Last week I giggled in a tent at girls camp, Hans and Xander created havoc at scout camp and Erik flew off to Texas on a business trip. All of which left Stefan at home in charge of Gabriel and Mary.
Arriving home on Saturday, I left the tents and dutch ovens and sleeping bags in the driveway while I sat on the couch as listened to their week’s adventures. Mary perched on Stefan’s lap while I asked her about her days with Stefan.
“We played ring around the rosie a hundred times a day!” she boasted, “But (wrinkling her little nose) he did make me practice and do chores and math worksheets. And on Friday we went on a picnic!”
“A picnic?” I was impressed.
“Yes, to Sugarhouse Park. With Sarah! And he made sandwiches and we fed ducks and walked by the river.”
And I can’t decide which makes me more proud: the picnic in the park or Stefan’s newly arrived ACT score. Thirty-six. 36. A perfect score. His first time taking the test. The score of less than one tenth of one percent of all test takers. Only one student in Utah scored 36 on his first attempt in 2010.
Yep, I’m busting a few buttons.
p.s. And if you think I’m proud, watch out for Ben. He’ll be spreading the word to the entire Italian mission.
p.p.s. Stefan would like you to know that he opened the cereal box from the bottom this morning– so he’s not really all that.
Annie
Wow, well done all around! That Stefan’s a keeper, that’s for sure.
Claudia
Stefan you are such a stud on SOOO many levels!
Brag on my dear, he is an angel!
jen
he is indeed an amazing young man (though i think the picnic trumps the act score). raising such an amazing young man, however, takes a pretty amazing mom. 🙂
i hope that daniel is as good a big brother to any of his future siblings as stefan is to mary.
michelle
To quote Po:
“Pure awesomeness.”
Selwyn
I’m guessing the score is important, so congratulations and well done Stefan!
And congratulations and well done Stefan on surviving little girls for that long too 😉
cristie
so so much joy here.
and, oh.my.heck! how would it be?!
xox
Ginnie
36?! That is truly amazing! You sure do know how to grow ’em.
Melissa M
Knowing what it takes to score a 36–Shane scored a 35 on his 2nd try and we thought that was impressive–I am truly gaping with admiration! I’m sure you realize that Stefan can go to college anywhere he wants–including Harvard. Well done, Stefan!
And taking Mary on a picnic and taking such good care of her speaks volumes about Stefan’s character. You have every reason to be bursting your buttons.
Kerri
Wow wow wow. On every point. You are definitely allowed to brag blatantly with a son like that.
And another connection…Kate’s piano teacher also teaches Claudia’s kids. Salt Lake is such a small world, isn’t it?
HeaRow
Every mother has the right to brag, especially in light of such noteworthy deeds. Well done, on all counts!
Linn
I honestly think that it is unnatural how proud I am of that boy of yours! Thirty stinkin’ six–wowee! I just told my husband and he about fainted. And this coming from Mr. Genuis who got a 32 himself. Nice Stefan boy. You are fantastic!
Tracy
Oh my word – You should all burst some MAJOR buttons!!!! So awesome. All of it. xoxoxoxo
Cath
Glad you were home. For a second. And I’m still mulling that 36. WOW!! You ought to see Cristie’s post here – her random thoughts.
http://lodestar-cristie.blogspot.com/2011/06/random-thoughts-at-830.html
love you. can’t wait to catch up when you’re home home.
Chelle
wow, wow, wow! so cool! : )
Sharlee
Oh, my GLORY, Michelle! A 36 on the first try!!??!! AND a picnic with Miss Mary and friend! My favorite part though is about him opening up the cereal box from the wrong end. He sounds a lot like my Erica. Too bad there’s an eight year age gap! 🙂
Kristin
Well done Stefan! A perfect score AND fabulous big-brothering. What more could a mother ask? (She doesn’t mind if you open the cereal from the wrong end.)
Judi
WoW!! 36, that is amazing and fantastic. Congratulations to him on that. But I agree, I think the big brother picnic in the park is just as amazing.
You are blessed with a wonderful family and you have every right to brag about your children.
richard
Hi, Linda and Richard Eyre here. You may know us from our parenting book bestsellers or the blogs of our daughters…..or perhaps you have seen our weekly columns in the Deseret News.
But in any case, we know you. And we love your blog! Of all the “mommy blogs” out there, it is surprising how few actually focus on mothering and parenting. Yours is one of them, and you do it so well!
We have what we think is our best and most important parenting book ever coming out the first of September, and we would like to invite you to be part of our advisory board and help us craft (and disseminate) our message about the dangers of ENTITLEMENT! We feel that the entitlement attitudes of today’s kids are the biggest problem of their generation (and the biggest concern of parents throughout the world)!
The new book is called THE ENTITLEMENT TRAP: How to Rescue Your Child with a New Family System of Choosing, Earning, and Owning. It will be in stores in early September, but if enough people pre order it from Amazon.com and other on line outlets it could debut on the bestseller lists its first week, and that would cause thousands of other parents to be aware of it and to have access to a message we think parents desperately need.
So here’s the deal: If you are willing to work with and advise us on our board, we can send you a large pre publication sample of the book so that you can make your readers aware of it and give them a chance to order it at a pre-pub discount of more than 33%. And then we would want your ongoing input for the website http://www.EntitlementTrap.com which is now in its lead-up phase to the book, but which will continue to supply additional info and helps to moms long after the book is out. It will, of course, link to the blogs of all members of our board.
Take a look at that site and get a bit more idea of the nature of the book, and let us know as soon as possible if you will be an adviser. We will then send you the extensive excerpts so that you can blog about the book and about the movement prior to the book’s release.
Best, Linda and Richard Eyre (eyres1@comcast.net)
PS There will also be webinars and other exciting opportunities for those who pre order the book, and of course for you and other board members.
Jeanelle
So amazing – what a feat! And I want to come visit and have you take my picture under those gorgeous pink flowers someday. Hope camp was as wonderful for you as trek was for me last week.
Tifani
Sorry I’m just now getting to this post. WOWZA!!! I’m so impressed and happy for him. This is a score that opens doors.
One of the admins at Morgan’s new school has a signature he adds to every email. It reads, “”No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care,” and I believe it was from Teddy Roosevelt. I think about your great Stefan and know that he could satisfy Teddy on both accounts.