***

Last week our school participated in a “Jump for St. Jude” day to help our kiddos raise money to support the work of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. In the last two years our little elementary school has had two children diagnosed with rare pediatric cancers and both are under the care of St. Jude. Most recently our sweet friend John Randall (who also happens to be a soccer and t-ball team mate of B-Ro) was diagnosed with pediatric melanoma. Given the personal connection to cancer our kids have they were super pumped to get involved in fundraising.

To encourage participation the school allowed the kiddos to wear hats, crazy socks, and sunglasses to the event. Sarah and Ephraim took that very, very seriously. Here’s our littlest jumper in action…

After the jump the students were treated to shaved ice…yum!

Sarah was equally as excited about the jumping and the shaved ice.

And since first graders all have PE together, I got to grab some shots of another one of my first grade favorites…

The minute I took this next picture I turned to Dawn and vowed that it would one day grace a dedication page of their senior yearbook…

Ridiculous.

But this?

Pure sweetness.

Then, more ridiculousness. She makes jump roping look almost as cool as I did all those years ago…

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To my dismay crocheting and The View didn’t quite meet all of my needs so I found myself at the gym a few hours a week too. I wanted to try a step aerobics class but needed a partner in crime. So I enlisted the only other person I knew in Columbus, Mississippi: my husband of six days.

Now Brent has always been an athlete so I knew he wouldn’t have any trouble with the class. And I had taken step a time or two in college so I figured I could hang well enough. I’m sure we both managed to make it through the class but that part is all a blur. Because the only thing either of us remember from that day is the warm up.

The bubbly blonde instructor scattered jump ropes around the room, turned on some tunes and told us to start jumping. And I guess it had been a while since I’d tried my hand at the ol’ jump rope because somehow I forgot that nimble little bouncy jog you’re supposed to do as you’re skipping along. All I could remember about jumping rope was, well, jumping. So I swung the rope around me once, jumped as high as I could and came down hard with both feet…WHOMP!

Then again…WHOMP!

And again…WHOMP!

After three WHOMP!s I looked around and realized I was the only one WHOMPing. Everyone else was doing a cute little bob. Except, of course, my husband of less than a week. He was just starting at me, aghast, with a look that was simultaneously saying, “what are you doing?!” and “what have I done?!”. Because at that very moment the reality of our gene pool flashed before his eyes. And all hopes for fathering a fast-footed quarterback faded. He was left with only this…

an out of control jump-roping wife…

…and a long, long future ahead of him.

And me? I just went back to crocheting.

(These shots that took me down memory lane were actually taken at our school’s Jump for St. Jude last week. Thankfully sometime in the last 12 years I reacquired the jump roping bouncy bob. Nevertheless, much better pics of much cuter – and more coordinated – subjects coming soon.)

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But. I’ve seen the light. See, I always knew I was cut out to be a mama of the baby/toddler/preschool set but that was pretty much where my assurances ended. School aged children were the great unknown.

I had no idea that when the time came I would absolutely be smitten by a child who would sit under a tree reading a comic book,

in a bicycle helmet,

alone, while the world spun on around him.

I had no clue how deliriously happy it would make me to see a confident seven year old speed off on her two-wheeler to catch up with her friends,

tossing me a quick “I love you” glance as she went.

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2. Do you know about the Video Star app? Sarah has been playing with it all week and it’s super fun. You can make your own music videos using songs you have on your phone. Here’s a little snippet of our first try…

Baby

Surely that earns me some sort of award in Mommy Heaven.

3. On Saturday I’ll be joining my awesome do-gooder friend Amy J. for a Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Bake Sale. We’ll have people staked outside both Mellow Mushroom locations (I’ll be at the Jones Valley one) all day pushing our wares, raising money for pediatric cancer research. If you’re a fan of my chocolate chip cookies I’d love to charge you a couple bucks for them on Saturday…all for a good cause!

4. I also plan to make these Caramel Brownies stolen straight from the blog of my friend Nora Griffin. YUM.

5. Have you followed the Abercrombie and Fitch ridiculousness? I am far from their target market and haven’t set foot in one of their stores anytime in the last decade, but that junk has sealed the deal forever. Check out this creative response to the CEO’s nastiness.

6. Someone I love must be reading my blog because I mysteriously received Patty Griffin’s new album for Mother’s Day. And it’s amazing!

7. Also for Mother’s Day I received a video of my children being asked questions about me by Brent. I particularly liked when Ephraim said I was 13. And that spaghetti is my favorite food. It’s actually his favorite food, which reminded me of this:

8. After starting The Screwtape Letters in Sunday School Brent and I decided to start reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe with the kids. We started on Sunday evening and are almost halfway through. I think we’re all rather obsessed with piling into our bed for a couple of chapters each night!

9. Tonight for dinner we were in a rush so I made my old stand-by and the kids’ fave: B-Ro’s Mac and Cheese.

10. On Sunday we headed to Brown Farm to pick strawberries. If you’re local and you haven’t been, make it happen! It was SO much fun and the strawberries are delish. So far we’ve made strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream and a mother’s day strawberry pie for Miss Donna. And we still have another gallon in the freezer!

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Word to your mother: bowling isn’t the cheap fun it used to be.

Fifty four dollars in bowling fees and thirty dollars in snack bar filth later we did have fun. Just not cheap fun.

***

Allow me to introduce our cast of bowling characters…

First, yours truly.

I don’t want to talk smack but I was a pretty fierce bowler back in the day (“the day” = fourth grade). I was league material, baby. I had my very own ball, shoes, and an extra special trophy engraved to “Erwin Cowen.” Neither of those names belonged to me but I’d like to think it was in deference to my formidable bowling alter ego and not just a slip up at the trophy shack. Also, Saturday, bowling league day, was also mandatory “no hairspray day” at my house (it was the 80′s baby) so I was basically incognito. Either way, I’m holding onto the dream.

Please note that when I dressed for the day Brent stated that I “looked like the bowling alley”. Mind you, he didn’t say I looked like I was going to the bowling alley. He said I looked like the bowling alley.

I don’t think that was a compliment but Erwin Cowen only sees the best in her fellow bowlers so I’ll choose to ignore it.

Next up, Jake, aka The Stray. The nickname of course references his attachment to our couch and my cookies, particularly on holidays, and has nothing to do with his ball ending up in the gutter.

But that’s only because we had bumpers.

Next comes Ephraim “I’m Really Good At This” Cobb.

Let’s just say he’s not struggling in the self esteem department these days.

I’ll leave it at that .

Sarah “The Stomper” Cobb was our next bowler.

The nickname speaks for itself.

And finally, Mr. Turkey…

Or alternately, Mr. Even-On-My-Worst-Day-My-Luck-Will-Be-Ten-Times-Better-Than-Yours”…

Because despite all his moaning, groaning, and bowling belly-aching, he STILL bowled three strikes in a row.

TURKEY.

***

When our games were over and our bets/debts were paid we headed to Cheeburger Cheeburger for frosty drinks. Jake and Brent both opted for foul-tasting Dr. Pepper-Chocolate Ice Cream floats (ew!) and I caught The Stray instagramming red-handed…

Kids these days.

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We met Jeff and Shelley last year when our kiddos were in school together. Their family is like a carbon copy of ours (except way cooler and much more adventurous) and all the participating parties instantly clicked.

And just when we thought they couldn’t get any better, they went and decided to add a third baby (a girl!) to the mix.

And just when we thought we couldn’t get any more excited, they asked us to be godparents.

And even though they still sport their Carolina blue with fierce pride we’re really, really hoping they’ll decide Alabama is where they belong.

‘Cause I’m sure it would stink for them to have to leave that baby behind.

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2. I was on a serious reading kick for a while there and then…well, see #1. But I’m re-committing to What the Dog Saw and picking up The Screwtape Letters to work through with my Sunday School class. What are you reading right now?

3. Our neighborhood pool opens in two weeks and two days. Now we just need the weather to cooperate!

4. Patty Griffin’s new album was released today. Has anyone listened to it yet? Is it a must have?

5. Sarah inherited my old iPhone about a year ago. It’s not activated with cell coverage but she has recently discovered that when connected to wi-fi she can text using iMessage. As much as I love that she’s connecting with her grama, cousins, friends and neighbors in a new way I’ll just say this: I’ve seen my future and it isn’t pretty. God bless you mamas and daddies of teens and tweens!

6. As I’m writing I’m also watching Ted Talks Education on PBS. It’s so inspiring and is making me miss my teaching days something fierce. My hat is off to those of you still in those trenches. It’s teacher appreciation week and I appreciate each and every one of YOU!

7. Ginger asked me today at the Cottage what kind of classroom I had when I was teaching. I told her that I would grab some of my scrapbooks and bring them to work to show her, but now I don’t think my heart can take it. I know I’m right where I need to be in my life but, man, my heart is divided.

8. I’ve kept this quiet on the ol’ blog but…we got a hamster. I know. I’m just as shocked as you are. Pictures along with the story of how we arrived at this terrible decision will be forthcoming.

9. How do you feel about the Macklemore craze? Tired of Thrift Shop yet or still loving it? Have you seen his tiny desk appearance? It’s a few months old but worth the 15 minutes.

10. My friend Bekah posted this on her Facebook page today. If you’re an artist or creative type, this one’s for you…

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The pictures in this post are a bit crazy looking. I blame it on the sugar high. Please ignore.

Ephraim’s obsessive love for his mama is a well-established and well-documented fact. But he seems to have turned it up a notch of late. Without hesitation he will tell anyone who will listen that I am his favorite. And he rigs “eeny meeny miny mo” every.single.time to make sure I’m chosen. This boy and I are a love story for the ages, I tell ya.

Last weekend we had one night with just us in the house. Daddy and Sarah were at the Indian Princess campout so B-Ro and I made big plans. They included lots and lots (and lots!) of junk food…

which we arranged on a tray and carried into my cozy bed where we hijacked my mom’s Netflix account for a viewing of The Great Mouse Detective.

I tried to get a quick self-timed shot of me and my date.

First attempt: fail.

Second attempt was a bit more like it.

Our junk food stash was pretty impressive, but even more so if you consider the pizza, soda and gelato we consumed half an hour before these pictures were taken.

I asked Ephraim to pose for a quick snap with the good stuff…

But what I got was a visual of why we nights like this should remain few and far between. (Pass the toothbrush?)

After the movie was over I turned the light off to snuggle my boy as he drifted off to sleep. And despite the caffeine and sugar buzz I found myself nodding off too as he held my hand and used my palm as a pillow under his sweet five year old cheek.

Which is why nights like this shouldn’t be few and far between. Oral hygiene be darned.

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2. Among other things I bought two bathing suits and three cover-ups. What does that say about a pool-side body in its mid-30′s? I’ll tell you what it says: the covering up is much more important than the reveal.

3. Having said that, Pure Barre has been awesome and is the sole responsible party for the bikini I might have bought. And the sugar addiction is the sole responsible party for the cover ups.

4. Brent, my beloved rocket surgeon, recently sent me this article in an email message titled “ever wonder what I do at work?” The answer was “no,” but I read the article anyway. Enlightening, letmetellya.

5. I just got home from my monthly Bunco group which doesn’t always involve playing Bunco. Tonight it didn’t at least. But I did get the chance to re-meet someone who I had previously met at an election night part at my house last November. Fun times. Turns out she has a blog too! Hello Kat from Eggton. =)

6. Kudos to Jason Collins for his incredibly well-written and heartfelt piece in Sports Illustrated this week.

7. I went to buy a Crate and Barrel coffee table on CraigsList this afternoon and came home with that plus four pillows. Brent is not particularly pleased with our overabundant pillow situation. Oops.

8. I’m currently registering our family for the 2013 Cotton Row Race: the 10K for me, the 5K for Brent and the 1 mile fun run for Sarah and Ephraim. Today is the deadline for $20 registration so if you jump on it in the next 45 minutes you’ll save a few bucks. As if anyone is still up right now!

9. Last night Ephraim was up a few times with growing pains. Poor fella. I didn’t mind snuggling him a little extra in the middle of the night, even if it did mean missing out on sleep time in my own super comfy bed. And it made it all the more worthwhile when he asked for hugs and kisses before I headed back to my bed. That kid sure is a lover.

10. Speaking of…This afternoon I had a session with a sweet baby girl who brought her big five year old brother along. Ephraim had a ball playing with him at the Cottage and wanted to say a proper goodbye to him before he left. So E climbed into his new friend’s car and said, “Dude, just one hug?”.

Gotta love a five year old boy. That creature is just the perfect mix of sweet and way too grown up.

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About a month ago we took our bikes down to the elementary school for a few turns around the track. After a bit of riding I told Ephraim we were going to take one of his training wheels off, like we did when Sarah was learning to ride. One might have thought I had told him we would be hacking off a leg. It was traumatic.

But like I knew he could, he rode that one training wheeled jalopy like a champ. All the while frantically screaming, I CAN’T DO THIS!

Also, like I knew he would.

So we made our two painful loops around the track and then called it a day. His face was swollen from crying and I was sure he would never forgive me…or attempt to try his bike again until he was at least six.

***

Last week Brent came home from work and Ephraim suddenly announced, “Dad, I want to ride my bike…with no training wheels.” We were both stunned but this opportunity was not to be wasted. So Brent took our little buddy around the corner to the cul de sac for a quick lesson. And not twenty minutes later, they brought me this…

A  bike-riding B-Ro.

A very serious,

and determined bike-riding B-Ro.

And a proud one too.

He now spends a good hour each day riding his teensy weensy bike up and down our street. His legs are covered in band-aids now and his bike has a few more dings,

but he’s added another milestone to his B-Ro blooming timeline. And we couldn’t be happier.

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