OK, Here's the rest of the story...I think I need to go back and give Caitlin a little more space here. As I said, she is the only girl and the baby of the family. She was our little "dancer"; actually took lessons for 12 years! Her teacher was a graduate of Juliard and Caitlin was quite a little dancer. I remember the dance recitals very well...every year, all of the brothers would have to attend the recital with us AND bring a bouquet of flowers to present to her at the end of the recital. Caitlin called them, "My boys"! Anyway, we clicked along very nicely being a dancer and then when Caitlin entered junior high school, she decided she wanted to be a cheerleader. Ok, I thought...so, we'll start taking gymnastics. My husband is athletic, as are my children. Me, hmmm....I really don't and have never played any type of sport, team or individual. I'm not that athletic and don't really like competition that much. Once, a high school coach asked me where I fit in with this family because I was the most non-competitive person he had ever met. Anyway, back to the cheerleading. Remember, I had 3 boys and at this point 3 teenage boys. How inadequately I was prepared for a teenage daughter and all that entailed! My first experience into this "teenage girl arena" was those junior high cheerleader reahearsals for tryouts. All I can say is...WOW!!! This trumped everything I had ever been involved in with the boys (football, baseball, basketball, soccer, golf, etc.). Mothers had video cameras, they were coaching their girls from the sidelines and watching other girls who might be competition for their "future cheerleader". I soon realized that this was serious business! Well, let's just skip ahead and let you know that my little Caitlin did indeed become a cheerleader and that is when the fun REALLY began. I will share more on this later. We will now move on to me. I grew up Barbara Lemmons in Tioga, Louisiana. I am one of only 2 children. I have a sister who is 15 years older than me...yes, you heard that right...15 years! I was the "Late in Life Child" and supposedly entered this world with a "BANG"! I am also very opinionated, but also very down to earth and caring about others. Let's start from the beginning. My father died when I was 6 years old; the July before I entered the 1st grade in August. This was in the 60's and divorce was not as common as it is now, so I always felt a little odd only having 1 parent; I don't really remember any of my friends not having 2 parents. My mother had cared for my father at home until his death; she had always been a stay at home mom. Unfortunately, she had only completed school through the 11th grade and had no skills to be able to go to work. I can remember her taking a job as a lunchroom worker at my elementary school. I wasn not emabarassed by that; I kind of liked the fact that she was there where I was every day. But she did enroll in night school to complete her high school education and get a GED. After that, she went on the Trade School to become a nurse; and LPN. During these years, I spent quite a bit of time being juggled from realtive to relative to baby-sit for me while she was going to school. Some were fun...some were not.
0
The Players in this Saga...My Family!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Before I get started with all of the drama involved with this large and crazy family, I would like to introduce you to the players. The picture you see is of my son Ryan's college graduation from East Texas Baptist University. Surprisingly, we were all once again able to make it so we could have a "family picture" of the event. I usually frame photos for the graduate and myself...just a great keepsake. Anyway, I guess I will start from left to right on the picture telling you who everyone is and a little bit about them. To the far left is Sarah, my daughter-in-law. As you may be able to tell, she is pregnant; actually due on August 26th with my first grandchild. As most young couples these days, they of course already know the sex of the baby...it's a girl! Her name will be Parker Ann Rogenmoser. Parker is my mother-in-law's maiden name and I actually like the name. Sarah is originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas. She only has one sister who is a year older than her. Her sister was married and then one year later, Sarah and Justin were married. Sarah's first baby is due in August and her sister's baby is due in September...and so it goes. Her father is a doctor and her mother a nurse, who teaches at the community college there. Their family is very "quiet"...well, compared to our family, most are. OK, more on Sarah later. Justin, my oldest son is standing just behind Sarah. Justin was that typical first-born child who didn't give me too much trouble. Now, that's not to say he was not into mischief; you put 3 little boys together and OHHHH, the things they can find to get into! Justin went off to LSU to college and was going to get his degree in Landscape Architecture...he changed that major in his senior year! I was not very happy about that, but we moved on and INSISTED that he still get his degree. He transferred right down the road a little way to Southeastern University, where he got a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Behavioral Sciences...yea, what are you going to do with that degree?? Well, he and Sarah got married and we talked him into applying to grad. school. He got into LSU grad. school in Shreveport, where he earned his master's degree in Health & Hospital Administration! Unfortunately, at that time, he was not able to find a job in that field. However, Robby, my husband, decided to build a new ACE Hardware store and now Justin is now managing it. There is a lot of responsibility and much to learn, but he is doing well there and appears to love it. Let's move on to the next person in the picture, now. Caitlin...the only girl amongst these boys. Caitlin is my only daughter and the first girl born into our family since I was born! My sister had 2 boys and I had 3 boys at the time...can I tell you that she had no choice but to be a "girly girl"?!? Well, that she has been, but also a very opinionated one too (everyone in this family is VERY opinionated). She's pretty tough, having grown up with those 3, but also a very sweet and caring girl. She is in college also at this time. She is officially a junior, attending Northwestern State University. Her major is business and her father has told her to pick her upper level degree program; she's considering a degree in law. I know that I will never finish this post today because I need to go board my dogs today. We are leaving for vacation on Monday. So, I will leave off saying that I am the next person in the picture, standing next to the graduate...more about me (MOM) next time.
0
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
