GRADUATION!!!

I am finally ready to share graduation with all of you who wanted to be there, but couldn't make it :) This is the view from Dad's seat of me being hooded.This is the view that I "borrowed" from the professional photographer of me being hooded.

This is me shaking hands with the president, don't ask me his name, after receiving my diploma case, minus the diploma of course, still waiting on that.

This is me with the crowd in the background.

Yup! That's me again. I like this picture, too bad about the shadow. Thanks again to the photographers. (I will be ordering, so I didn't steal without paying a price.)

Mom, Dad, and me pre graduation.

Jody, Allyson, and Me post graduation.

We had a most delicious dinner at Texas Roadhouse after we were finished, sorry, no picture. I am willing to recreate the experience for anyone who would like to buy me dinner. Now that I am finished, who will be next? (Angel...Ben...Bueller) I am so glad to be finished. It was a crazy 15 months. If anyone is interested in reading my research just let me know:) For those of you who were wondering, YES, I donated my hair (11 in.)just hours before graduation. I couldn't figure out what to do with it so I decided it needed to go. (Thanks Amber for the last minute cut)

Just Practicing

I was just trying to find some motivation to finish publishing my research. This is your official invitation to my graduation. May 14th at 7:00pm in Kennesaw. Let me know if you need more details. I know that is not the most convenient time on a Wednesday. I just wish I could wear my capris and my bare feet.

SPRING BREAK!!!!

I was soooo ready and don't think I could have made it one more minute. Today seemed to creep by, even before school started. I worked furiously to the end of the day sending my kids home with all the work we could shove in their book bags. Only seven more teaching days until the CRCT! The bus driver (of the bus I ride) said my kids got on the bus complaining about all the work and READING I expect them to do, but they got off thanking me for helping them get ready. I can't imaging all that will be lost as most of them go home this week and won't even speak a word of English, much less pick up a book. Cross your fingers for all of them because if they don't pass they have to go to summer school and try it again. Even I don't want to go to summer school! I plan to work on getting my out-of-school life organized this week. Wish me luck. ;)

More Laughable Moments

Last night Maryann slept out in the living room with the kids and this morning Sophie said to me: "I don't know how you live with Aunt Maryann!" I wondered where this came from and asked, "What are you talking about?" To which Sophie replied, "She snores SOOO LOUD!"

Henry has been eyeing the chips Maryann bought for them to have for lunch today and asked several times last night if he could have some. When Maryann announced that it was time for lunch today they all ran to the table. Henry promptly asked for some chips. Maryann told him he could have some chips after he ate all his grapes. Henry said "What??" in a high voice like he couldn't believe this.

Yesterday Alex got my cell phone which I mistakenly left on the end table. He started pushing buttons saying call mommy and ignored me when I asked him to bring it to me. All of a sudden my phone started ringing and he looked at it like "What did I do?" In his moment of confusion I grabbed my phone to find it was a tired sounding Uncle David. Alex had called him and hung up on him. Alex continued to say call mommy so later Maryann called mommy. When Alex requested another call to his mommy later on, Maryann told him he already talked with his mommy to which he smiled big and said, "Call Daddy!"

As I was helping to put the boys' shoes on this morning Henry kept searching around in the shoe bag saying something about a shoehorn. He finally produced the shoehorn and said, "See, put this in the shoe and it helps little boys put their shoes on." Is it just me or do all children know about shoehorns?

Kids say the darndest things!

Last year as a birthday gift for Sophie, Maryann and I had Max and Henry spend the night. The boys requested another spend the night party and so for a belated anniversary present all the Roggermeier children came to spend the night. I wanted to share just a few of the funny things said while they were visiting.
Me: "Alex don't touch Herbie!" (Herbie is a plant I have has since 1993. Thanks Diane, for keeping him alive while I was on my mission.)
Henry: "Herbie? Where's dad?"
Me: "I named that plant Herbie long before your father was ever in the picture."
Henry: "What picture?"


Henry: "Aunt Ruth, who's your dad?"
Me: "My dad is your Grandpa."
Henry: "Who's Aunt Maryann's dad?"
Me: "Her dad is your grandpa?"
Henry: "What about my mom's dad?"
Me: "He is your grandpa too."
Henry: "Do you have grandchildren?"
Me: "No Henry, I am not married."
Henry: "Aunt Ruth, why aren't you married?"
At this point Sophie told him all about this same conversation we had years ago and then she said I never really gave her an answer to all her questions. I think Henry originally just wanted to know where my husband was, but said dad. If any of you see my husband, let me know so Henry and Sophie can stop wondering about him. ;)


Maryann: "Max, how old do you think Aunt Ruth is?"
Max: "Uh, eighteen?"
Me: "How old is Aunt Maryann?"
Max: "Uh, fourteen and a half."
Me: "You think I am older than her?"
Max: "Are you ten?"
By the way I loved eighteen. I was sad on my nineteenth birthday because I didn't want to leave eighteen. Oh how silly I was back then. I wouldn't mind being nineteen again :)


We were having a discussion with Max about how he needed to dress himself and pull up his own pants when he went to preschool. Max said he knew how and Maryann said he had just pulled up his own pants after she wiped him. Max said he just needs help when his shirt gets stuck over his head. Then Henry said "or when we doesn't want to do it!" We laughed and Henry said, "I know all Max's secrets!" :)

Ruth's Wanderings: Episode I

This is the first installment of what I hope to become the pilot of my upcoming T.V. series. :) It won't always be a cooking show, but will be insights into random things in my life. I got my first egg cuber from Sister Tanner on my mission in Florence, Oregon. She took great pride in inviting all the new sisters to her house for lunch. On your plate would be this random white cube. She would delight in watching you decide what to do with this random item for you to eat. Depending on how you handled it and if she decided she liked you she would gift you with an egg cuber of your very own. Since I got home from my mission I have enjoyed sharing square eggs with others and Maryann found more for me on the Internet. Now I can make six eggs at one time rather than one!

Valentine's Day

I thought I would share a few pictures with those of you who worry about me and my life on Valentine's Day. Flower, plush, chocolate, and poetry: what more could you wish for?