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.