Mom's ride free at carnival

Mothers were given a chance Sunday to act like kids again with free rides at the Retired Senior Volunteer Program's annual Spring Fun Fair "Salute to Moms" carnival at Mills Park.

Darlene Miller, of Carson City, stood by her 5-year-old daughter, Jessica, who was waiting in line to ride the roller coaster. Miller wasn't able to ride, she needed to stay with her cherubic 11-month-old twins, Jennifer and T.J., on their first Mother's Day together.

T.J., who had a huge smile for anyone who looked his way, didn't seem to mind waiting for his big sister in the stroller.

"Jessica likes the rides and I'm just here keeping the babies company," Miller said contentedly.

Jane Sproull didn't have twins to keep an eye on, but she, too, passed up the free rides. Instead, her 11-year-old son, Jacob, and daughter, Sadie, 6, were in line to ride.

"I grew up," Sproull said laughing.

Jennifer Mastin didn't get away so easily, however.

Rebecca, her 7-year-old daughter, convinced her to ride the head-spinning Super Sizzler.

"I wouldn't have gotten on it if it wasn't free," she admitted, adding she'd ridden about 10 of the rides already.

"She got sick on the Strawberries (ride)," Rebecca offered, laughing at the thought.

Mastin's morning began with Mother's Day greetings from the children, breakfast, homemade cards, and the kind of gift a mother would keep forever -- a poem from her 11-year-old son, Dennis.

"I wrote it on Friday," he said proudly.

Mom, Shawn Wutch of Dayton, was greeted with breakfast in bed and flowers in celebration of her contribution as mother to Ashlee, 15, and Tyler, 8. She was happily riding the rides on Sunday, dragging the kids from line to line to take advantage of the discount.

"I'm not done yet," she said smiling.