or may not fall in love with swimming...

LSU?

Ruthie had the excellent opportunity to go to camp at LSU this summer. Of course, it couldn't have gone off without just the littlest bit of drama. On the morning she was to leave, we were trying to teach her how to use the extra cell phone and it wouldn't turn on. I had charged it!!!! So, I frantically called my mom just one hour before the bus was scheduled to leave and asked her to solve the problem and meet me at the gym. She showed up without a minute to spare and Ruthie became the cell phone toting/text messaging 9 year old I have always dreamed of...ok, they were night mares.

Anyway, she loaded onto the bus with her new suit case and cell phone, her portable CD player and a small cooler with some snacks. I had my first call before she even hit the city limits...cute...an hour later she calls me to ask if the movie they were showing was OK for her to watch...another hour, "uh, mommy, did you know we had to drive through Gainesville?" and another little while, "mommy, we just left Florida." And not too much later a text to which I responded, "did Nana say you could text?" Uh, no? Well, you better ask her since she is paying this bill...

When Adam got home I gave him the update, "they are almost to the dorms." to which he responds, "I know, she's been calling me all day." Later, I called my mom to let her know they got in ok to which she responds, "I know, she's been calling me all day." So, the phone was the first hit of the week.

On the first night, Ruthie and her room mate got settled in and then ventured out to visit in some of the other rooms. And you know, they BOTH left their keys inside the room that has a door that locks when you close it. So, she and her roommate had to spend the first night on the couches in the community room at the dorm and she was so upset because she wanted to call me but her cell phone battery was dead and locked in her room...I wonder why?

The rest of the week went by uneventful. She called home during her breaks and at bed time. She was busy with 3 workouts/day, got the opportunity to work with the head coach of LSU who is a legend in collegiate gymnastics and a few of the girls from the team. She also made friends with some of the girls from other levels on her own team and came home a die hard LSU fan with souvenirs for the whole family, including her father who accepted the coozie gracefully. I assured her that if her dreams are to go to LSU and be a gymnast, we are behind her all the way...we will simply say, "GO TIGERS!" but we will never mean, "Gaux tigers!"

Sweet Home Alabama.

Randy and Dinah are headed "home." Back to where they came from...to their families, well, most of it anyway...they are leaving me behind! They didn't even ask me if it was ok, although Randy did assure me that they have a bed for me...at least until Jessi starts sleeping in it! As a last hurrah, a few hundred of their closest friends (ok, not that many) got together for a little dinner, a little dancing and a little more...we had a really good time and so, I will let the pictures speak for themselves...Best wishes for a happy future guys, we love you dearly!

************************Kid's farewell play-date at the beach...





Ellie's first cowboy.

Flip, Gracie, Ruthie, Jessi, Brannon, Rusty and Ellie

Cruisin'

So obviously I am a bit behind and I need to get caught up. Adam and I had the chance to take few days and get away. His company offers each employees a paid vacation every year. (and, it doesn't count against his PTO)This year it was a four day cruise to Cancun...been there done that...but, why pass up a four day getaway for half price? So, we planned to just stay on the boat and enjoy it while everyone else got off...enter swine flu...the boat was detoured to the Caymens which I have never been to so we decided on a beach excursion where Adam got to ride this giant banana (no comments please) that was pulled behind a wave runner. I just laid on my chair soaking up the skin cancer and enjoying my drink that was included:0) Afterward, we had just enough time to hit the Swarovski store where we treated me to a very pretty necklace and some ear rings...happy birthday to me. It was very relaxing, fun to hang with some of his friends from work and just a little too short...I'm hoping for an extra day next year!

BTW, I still can't believe Gwyneth Paltrow sings this song!

Mama Says...

"There is no friendship, no love, like that of the parent for the child." Henery Ward Beecher

Mother's Day fell on the coat tails of our girls weekend. It took some doing but we were able to convince Meagen to join us at church. It was such a blessing because although Chris was not there, we (the Stofers, Us and Meagen) were able to pray with Randy and Dinah. We got to take some cute shots of all the kids together and with Meagen who was without her children for the day. After church, we went and had lunch and then headed home with our own crews for a restful afternoon.

Mother's Day is a strange "holiday" for me. Although I love all the little gifts and cards my children make and are so proud to give me, I rarely stop on Mother's day and think about the wonder of the four children that make up most of the chaos in my house. Usually I reserve these thoughts for each individual child and they usually hit me around their birthdays as they get one more year older and seem to need me just a little bit less. But this year, I looked at the four children and I realized God really loves me and He must really trust me (and Adam) to have given me custody of such precious beings. They amaze me wholly. And this year, I have a new appreciation for my own mom, who I do not need any less than I did at Ellie's age or even Ruthie's. I just need her differently. Happy Mother's day, Mom, Andy, Marie, Meagen, Dinah and all you other mamas reading...I know you feel so blessed to have had the privilege of raising your babies.

This is the Time...

GIRLS WEEKEND!!!! WE had the most fun! It was supposed to be a scrapbook weekend. Well, Dinah called me in the afternoon and she says, "I'm not bringing my stuff, I'm just gonna chill and I have some news." I was like , "whatever, tell me now!" and she says, ya, I think you should hear it first so she drops the bomb, "we're moving back to Alabama." "WHAT?!?" Devastating. I cried on the phone, she cried. Later, we got the other two girls picked up and hit the grocery store for our crap food. (I use that term affectionately...there was some fruit but it was out numbered by the Krispie Kremes) I cried in the grocery store. I had to wear my sunglasses because Marie and Meagen didn't know yet so Dinah turned that into a game and we were all walking through Publix with our shades on. (it was cool-at least in our minds)

We get back to our very nice 2/2 corner unit on the beach and get all the groceries unloaded and then head out to dinner...without the key to our very nice 2/2 corner unit on the beach. Of course, we didn't notice until we got back. Got the guy to come...pretty sure he was driving drunk, nice. We settle in...get all the scrapping stuff positioned, sit down to chill and Dinah drops the bomb on them. I cried, and I do mean, sobbed. Are you getting the picture? I'm gonna miss her.

So, the weekend went on, we laid on the beach, we drank daiquiris, we laid on the beach, we went out, there was a peircing, we laid on the beach, drank some more daiquiris and all too soon, it was over. I think Meagen got one page done, Marie may have finished a few. I got my book out and looked at it, then, put it away. Just being with my girls was more important. THese are the times to remember....

St. Anthony's Bi-athlon

There has been some mad dog training going on around here...no, not me, Adam. He has been working very hard at getting himself ready to do his first Olympic distance triathlon. He's got the gear. He's got the really cool outfit (that he modeled and got 20% off). He's got the very latest and greatest shoes. He's got the body:0) Sorry, had to throw that in! (obviously he is man enough to wear my pink lined warm up jacket while waiting to que for the race)

So, we put the kids at my mom's and we get out to the venue really early. Adam has done the swim portion of this particular triathlon before. As he is in the transition area, chatting, getting all his tri-paraphernalia set up, we begin to hear announcements that the there is the possibility that the swim portion of the TRIathlon will be cancelled. and sure enough, due to high wind and large surf, they cancel it for all but the pros. Now, for a first time triathlete who is really a swimmer, this is just a teeny, weeny bit disappointing.

I'm sure that this blow to his mentality played a bit of a role in his overall performance on the bike and run but I like to find the bright spot and so, since I know he's an awesome swimmer, I see it a dress rehearsal for the bike and run as well as the transitions. It was an eye opener for him in the sense that he realized afterwards, that his body was capable of so much more than it gave that day and he has rebounded with a new attitude toward his training and is looking for his next first triathlon...

Braggin' on my kids.

Recently, I have had the privilege of attending a poetry reading for Rusty's class. Rusty read a poem that he wrote about me:

My Mommy

By: Rusty Jerger

My

Mommy

is

My

Best

Friend

I

Love

My

Mommy

So Much!

Now, I'm not sure what kind of poem this is but it pretty much says it all...and to top it off, about 3 or 4 of his classmates wrote poems about him. It was completely adorable!

Also of late...a few field trips: One to Lowery Park Zoo with Rusty and the other to Heritage Village with Ruthie. The highs of these two trips were feeding the giraffe, petting the sting rays, putting out a fire the old fashion way and sitting in a one room school house.

The school year is wrapping up and we have had an awesome year. Ruthie stayed on the Principle's list all year and won a lot of academic awards. Her reading and writing has continued to be a passion for her and her teacher has really encouraged her along this path. It was perfect fit and we are so blessed that Mrs. Rasmussen will be looping and Ruthie will have her again next year. She competed in the 3rd grade spelling bee and Addition speed race and got second overall in both. Also, I am told by her very impressed teacher that she got a perfect score on the reading portion of her FCAT. Ok, I'll stop bragging.

Not really...Rusty has been a total surprise to me this year. Of course he had an awesome kindergarten teacher and we went into Mrs. G's class completely blind as the teacher we hoped to have for 1st grade had decided to teach second. Turns out that the relationship that developed between Rusty and his teacher was perfect for him as well. His reading took off and he was reading well above grade level within weeks of starting the school year. He was asked to join super-star math and is testing really high on all of his cycle/state tests! This from a kid who hates to read! I found that he does however take his school work seriously. He comes right in from school and begins his homework without being asked and he panics if he needs to complete something and feels like it won't get done...what a conscientious little student...

Rusty has begun his orthodontic trials and has joined Ruthie in the ritual of turning the torture rack. So I now find myself sitting int he waiting room while they both go back and get refitted and readjusted to their hard ware...oh well, we knew that having both worn braces, our kids didn't stand a chance.

Summer is here.