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!