Mind the Gap.

Just seven long months after our 10th anniversary, Adam and I finally boarded the plane for London. We would fill 10 days with as much of Europe as we possibly could. Our trip begins in London where we daringly opted to find our own way to our hotel rather than pay for the transfer with the tour company. So, even though the signs were in English, duh, we still seemed to be directionally challenged in the subway. But we did find our way onto the correct train and enjoyed the 30 minute ride...especially the little English accented voice that came on at every stop asking people to "mind the gap."

We got off the train about four blocks from our hotel and lugged our suitcases (well, we each had one and a backpack...after spending a month in Russia, this girl knows how to pack) a few more blocks to the hotel. We got checked in and immediately went down to the tour desk to sign up for our excursions and find out which show we could see that night. To our disappointment, they had no show tickets but the hotel concierge directed to a street vendor in Piccadilly Circus. Without further delay, we set out, found the bus station, got our tickets and a map and were on our own quest for discovery before lunch, London time.

I'm not sure what I expected when we came upon the Circus but a mad rush of cars and pedestrians was certainly not what I had in mind. When we got off the bus, I began my visual search for the street vendor that would satisfy my desire for tickets to a show in a London theater. When we found him, there were several locals milling about who actually knew what they were doing...so, I stood back and watched them for a moment, all the while listening to the options. Of course when he offered me seats to this and that, I couldn't decide and I didn't want to make a mistake...He was really pushing seats to Sister Act which I really had no desire to see. So, Adam and I finally decided to buy tickets to We Will Rock You, a musical comedy composed of all Queen music and partially directed by one of the former band members. Tickets in hand, we had time to explore and so we did.

We wandered about and ate dinner at a sidewalk cafe, got off the bus a little too late but still made it in time for the show, which, I absolutely LOVED!!!!! And, I think Adam would have loved it too had he been able to stay awake! But alas, jet lag had grabbed hold of him and would not let go. After the show, we were exhausted and ready for some much needed sleep. BUT, our bus somehow ended up on another road??? Or, maybe we read the route wrong but the long and short of it is we walked for about 2 hours before we were so exhausted and frustrated that we hailed a cab to return us to our hotel for what would now amount to about 4 hours of sleep before we had to be up for breakfast and our morning excursion...Day one...whew!

On Day two, we started with the city tour, which I love to do anytime I go somewhere new. It allows an overview of the place so you can really see where you want to spend more time and what you can skip. Our tour guide was awesome! She was very knowledgeable and spoke on all the history of a place before we got there. I noticed that as we walked past St. James Palace, although she mentioned Anne Boleyn, she didn't really go into the history which having just been in several books and movies is so fascinating...but apparently not so to the Brits. I enjoyed seeing the palace that I have seen in so many movies now. It seems they no longer have guards standing by as the war in the middle east has taken all of their reserves and they can no longer afford to have guards for such menial tasks. However, in the fall one of the queen's grand daughter's will come to London for University and she will stay at St. James thereby forcing the British guard to stand duty...to use her words, "what a waste."

After passing the palace, we walked down to Buckingham Palace and were placed, by our guide, in the perfect spot to watch the changing of the Guard and get a glimpse of the palace before walking along the Princess Diana Memorial walk toward Big Ben, the Parliament and West Minster Abby. These are three places that WHEN, not if, I go back to London, I will be making a B-line to. Because of time constraints and being part of a guided tour, these were all places we got to see from the outside and did not get to venture into. Also, the Tower, which used to be a prison and now holds the crown jewels is on the top of my list. Because we had to choose our excursions, we opted for the afternoon tour of Windsor Castle leaving these places for our next trip.

Before heading out to the castle, we stopped by St. Paul's Cathedral where Lady Di married the Prince. There is a big long bout of history surrounding this church and a church has been on this ground since 604AD. Most interesting, I think is that the saying, "robbing Peter to Pay Paul comes from the history of this cathedral. In the early 1600's the cathedral as it stood was almost completely destroyed by fire. In the following years, the British government confiscated tithes from the church across town, St. Peter's, to pay for a new St. Paul's...thus, robbing Peter to pay Paul...how very interesting, or not. I found the American Chapel, a small room at the back of the sanctuary that pays tribute to fallen American soldiers very moving and the whispering gallery fascinating. You can stand on one side of the massive dome, (which, BTW weighs more than 65,000 tons) whisper facing the wall and be heard clear across as if you were standing right next to the person you are talking to. I believe Adam found the poop on the statue of Queen Anne most interesting...aahh, as long as we are both having fun.

So now we are off to Windsor Castle. Along the way, we see, the highway...how glamorous but as we get closer, we enter the limits of the cutest little town , Windsor, I have ever seen! We get out of our bus and we walk about 1/2 a mile through shops and little homes to the tourist entrance of the castle. Before we go in, we are treated to views of Eaton, and the gardens which made me think first of Meagen, because she too loves trashy romance novels and what historical hero did not attend Eaton in his youth? And then I thought of my grandmother because she loves gardens. Walking through the castle was amazing. It was my first castle and so probably the most impressive as it is the largest inhabited castle in the world. Of course we were not permitted to see the wings that the royal family actually uses but to think that someone at some point in history actually built a home that large as a monument to themselves was awe inspiring.

My favorite part of the castle was not the the castle at all but St. George's Chapel. I mean the grandeur of the Castle was amazing and the history of it interesting but this small chapel located just a few feet from the castle is the queen's favorite place to attend church and to see it not be something grand like Westminster or St. Paul's was nice. It is the site of more than 16 royal weddings since 1863 and the final resting place of more than 32 royals including Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I with her husband George VI and their daughter, Margaret. It also believed to be the future resting place for Elizabeth II. Anyway, It just seemed so much more personal than anything else we toured and I guess that is why I found it the most interesting.

Moving On, We took an evening boat tour on the Thames. We passed under the London Bridge which, was NOT falling down because they finally figured out how to build a bridge there in the 1960's, passed by the traitor gates of the Tower and the Tower bridge, the London eye. We also got the waterside view of Big Ben and the Parliament...that's right kids. It was beautiful and wonderful and we were tired and ready for bed. But, we had to report for dinner, so we did and then we hit the pillows to rest up for the next day which would be filled with travel and new adventures!

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Other favorite Pics from London:

A classic must take tourist pic.












Everything is Europe is "Toilet." I prefer the term "restroom."









All that is left of Whitehall Palace, built during the reign of Henry VIII and destroyed by fire in 1619.








Posted in the gardens of St. Paul's Cathedral. I think is more about the poo on Anne's face. But still, I think it nice that they request rather than demand.







The tower bridge at twilight. No vampire's but still beautiful.









Adam outside the Tower.

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.