Alexandra decided we should have a real tree for Christmas this year. I thought that was a great idea especially since my dad brought some back from Idaho. I love free. After propping up the one we chose from the yard we decided to go with the fake tree and put the real tree outside. I put the lights on and the kids decorated. I didn't care for the look of our sorry 10 year old fake tree but it would do. I only had to have it up for a month then I was planning on throwing it away. As it turns out it wasn't meant to be. While trying to sneak under the tree to peek at the only gift under it Eli knocked it over. No big deal we stood it back up. But last night while trying to rotate it enough to plug the lights into a different outlet it tipped over again and then again. The stand broke. So out with the fake in with the real. It isn't actually that bad it was just a bit lopsided the first time but makes up for its looks with its fresh smell. I love the smell of real pine. So we shall see if it can survive the next 22 days.

Mima and Brian

Derek's mom Felicia a.k.a Mima and Brian came to visit. It turned out really nice having them. I was a little worried they would go crazy with the noise or get bored but I think it went well. Derek had to pick them up at the Spokane airport at 11pm. Xavier and Eli went with him. i thought they would sleep all the way there and back. turned out they only slept on the way home. My mom babysat Vanessa and Alexandra that night while I went to Twilight with Camery. So disappointed. I will leave it at that. We spent the weekend just hanging out relaxing. I get so wiped out during the week I just want to crash on the weekend. Actually we didn't do much over the whole week. Derek took everyone to the batting cages one day while I worked. Alexandra had a pick up soccer game so they got to watch her in action. We decorated gingerbread houses one night. Decorated the tree. Thanksgiving we went to my parent's house for lunch then just chilled. Friday Kimber picked me up and we hit Walmart at 4:30. I went for the Nintendo DS with game for $136.00. It was actually a gift for Eli from Felicia. I ended up buying a new desktop. I swore I would never buy an HP again I couldn't pass. $400.00 with 2 year service plan. I might not have gotten it if my laptop wasn't sent off for repairs again 2 days before. I hate not having a computer. Anyway after that we went to Big Five bought nothing and Tri-state getting free wool socks. Again bought nothing but Kimber needed new shoes that day. Saturday I took his mom, Alexandra, and Vanessa shopping around town. It was fun. I never spend the time to go to the little shops in town. While I didn't find any Christmas gifts i did find a cool piece of fabric for Alexandra's room. Sunday we had a few friends over and celebrated Eli's birthday. His birthday isn't until Dec. 17 but since we had company we thought it would be something to do. I really liked having his mom around. It was nice to have a female adult around to talk to. I had forgotten how much I like being around her. It has been 3 years since we lived in Arizona where I got to visit with her all the time. The boys loved having Brian around to entertain them. He didn't have to do much. Just sit there and let them climb all over him. They headed back early Monday morning. Hopefully they will be able to come up again soon.

Tattoos

Derek's brother is here visiting and as he was talking about getting a tattoo. I said if I were to get a tattoo I would want to get a daisy. I have no intention of getting a tattoo. I think that they should have some deep meaning behind them. Not just go to the shop and pick something from a book. Anyway my point is that Alexandra got so upset. I mean really upset. She was so mad telling me she knew I was going to get one. I tried to tell her I wasn't and she would just keep saying she knew I was. I had to explain we were talking about Brian getting one so she settled down. I'll never get away with doing anything wrong. Not that I should try but it is hard because I am an adult and should feel I could do whatever I want without explaining myself to my 8 year old. But on the other hand do as I say not as I do never really works out.

Halloween

I was hoping to dig out the box of Halloween junk and find costumes for all the kids. Turns out I don't have any costumes over a size 2t. The kids already knew what they wanted to be anyway. Eli-Toad, Alexandra-Wednesday Addams, Xavier-fire Mario, Vanessa-clown. Ok I picked Vanessa's costume. Derek made Eli's costume. It turned out pretty cute. We didn't anticipate how heavy the hat would become after wearing it for 10 minutes. Xavier's costume I made. I thought it came out awesome. I already had the fabric and it took no time at all once I got my sewing machine to work properly. Nephews Carter and Byron wanted to be Mario and Luigi so I offered to make their costumes too. Derek helped get and spray paint the hats. Anyway, after getting theirs all done I felt really bad for not doing more for Alexandra. I figured we could just find something in her closet to wear. Um, Nope. So I went to good ol' Walmart and found everything I needed for cheap. The socks were my favorite and I am not sure I have a good picture of them. After putting her makeup on and doing her hair she looked perfect. The photos do not do her justice. She is so beautiful. Even in doom and gloom makeup. Vanessa's costume was a little small but after putting on a warm coat who would ever know.

We went to the church carnival/chili cook off. Derek thought for sure he would win. His chili was good. It was too crazy though and no fun. It was so crowded and I don't do well in crowds with my kids. We could hardly move and the lines for the games were too long. So after the kids had hot dogs and we did the trick or treating we went home. Not that I care much about how much candy they get but I was disappointed in the 10 pieces. I was hoping they would get enough so we could skip actually trick or treating on Halloween. We started on our street. Eli didn't want to be toad because how heavy his hat was so he was a bear for about 30 minutes and then wore the chicken suit Vanessa has on in one of the pictures. She started the evening with the chicken suit but put the clown on before we left. We ended up trick or treating East Montlake. It wasn't too cold this year. We started and ended early. Then we went and rented some movies and called it a night.

bad hair, sore teeth, crazy behavior

Bad Hair

Derek took Xavier to get his hair cut the same place he's been going for a while. However while cutting his hair the stylist kept going higher and higher with where to begin the fade. The first thing Xavier said to Derek was I don't' like it. I think that it ended up being a little shorter than he would like. So he flipped up his jacket hood and there it stayed all day Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Tuesday when I was dropping him off he shouldn't get out of the car because he forgot his jacket and refused to let anyone see his hair. I ended up going to the lost and found to get him a hooded sweatshirt to borrow for the day. I just prayed lice wasn't going around. i picked out one that looked good and smelled like downy fabric softener. Just praying lice wasn't going around. Was that wrong? But there was no way I was going to drag him out kicking and screaming. And there was no bribe good enough. He was willing to go home and sit on his bed for the rest of the day. That is what they have to do if they don't go to school, sit on there bed the whole day. But he had the sweatshirt and had a good day. He didn't want to go to school on Wednesday. Said he didn't feel good. Turns out his teacher told him he would have to take his hood down. The other kids kept trying to pull it off. Then some of them wanted to wear hoods all day. He got his feelings hurt because the fifth graders that help in PE kept calling him hoodboy. But he went, wore his hood all day except in the classroom. For his school pictures he took his hood down but wouldn't take off the jacket. I thought his pictures turned out cute. More personality than just some perfect portrait that most people expect.

Sore teeth

While brushing teeth the other morning she told me she had a bump. i took a look, she had an absest. A little bubble above her tooth. I called the dentist to see if she needed antibiotics until they could get her in. They had her come in that morning at 8. Note, I called at 7:45. I was glad Derek was home to take her. I thought she would get some meds. Nope, they went ahead and pulled it. as well as one other tooth that was barely loose. She brought home her teeth as well as a swollen mouth. It took her a couple hours to feel better and is adjusting to chewing on the other side of her mouth. The top tooth looked like all other teeth that you lose, barely any root. The other tooth was wicked. Long roots shooting out in 3 different directions. That has to hurt. i am so grateful for dentists. Ours, Dr. Walker, is in our ward at church and just lives up the street and is one of the nicest people.

Crazy behavior.

All the kids at my house are insane. I don't know if it is the weather or one kid sets the mood and they all follow. They are literally bouncing off the walls. This last week has been rain, rain, rain so we aren't outside as much as usual and I think it makes a huge difference. I still have the kids go outside but it is such a pain to have muddy shoes coming back in the house. The kids like to go in and out and back in 100 times a day. Some days I have 5 two year olds. They take turns hitting, stealing toys, and throwing tantrums. But the cake goes to Casey this time. For taking all his crackers and stomping on them, dumping his whole bottle of orange juice into the full toy box, and taking off his poop diaper and wiping his whole butt on the carpet.

Soccer ends

The last few soccer games were absolutely freezing. Expecially the boys games at 5:30 in the evenings.

Eli, Vanessa, and Xavier were laying flat trying to get the seagulls to land close to them.

Oh how I wish he wouldn't bite his nails. A horrible habit I share.

Check out these studs.

Soccer has come to an end. Eli played for a couple minutes in their first game and never set foot on the field again. He was just too young. He does have some mad skills but not enough nerve. Xavier got frustrated their first game also and didn't want to play again. After telling him I wanted him to go out and play for fun and not worry about scoring he did great. I think he had been mad he couldn't get out there and score right away. I told him I would give him a quarter for every time he just kicked the ball. I ended up owing him at least $10.00. By the time his last game rolled around he was having so much fun. He didn't want to come out of the game and he scored 8 times. Alexandra's last game was cancelled. They finished the season undefeated. We went to Pasco for a tournament. It rained almost the whole day. After losing the first game they won the second two. It was nice to play evenly matched teams. They beat the number one Pasco team. It was awesome. Kind of sad though to see how mad the other coach was. I mean furiously pacing. Their best player got hurt and he was reluctant to even take her out of the game. We aren't quite that competitive. Afterwards we went to Round Table for pizza. The kids all had fun. It's nice that we can now go places like soccer games all day and dinner and have well behaved kids. They don't wander off or act naughty. It's nice.

Never say Never

So I have noticed that there many things that I am dealing with that at one time I told myself I would never. Here are a few..

I will never let my children go to the store looking grubby, mismatched, or hair undone. said before I had kids.

I will never have a child over the age of 3 poop his pants, repeatedly. said before I had any 3 year old boys.

I will never let my house look like a disaster zone with a floor covered in popcorn, cereal, koolaid and anything else. again said before I had kids.

I will never have a child talk back to me without serious consequence, especially in the store.

I will never be more than 20 lbs overweight.

I will never be the one who fails at keeping in touch.

I will never leave the house in sweats.

I will never have that gut that bulges out below the waist of the pants that are too tight.

I will never tease my kids.

Anyway those are just a few off the top of my unwashed, unbrushed bed head. Yes it is 12:30 in the afternoon.

Vanessa turns 2

Vanessa is totally getting jipped this year but I don't think she cares too much. We made cupcakes and are going to share them after the older kids get home from school. My mom and Shamra both gave her books for her birthday. She absolutely loves being read to. This last week my niece Shamee has been back in town and has come over every day and read to the kids. It is really nice. Sunday we are having dinner at my moms and have a real cake for her. Next year I will have a bigger party for her. Parties can be pretty expensive so I have this idea to put a dollar amount on every party. Say $150. So after all expenses: cake, pinata, soda, candy and gifts are paid for the balance goes into their savings account. So if they don't get a party then that much more goes into their account. $150 seems like a lot but if you are used to doing parties or giving a Nintendo DS as a gift it doesn't stretch that far. Back to Vanessa. My 2 most favorite things about her are...1.She is absolutely adorable and I just want to squeeze her all the time. Some of the things she says are hilarious. As much as I hate to hear about farts I cannot help but laugh when she walks into a room and states. Eewwww! Stinky!! Daddy parted.

Xavier's birthday

6 years old. On Sunday the 7th, we had a party with some of Derek's friends and their kids. We set up the water slide. I was afraid it was going to be too cold but the kids didn't care. It was nice to just kick back and not worry about entertaining much. Everyone had lunch, cake and ice cream then we had a pinata. I think that the kids all had fun. Then on the Friday the 12, his actual birthday, we had another cake with some of his cousins, Gramma Carlene, and Aunt Shamra. For a couple weeks leading up to his birthday Derek would say to Xavier "I want a DS" because that is what he wanted for his birthday. I am not sure why but now Vanessa calls Xavier DS. That is the way she pronounces his name. It is quite cute. He did get his DS from Derek as well as a new SpongeBob game from Mima, some clothes, and some serious cash. I know that when I was six I was lucky to end up with $6.00. I think he may have pulled in a good $60.00. And he never spends money. He puts it in his little bank and never thinks twice. I did take him to the store so he could get another game, Super Mario Bros. I am not one for playing video games but Derek has caught me a few times with that game. After putting the kids to bed I tried it out. Mario and Tetris are the only games I ever played when I was younger. Over an hour passed before I put it down. I have played it a few other times but it is almost impossible because Xavier, Eli and Vanessa all try to sit on my lap while I play so they can watch the 2 inch screen. Then try to tell me how to play and offer to "pass this part" for me. But now I will end with my 6 favorite things about Xavier

1. He is unbelievably protective of Vanessa. He gets mad at anyone who deems a threat to her. I overheard him telling his cousin. Don't take that away from my baby sister. He always helps her and hugs her.

2. He tries very hard to get things done right. When I ask him to do something like clean his room he does a very good job not just shove everything in the toy box. And often does it without putting up a big whine show before hand. He goes to bed without a fight too.

3.He sticks his tongue out when he is concentrating really hard and snaps his fingers while he runs.

4.He tells me he loves me all the time and that I am beautiful.

5. He is absolutely gorgeous. His eyes are so dark and intense. As his mother I dread his teenage years.

6.I love how shy he is but also how he is starting to really come out of his shell. Friends tell me how sweet he is and that they are surprised when now he actually speaks to them.

technical difficulties

If you haven't run a backup disk on your computer please do so. And make an extra copy of any pictures you have stored on your computer. I know there are lots of places you can upload them to. My notebook that is only just over a year old has died on me. I have to send it out to hp for repairs which will wipe out my hard drive. I had been thinking that I needed to save my pictures on a backup disk but didn't. I have some on a disk and many still stored in my camera but there could be a few months of pics lost. Since I have no super computer friends it will cost me $100. to get a backup made from my hard drive. Makes me so mad. I will be blogging but may have to add the pictures later. When I can upload them to my own files on my own computer.

Other than that things are going well. The kids like school. Xavier does say that he doesn't feel well every time I tell him to get his socks and shoes on. But he has a new friend, Mark, in his class who he sits with on the bus. I don't know who he is but Xavier knows where his house is so I said we can stop by and meet his parents so they can have some play dates some time. He and Eli started soccer last week. Derek is coaching their team. Their first game isn't until next week but Derek said they are fun to watch and pretty good.

Money, money, money.

Yeah, I have none. I so understand why the prophets talk about staying out of debt. We don't have much other than the house but it is enough to be annoying. I have bought a few things on credit figuring how much I will make and how long it will take to pay it off. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Derek's work schedule and pay schedule has been all thrown off because he did National Guard for a month. Now Genie is randomly closing for next week. I no longer have Ava b/c her mom is on maternity leave and Cael has been home sick. School started so Carter and Byron aren't here for full days so I don't charge them as much. So my pay has decreased quite a bit. Anyway my prayers for winning the lottery have not produced much. I probably need to buy a ticket but think of all the other people praying for winnings reminds me of the movie Bruce Almighty. But my prayers have been answered in other ways. Derek's pay came in one lump sum for the month instead of every two weeks so we had all the bills here at the same time. I pay a few online and write checks for all the others. The mail lady comes but only takes half the outgoing mail from the mailbox. I think little of it thinking I will put it in the mail again tomorrow. Derek goes out and buys all the rock and sprinkler parts. BUT, when they deliver the parts they brought all parts for the front and back yard. We asked only for the front. So we are charged about $300 too much. Had those checks gone out we could have had a problem. Most of them aren't due until the end of the month so I can hold onto them until we figure out what parts go back for a refund or get paid again. Still slightly stressed, I got a refund from the dentist. Turns out the insurance kicked in more than estimated so I got back part of my share paid. Sweet. Anyway it has been a week since then and I have been paid by a few other parents so we are back to norm. But it sure would be nice to not have a credit card payment. But at the same time it sure is nice to have appliances that were purchased with this credit card. Live and Learn. We are pretty much cash only now. Except emergencies which do come up. But as soon as we get reimbursed from the bank on our builders loan credit will be paid and we hope to build up our savings. I am just glad Derek and I aren't to worried about keeping up with all the worldly things.

Why?

I hate most questions that start with Why. Half the time I don't know the answer and if I do no one believes me or continues on to why that is. Even when I do give them an answer they don't really care why it is whatever it is. I know, I know, this is nothing new to anyone. But I find myself asking myself why my kids expect so much. Yes, they think the world revolves around them and no, they care very little about what I am doing when they interrupt. This all comes about because my kids ask me to do strange things for them at strange times. I am taking a shower and Eli comes in the bathroom to tell me he is thirsty and cannot reach a cup. And what, I can? I am mowing the lawn and Xavier brings me his cup of frozen Gatorade for me to chop for him. It's not like I am sitting around doing nothing. Some days I feel like that is how I spend my time. I cannot start anything because someone will all too soon interrupt me to do something for them. This is why I haven't scrapbooked in over a year. Poor Vanessa. Last child with no baby album. I do have all the pictures and supplies to get it together and should do it before I forget what I can write about. But too many want to help crop and glue.

Vanessa wants to "Tinkle in the toilet" as we are calling it. Why do we call it tinkling Xavier wants to know. Because that it the sound it makes when she goes. Every time she sits on the potty she has been able to go but not every time she has to go does she sit on the potty. I hate potty training. It is more like I am being trained. They want to use the toilet at the worst time. Like when your cart is full in line at Walmart. We aren't at that stage yet but I feel I should take her every time she asks. But today as I am helping her in the bathroom I start feeling a bit claustrophobic. Could it be because there are 6 kids in the bathroom. WHY? Why do they move in flocks except when I need them to? Why don't they all move inside when I need them to or into the car when we need to leave? Why do they herd to the table when I go to clean up the kitchen? They just ate, I am trying to wipe the counters and they all sit like they are waiting to be served. Why do they tattle tale? Haven't they realized that nothing ever happens when they do? Tattling only occurs when no one gets hurt. He said, she said. "He called me stupid." "Well, are you stupid?" "No." "Then who cares what they say, it's not true."

OK enough I will get back. The beautiful sleeping angels are about to wake up and I like to look at them a bit while they are still sleeping and waking up with their groggy eyes. It helps me remember who they really are. Children of a Heavenly Father who has entrusted them with me. Who believes that I am capable of raising them and answering the many why questions of life. Even if I make up the answer now and again.

When it becomes about winning and losing

Alexandra is starting up in her second season of soccer. Derek is going to coach the boys this year and we were excited that she got on the Wombats team. I played soccer in high school with the coach and she loves soccer and knows a lot about it so she has a lot of experience. Over the summer Alexandra has practiced with her and gone to 2 tournaments. She has improved greatly. She is a natural athlete. The kids and parents have encouraged bumping during the games but Derek and I have been teaching Alexandra to play fair. It is OK to be aggressive and go shoulder to shoulder against another player but never to push or elbow. In practice the other evening her team played against a boys team that was practicing on the neighboring field. The coach was saying "we hate boys" and other silly things. The players were talking about pushing in the back. Alexandra came home bummed out. She explained that she had a friend on the other team and didn't know why they were supposed to hate them or play unfair. I told her the coach was just talking nonsense. She just wanted to win. Alexandra wanted to know why it was such a big deal to win. I had no answer. I ended up telling her some people think it is more fun if you win. Her response "we didn't win any games last year and I still had fun." So at what point is it about winning and losing? Is it the "losers" who think it is just for fun? And the "winners" who think it is all about the score? I think it is whatever we teach them. I told her that as long as she is having fun and is improving then it doesn't matter. She is only 8 and I'd hate for her to worry about the score or think that if they lose then the game isn't fun.

Family

I will be honest and say I was very hesitant about having to watch Shane's kids every day. Carter is 7, Byron 6, and Merideth 2. I haven't been around them much and they are attached to their parents so when we do have get togethers they don't interact with me. Carter has a loud voice and Byron seems destructive and rebellious and I never thought he would listen to me especially not obey anything I say. Merideth rarely got off her parents lap and never once came to me if I tried to hold her. However, it has been great and I love that I have gotten to know them better and that my kids can play with cousins. Carter's voice hasn't bothered me at all. Byron has managed to damage a few things but listens very well. Merideth loves to have me hold her. In fact she clings to me whenever any other adult comes around. She has started going to my mom and Shamra but would not at first. i hope they like being here as much as I like having them here.

I never had cousins my age around. I think we would see some of them once a year. So it is awesome that they have so many in town and we are blessed to live here close to them. I don't expect them to be best friends with all of them but to know you have a good friend around would be comforting.

I am so happy that I live nearer to my family. It was nice to be in Arizona near Derek's family and I do miss them but I love being near brothers, sisters and my parents. I do wish outside of family I had a friend or two. Don't get me wrong I have many people I consider friends but I would love to have someone who could use a friend as much as I could. Basically someone else who doesn't have a lot of friends either. I have been so lucky to have the friends that I have had in my life. Candace, Camery, Shiloh, and Callye. It is hard for me as an adult to make friends. Especially not working outside my house I don't meet that many people. When I do, they are already busy in their lives and have other friends. Do I sound lame or what. Maybe with Derek being gone. Anyone want to go see a movie Friday?? Derek has a million friends in town from high school and is always making new ones. Must be a guy thing. I do like all of the wives and girlfriends of his friends and love to have BBQ's. I am just beginning to not feel like an outsider as we sit around and chat.

Well, I guess I will just have to go eat worms. Tell me you remember the song. Nobody likes me everybody hates me guess I'll eat some worms. Big fat juicy ones, small skinny slimy ones.....(that's actually all I remember)

Yes, Derek's unit has been called up to go to Kuwait in March '09. No, I am not worried or panicked. Not much changes for me. More for him. I will still be in my same house with the kids and have family around. Of coarse I will miss him and the kids will too. Maybe it is because in the early years of our relationship and marriage we were apart a lot. He moved to AZ then VA while I was in Utah. But we got through it and here we are.

While he has been in Yakima for the last few weeks I have been trying to get a few projects done around here. I think I can check off 3 of 20. Eli falls asleep in his own bed and sleeps all night, Vanessa sleeps most of the night in her own room waking up only once instead of 5 plus times. I haven't yet let her cry herself back to sleep, and I got the family room painted. So as for the yard and rest of the house they still need work. I have a few more weeks.

The weather is changing and I love it. Alexandra is off on her first day of school. Xavier starts tomorrow. Alexandra has always been outgoing and ready for school so I never thought much of it sending her off. I am terrified of sending Xavier off. I think he is ready and will do fine I've just never been apart from him for very long. And if I was he was with family. But I guess 3 hours won't be that many. We went to the school and met his teacher last night and saw his classroom. Mrs. Covey seems very nice and he was excited about being there.

Two steps forward, one step back.

The only room to make into Vanessa's room is the dining room. Sounds weird but could really work. I cannot make Alexandra share a room with her and no one will go downstairs alone to sleep. So I got the windows blocked and the crib was set up and I helped Vanessa say her prayers and explained to her that she was going to sleep in this room all by herself. I put her in the crib and she began to cry. It would be so much easier if she was being a brat. Instead she had to cry the saddest cry yelling for me to come and get her. While she cried I got the boys in their bed quickly so I could put on my MP3 player to not listen to Vanessa. After about 10 minutes I give up. Vanessa had gotten out of the crib and gotten one arm out the door which had been wedged shut. I couldn't leave her there. So I rocked her to sleep and put her in my room again. She woke up atleast 4 times but I didn't get her anything she asked for. Normally I would get her a drink or walk her around the house to quiet her. Hopefully she will not wake up as much. BUT this was the first night that Eli went to sleep on his own in his own bed and then slept there all night. He usually lays on the couch next to me until he fall asleep and I carry him to bed. Now for 3 nights he has slept in his own room and doesn't get me up at night.

Changing the way I blog

I am going to be changing things up a bit. I am not going to be writing everything like a Christmas card about my kids. I am going to write about my real life and how I feel about things. I have been writing elsewhere about myself and it is too hard to keep up 2 separate things. So there will be lots of things about my kids but a lot more about me and what I feel like writing about.

For the past few years my life as been disappearing. Actually I have been disappearing. I have put my kids and husband and whatever else above myself. And though there is nothing wrong with that I have neglected to take care of myself. Everything I do I first think how it will effect others or what someone might think. Hello I can have an opinion too. I can do things just for the fact that I want to. I feel like yelling screaming to the world or just at myself "I am someone, I can do whatever the hell I want for no reason" It is no one elses fault, just mine, that I let Keri Lybbert Perez be replaced with well whoever I have become. Maybe none of this makes sense but every little thing I have done for the past few years has been done with fore thought of what might be.

Putting my kids wants before my needs is dumb but at the time it just seemed easier. For example I have never had any of my kids cry themselves to sleep or have to go back to their own bed if they get up at night. I know Derek doesn't like to hear them cry and neither do I but now I have a 3 and 1 year old needing to be rocked to sleep and waking me up numerous times at night. I haven't slept through the night in almost 9 years. And it is more of a disservice to them because they don't know how to go back to sleep on their own if they do wake up which makes them tired and miserable all day. What a difference it will be when my kids get the sleep they need and I get the sleep I need.

bla bla bla.

I have hired my niece Meg to come over for one hour a day and babysit my kids while I do whatever I feel like doing. I mostly want to take walks or even dig out my roller blades. T need to get more exercise. today I was explaining to Eli that I wanted to go on a walk alone and that he couldn't come. I said I needed to get exercise so I won't be fat anymore. When I got home he said " Mom, your still fat." If only it worked that quickly. I love leaving my house with my mp3 player playing songs I want to hear. Somedays I think I could walk for hours lost in my own thoughts.

So anyone still there? That's ok this is mostly for me. but i gotta go get kids to bed.

candace tag

Candace tagged me in May so maybe it is time I answered.
3 Joys-
Baking, Planting flowers, Quiet

3 Fears-
The dark, swimming in unknown waters, grasshoppers.

3 Goals-
get out of debt, raising happy children, being able to recognize good things

3 Current Obsessions/Collections-
Twilight series, organizing, I sort of collect radio flyer toys

3 Random/Surprising Facts-
I love vacuuming, I was married 6 months before I told anyone, I don't have a middle name and neither do any of my kids

Camery tag

I've been tagged. Let's see how it goes...
A = ADVOCATE FOR: Teaching children manners

B = BEST FEATURE: eye color

C = COULDN'T DO WITHOUT: music

D = DREAMS AND DESIRES: Be a better person. Raise happy children.

E = ESSENTIAL ITEM: nice spot in the shade

F= FAVORITE PAST TIME: Sleeping

G = GOOD AT: baking

H = HAVE NEVER TRIED: sushi

I = IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS: I'd be rich

J = JUNKIE FOR: romantic movies

K = KINDRED SPIRIT: none

L = LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I hate cooked fruit

M = MEMORABLE MOMENT: birth of all my children

N = NEVER AGAIN WILL I: use a Q-tip for my ears

O = OCCASIONAL INDULGENCE: cheesecake

Q = QUOTE: "This too shall pass."

R = REASON TO SMILE: Healthy kids

S = SORRY ABOUT: Not having any self esteem/ confidence in high school.

T = TAG SOME FRIENDS: Kimber

U = UNINTERESTED IN: mocha cappuccinos

V = VERY SCARED OF: swimming in the dark

W = WORST HABIT: nail biting

X = X MARKS MY IDEAL VACATION SPOT: Holland

Y = YESTERYEAR DECADE OF CHOICE: Learned the most in the past couple years

Z = ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius

Soccer Tournament

Once again Derek has gotten me to do something he signed up to do like fishing. But again it turned out great. Derek was planning on taking Alexandra to a soccer tournament in Spokane or at least go with us. Instead I got to go with the 4 kids alone. We had to get up a little early to get snacks, gas and meet up with the team at Burger King by 7. Vanessa cried the first 45 minutes. And by cry I mean kick, scream, and fight to get out of her car seat. I thought for sure she would fall asleep, which she did 2 minutes before the caravan of cars pulled over at the rest stop. She woke up and cried the rest of the way. Next time I am getting directions and going on my own. We get to a beautiful park by 9 first game is at 10. The girls all get dressed in their uniforms and get their hair up. Wendy, the coach, sprays all the girls hair blue. Of coarse Xavier, Eli and Vanessa want blue hair. The game itself was hard to watch. The other team was 2 years older and very skilled. But the girls didn't seem to mind the loss. We had a three hour break until the second game. I don't know Spokane well enough to feel I could venture out and find my way back in time so we had lunch at the concession stand, yum. Actually it was ok, they had sub sandwiches. Most of the other parents stayed there as well. The team had a big canopy set up so we stayed in the shade. Xavier, Eli, and Vanessa were great the whole time. Never asking to leave or complain about being bored. The second game was against girls 2 years older again but better matched. Even with a second loss our team played very well against them. Alexandra had a few good runs down the field with the ball. She has improved tremendously this summer. She is much more comfortable with the ball. There was another game on Sunday but we had decided before hand we would just come home Saturday night and not play in the Sunday game. I was impressed by Alexandra's decision. She told me before I said anything that she did not want to play on a Sunday. That game was against the other U8 team and our team had won bringing home the trophy. Even though some of the girls weren't there for that game they were very much a part of the team celebrating together on Monday.

Back to Saturday after the game. I took the 4 kids to the mall. I wanted to go to a couple of stores. We ended up having dinner there, Chinese. After getting the boys new shoes and the girls including me a few outfits we headed home. Vanessa slept most of the way. Unfortunately, Eli whined for most of the ride. But it was fun and I loved the time with the kids.

July 4th 2008

Derek and I both had 4 days off. Yeah!! His Grandma was here so it was nice he could spend time with here. We spent the day at my mom's. Hanging out in the yard. The kids did the big slip n slide, Aunt Sandra had a few games and races set up in her yard but we got rained out. It's become tradition to have crazy weather on the 4th. My dad has this box he fills with sawdust then drops over $100. in coins for the kids to dig for. It is crazy how hard it is to actually find the coins. My kids found a couple then gave up. I think Meg and Joey lasted the longest finding around twelve dollars each. The plan was to picnic at the lake but due to weather we ended up half inside and half in the front yard. I opted for the latter being how there were 60 plus people trying to shuffle around. Derek and I decided to go out on Jeff's boat again. This time Derek was planning on tubing. The water was choppy but I wanted to watch Derek. It was absolutely hilarious to watch. I had no intention of getting wet. After a little while I was talked into it. After all it wasn't a tube that you lay on but a raft like thing that you sit in. I went with my sister Shalene. First I realize I am sitting in a child birthing position then we get laughing so hard I find myself doing the Lamaze breathing. That thing is hard to stay on. Jeff had no sympathy as he drove the boat in circles and I flew off. Biff!! after a few others got turns we were heading in. I decide to ride the raft in trusting that it was just going to be a smooth ride back. Ha Ha. Derek found it more fun to watch me that to ride himself and wanted to see my fly. thanks. Though I did redeem myself and stay on the whole way back. Alexandra went to the park with my parents to watch the fireworks. We stayed home, let the boys light a few roman candles and sparklers then watched the fireworks from our backyard. I am so glad that we did because they started much later than usual this year. Alexandra is always on the go. She hates staying home unless she has a friend over so it is nice having family for her to spend time with. I know who she is with and that she is safe. But it was a little strange when she went to the fireworks. I thought I would be able to wait up for her or at least hear when she came home. Nope, she didn't even wake me so the next morning I went to make sure she had come home. If she hadn't been with family it would be different. I wouldn't have been able to sleep. I think. Some days I feel I could slip into a coma I am so tired. Anyway it is a bit strange she is never here and she is only 8. I cannot imagine how it will be when she is older. When there is mischief to be made.

Grandma Sara

Derek flew his Grandma Sara up for a visit. I was a little worried on the timing because it was the same time some of my family was coming in for a visit but staying at my parent's house. I wanted to hang out with everyone and my kids to see everyone. It worked out just fine. Also, I felt bad the first full day she was here because Derek had to work and I had 13 kids running around. She was just fine. She ended up doing my dishes for a week. My least favorite thing to do.

We were able to mix company. Grandma Sara came over to my mom's so everyone could visit. We went on a boat ride all around Moses Lake. One night we went to Micheal's for dinner. I don't get that place. It's like if you want to go out to a nice dinner that is where everyone says to go. I say just because it costs twice as much doesn't make the food any better. I prefer Bob's Cafe any day. Not only was it expensive but the food was blah and it was at least 90 degrees inside. We sat on the balcony with the fresh lake smell. Not good when you order fish.

Another day was spent relaxing at my mom's playing Scrabble and sitting in the yard. One night we hosted a big BBQ with a bunch of Derek's friends. The day before she left we went to Wenatchee to get cherries at Recchia's orchard. That is Derek's dads in laws. The kids sorted cherries. It was really fun. Afterwards we hit Red Robin. One of my other favorite places to eat. When Grandma Sara was walking she was saying that her legs get tired and hurt sometimes. Xavier came up to me and said "Next time you see a shooting star wish for Gramma's legs to get better." I thought that was so sweet.

What we've been doing

Before school was out for the summer Alexandra performed a dance with her friend Gabriella. They danced to Hannah Montana's Best of Both worlds.

2 weeks ago we thought it would be fun to take the kids to the monster trucks since they were coming to the fairgrounds. We went last year to Spokane and it was pretty cool. This time turned out to be so bad. The line to get in was insanely long even though we had already gotten our tickets and it started late. The actual monster trucks drove around for about 4 minutes. Not even kidding. Then it was at least 90 minutes of all the locals racing their trucks through the mud. We left before it was over because we could see the line of all the local trucks still waiting to race.

Derek had signed Xavier up to go to fishing for kids last weekend but then had a parade with the National Guard he had to be in so I got to take him. Not really my thing but it was nice to go do something just Xavier and I. It doesn't happen that often. There we a lot of volunteers which was nice because after he caught his fish neither one of us wanted to get it off the hook. HE had a great time and was so excited about his 2 fish that he insisted we bring them home and keep them forever. He was so happy reeling them in.

Just this last Friday after going to tri cities with my mom Derek the kids and I went to Circus Gatti. Again something at the fair grounds. It was OK. I can't tell if the kids liked it that much. They did like the motorcycles in the globe. That was pretty cool, (for lack of a better word.)

Saturday my mom and I had a yard sale. We got rid of a ton of stuff and made a little bit of money. I just about died when I couldn't find Vanessa. Shamra had come over and taken her home. She said she told me she was taking her but I don't remember. It was that horrible sinking feeling that happens instantly. If you have ever not known where your child is it is awful. After a few seconds it did occur to me that Shamra had been there and Vanessa was probably with her. Vanessa is just getting to that stage where she doesn't have to be right next to me all the time. She will go into other rooms in the house not needing to keep her eye on me. It is nice that she isn't so clingy but scary because I don't know what she is getting into.

Busy busy busy

I have been so terrible about keeping up with my blogging mostly because I am so tired when I actually get a chance and partly because our computer is in such a bad location. I have to stand to use it which wouldn't be bad if I wasn't so tired. It doesn't want to connect to the Internet wirelessly. Anyway not much noteworthy is going on. Alexandra started soccer again, Xavier is finishing up T-ball, school is out in 2 days, I have 11 kids enrolled in daycare here so with my 4 I will have days this summer with 15 kids here. Yikes. The kids don't seem to care how many are here. What can I say money money money. I want to get our lame credit card paid off by the end of the summer. The kids are all doing well. Everyone is healthy. We got our enormous driveway done so there is a huge place to ride bikes. I cleaned out my picture box and cannot believe how many pics of Alexandra there are. I swore I wouldn't be one of those people who take lots of pics of child one and hardly any by the time I get to the last. I have a ton of catching up to do. Poor Vanessa. But it is hard when I don't have free hands to take pics with.

Fun Day

Xavier is a total video gamer so I decided we would have a day out. I took my 4 kids and Alexandra's friend bowling then to the store to get a small pool and slip n slide. I think every one had a great time. I even heard Xavier say it was better than video games. Yeah!