My New Blog

I have created a new blog for my card sales! I have decided to try selling my handmade cards, so if you need a card or 30, just let me know! Please check out my new blog at jennerousheart.blogspot.com

Thanks-Jenn

Frank Adolph Rupp IV

My brother, Frank, passed away suddenly on Monday night. He was 41 years old. My mother came home to find that he had fallen down the basement steps and died from a blow to the back of his head. It was a great shock.

I never doubted that my brother was a good man. He was the "free spirit" in our family, and spent his 20's following The Grateful Dead and Phish. He loved his 13 year old son, Quentin, more than anything; and my mom second to that. He always had a smile on his face and loved to talk sports, music, and the great outdoors. He was very intelligent and an amazing cook. In my last conversation with him, on Saturday a week ago, I told him he should open his own catering company-he truly was awesome. Pierce says one thing he really admired about Frank was how involved he was in his son's life. He was his baseball and basketball coach, and Quentin was definitely Frank's best friend. In looking at pictures this week, almost all of them were of Frank and Quentin. Even though I feel appropriately tied to my responsibilities, the thing I loved and admired most about Frank was that he had the courage to quit his job and go off in the wilderness for weeks, or follow Phish not knowing where he would sleep the next night or how he would eat. He was an adventurer and found a way to accomplish the things that brought him joy.

We miss him, but I truly believe he is now free to learn the gospel and gain strength away from his addictions. I hope my Grandma Grier, who died 2 years ago, is up there setting him straight! Draven said tonight that Frank is in heaven with Heavenly Father and Nephi-I really liked that.

Please pray for my Mom and Quentin.

Draven & School

Just a little update on our Kindergartener...he is doing very well. Every morning he says he has a tummy ache and doesn't eat breakfast, but every afternoon he tells me he loves school and it's the best thing in his life! He is still nervous to leave in the morning, but he does it. He gets out of the car with just a quick hug and kiss, and walks into the school by himself. I think it's as hard for me to watch him go as it is for him to do it. He has gotten a green ticket, for behavior, every day, and has set a goal to get a green ticket every day for the whole year! His teacher, Mrs. Knight, is very impressed with his reading skills and has told everyone else in the class to go to Draven if they need anything read. She has also set up an appointment with the Reading Specialist to determine what grade level he is reading and comprehending on. We're very interested to find out the results of that!

He Did It!

Our sweet little boy, PJ, finally figured out that he could walk. Two weeks ago, on August 21st, he took his first steps. He woke up from his nap and just started walking. He would climb up in his rocking chair, sit down, slide off, and then take a few steps. Before the night was over he was up to 8 or 9 steps in a row! Now he can get to a standing position without holding on to anything, and just goes around the house walking. Not to anything, just walking!

This video is very dark, but it's the only one we have and it was so cute we put it on anyway...

Brody's 1st Trip to the Dentist

This is the 3rd post of the night, so be sure to read to the end-our anniversary vacation-there are a few pretty pictures to see!

Also last week, Draven, Brody, and I went to the dentist. Draven has been before, but this was Brody's first time. Brody is pretty outgoing and tries new things easily, so I didn't do a lot of lead-up for him. I mentioned it over breakfast that morning when he asked "what [he had] to get dressed for"-his words. When we got there, he got a little stage fright, but when I showed him the prize box, he jumped in the seat! He did really great, and did just what the technician told him too. He was even the first to see the dentist. I'm proud of you, My Brody!

The 1st Day of School

Our little man had his first day of school last Tuesday, August 12th. He was very apprehensive leading up to this day-he gets very uptight when faced with new things, but he did great! The whole family, including Dad, piled in the car and drove the 1 1/2 minute ride to school. Draven had his new Spiderman backpack, his new Hulk lunchbox, had on one of his favorite shirts (What Time is Recess?), and his Teddy-as requested by the teacher. I walked him in to school, where we had to wait in the gym without talking until the 7:40 bell rang. We found our way down the hall, and into Mrs. Knight's classroom. Draven had gone with Grammie to a "meet the teacher" night while we were at the beach, so he was able to show me where to go. All of the parents stayed for a couple of minutes while the kids got settled playing with Playdough. When it was time to leave, Draven started getting a little weepy and clingy, but the teacher got his attention by asking him what he was making with his playdough-it was smooth sailing from there. He told me that they watched the Corduroy movie and then went looking for Corduroy's button in all the important places-the bathroom, the hall, the cafeteria. He is going to staggered start days for two weeks, so there were only 5 children in the class, Draven and 4 girls. He made a new friend, Teagan. They gave each other a hug and played legos together. Tomorrow we go for a 30 minute literacy testing session, and then again for school on Tuesday. By the way-I haven't cried yet. I think I probably will, but not yet. I'm feeling quite a bit of relief right now!
As a side note-Draven wanted that picture taken there, in front of the tv, because he said it would be like he was in a movie!?

The Newlyweds

To celebrate our 10th anniversary, Pierce and I went on a trip to Panama City Beach. The last time we were there was on our honeymoon, 10 years ago. Our parents watched the children (including the 10 yr. old dog) for a whole week while we were gone. It was wonderful! We rented a convertable Sebring, spent some time reliving old times, and spent a lot of time just hanging around. Some of the fun things we did included snorkling, going to a waterpark, building a sandcastle, and eating on the beach at some fun restaurants. Of course, the best part of the beach for me is the beauty of it. The sunsets, the sound of the waves all night, the feel of the sand as it exfoliates your feet, the smell of the saltwater, the taste of good seafood. I just love it. And I loved being there with my wonderful man. Before we left, Pierce bought me the new Stephanie Meyer book, Breaking Dawn, so I spent every spare moment reading it for the first few days. Then, the first morning we were there we got a call on the room phone saying that I had a delivery at the front desk. So, I got dressed (it was only like 11:00) and went to get "my delivery." Pierce had flowers sent to the hotel-a dozen roses and six callalilies. Callalilies were the main flower from our wedding-isn't he the best! This vacation was a great time for us. We got to be together and make another memory to cherish.