Perez Family

Eli and the Dinosaurs

2010-01-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

I was talking to Eli about the dinosaur show coming to Spokane and he was asking if they were in cages. I told them they were like robots. He still wanted to know if they were in cages. I explained that they were on remotes and that they weren't real.
Eli: where are all the real ones.
Me: all the real ones died.
Eli: Yeah, because of their eggs.
Me: What do you mean their eggs?
Eli: They all stinked.

Too hilarious. Get it extinct. He was thinking eggs stinked. What a funny little boy who makes me laugh.

Deactivated

2010-01-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

This may sound a bit overdone but I deactivated my facebook account. I can't remember why I had started that account but I left it alone for months. Then I got an email from my uncle saying happy birthday. Apparently it had notified him it was my birthday so he posted on my page which sent me any email. At the time I had maybe 3 friends on facebook. Didn't think much of it until a few months ago when I needed something I could do while babysitting. I couldn't start any project or read without interruptions. I could look through fb while standing so 10 kids wouldn't fight over my lap. It was mindless and that is what I needed. Something to break up my child filled days of child filled conversations. Well I quit daycare about a month ago. Now with a bit more time on my hands and could sit in front of the computer I found myself sitting. Derek started playing farmville which I got familiar with when I helped Alexandra set up her farm. I decide if I set up a farm I can help Derek get farther on his. Anyway anyone who knows someone who plays farmville knows it can be quite addicting. Earning money and points and ribbons. I used to think my brother was silly for playing but then I found myself on it all the time. Not so much because it is so fun but because it was easy and distracting from all the other things I should be doing. As I sit at my computer I have my back to a table of photos and scrapbook supplies. I do not care to scrapbook anymore but promised myself I would finish all my kids baby books. So as I walk into the room to work on these books i would sit at the computer instead. When I should be getting my kids ready for bed I would be harvesting strawberries or looking at photos of people I haven't' seen or cared to see in 15 years. A week ago Derek asked if I wanted to share an account with him. I thought that was sweet but then I would have to give up my farm and I had "worked" very hard to get to level 33. But I did consider giving up my account. then i considered just checking mine every 4 to 5 days. then i tried to go a day without checking it. since i couldn't I deactivated it. How funny, I thought, that I was hooked on facebook. And when deactivating they give you a few options as to why you deactivate. and yes "I find myself spending too much time on facebook" was the option I checked. My day has been unbelievable awesome. I feel so much better not getting on. I cannot tell you the amount of housework I got done. Plus I played board games with the kids. It used to drive me crazy when they would ask me to do things when I was on the computer. So why didn't i stop getting on facebook earlier. I guess I justified it as being my hobby. The one thing in the day I did that was sort of for me. Anyway I am happy to be off and hope to blog again. but in a way that it will be a journal for our family to keep.

Pumpkin patch

2009-11-03T13:56:00.001-08:00

We went to the high school this year to let the kids pick out pumpkins. We ended up with ten. We knew they wouldn't last carved until Halloween but we wanted to carve them with Derek.

Our vacation with Daddy.

2009-11-03T13:26:00.001-08:00

It has been months since we had seen Derek. We were so excited to have him home. Even if it was just for 2 weeks. We didn't do a whole lot. It was just nice to be together. W hung out at the house, had a BBQ with friends and took a little trip to the beach.

It was so beautiful seeing the beach. Even though the temp was only in the 60s and the water was even colder we had a blast. The kids jumped waves, made sand castles and collected shells and sand dollars. A little warmer and we could have spent the entire day just sittin' on the beach. We rented a little cottage and stayed for a few days. It was nice to be just us. We spent one day at Ocean shores riding go carts, bowling and eating pizza.

Vanessa's 3rd Birthday.

2009-11-03T13:08:00.001-08:00

There were three candles. I am not sure why it only looks like two

I had big plans for Vanessa's birthday. Originally I had thought Derek would be home on leave and we would BBQ. I was going to make a beautiful butterfly cake with the new pan I had. But as usual time flew and Derek wasn't going to be in town. Alexandra had 2 soccer games that day so I didn't do the cake which should have been made days before and frozen. But I managed to pull off a pretty good party last minute. It was just my kids, my mom, sister, and niece and a store bought cake. Vanessa had a blast. She got clothes, dress up clothes, a larger my little pony which she still calls a dragon, a stuffed dog that sings and talks to her and a over sized stuffed elephant. Along with a bunch of super cute animal hand puppets. She loaded all her presents onto the elephant and pulled them around the house.

Xavier's birthday.7

2009-11-03T12:22:00.001-08:00

I do have photos of Xavier's birthday. can't seem to locate on the hard drive. until then...

Xavier's birthday fell on a Saturday this year which I thought would be perfect. But for some reason I can't remember we decided to have cake and ice cream on Sunday. Sticking with tradition we had it at my parents house again. We invited all the cousins, had a pinata, opened gifts and had cake and ice cream. Xavier made out like a bandit. (where did that phrase come from) He ended up with a bunch of LEGO sets which is exactly what he wanted. the weather was great and we were able to just hang out and enjoy an afternoon in Grandma's yard.

First Day

2009-11-03T12:19:00.001-08:00

Sending Xavier off to first grade was much different than Alexandra had been. She was always ready to go and didn't have much problem being away from home. Xavier is very much a homebody. He is like me that way. We had gone to meet your teacher the night before and checked out the new school. The kids were excited. Xavier was a bit nervous but was happy he got to finally ride the bus. I was nervous because this was the first time Xavier would be gone longer than the 3 hours of Kindergarten. When he got off the bus at home he was glad that school was over. I asked how it had gone and apparently he had spent a good part of the day crying. I told him that it will get easier and tomorrow will be better. His response "but mom, I'm not going back." Uuuh what? This was only the beginning. We have had many horrible morning battles trying to get him out of bed, dressed and on the bus. Some days I would just be mad that he was acting so defiant. Other days I genuinely felt sorry for him because he seemed terrified. He was having lots of anxiety as to what might happen. After missing 3 days the second week I drove him to school and walked him to his class. It was awful. He was crying the whole time which got me all teary eyed. I felt so horrible leaving him there screaming. A couple days the school councilor had sat in the class with him. My dad gave him a blessing that it would get better and he would make a friend that would make things easier. I know it helped the very next day he came home and told me about Hunter. He was so excited. Within 2 weeks Hunter was moved to the new first grade class they were starting because of too many students. Xavier didn't' want to go back. Not until end of October has Xavier accepted that he has to go to school. He still asks how many days until a day off or if there are any early release days in the week. I had seriously considered home schooling instead I decided to quit doing daycare. I will be able to help in his class or just give him more attention when he gets home in the afternoon. I am so unbelievable blessed that I have Derek's support on this. We have both recognized the needs of our children and the effects of having other kids in our home all the time. It will be a change to go back to one income but I know the blessings will be great. I hope to get back into school a couple hours a day and get my nursing degree. So I can work when my kids are all in school full time.

Silverwood

2009-11-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

What a hectic day. Alexandra and Xavier both earned free admission tickets to Silverwood through the reading program at school. Which is great except my ticket was over $40. We decided to meet up with our friends the Mckinnis family hoping that her older kids would ride the bigger rides with Alexandra. I haven't been to Silverwood in 15 years. I didn't realize how spread out it is. There aren't that many rides there and all my kids are at different stages of rides. Eli wanted to ride the small rides. Xavier was ready for rides like the boat and log rides. Alexandra wanted to hit all the roller coasters. I swear I walked a good 5 miles that day, in circles. I am so grateful my mom babysat Vanessa that day. We rode the rides for most of the day. We had split up. I stayed with my boys hitting the smaller rides while Alexandra went with the others to go on the bigger rides. We met up late afternoon at the water park. Alexandra went on some of the crazies water slides I am not sure I would ever go on. It was a long day. We were heading out about 6 when I asked Alexandra if she had gone on all the rides she wanted. She hadn't even gone on one roller coaster. I felt so bad. I thought that is what they were doing the whole time but they didn't. They had gone on rides but no coasters. So we went back to the rides and she went on a coaster. I should have stayed longer and let her go on all of them but I was wiped out and still had the 3 hour drive ahead. All in all. I won't be going to Silverwood again any time soon.

Beautiful

2009-07-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Vanessa 2, Eli 4, Xavier 6, Alexandra 9

Xavier never lets me take pics. So i am lucky I got this one

I love this pic of Vanessa!!!

Woodland Park Zoo

2009-07-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Eli on the Carousel

Vanessa claimed all the hippos as hers

Alexandra on carousel

MMMMM... Sugar

Alexandra watching the elephants

Me taking a dip... I was told to put more pics of myself on. there you go.

Xavier and Eli just monkeying around.

A few summer pictures

2009-06-16T13:23:00.001-07:00

Xavier in the tub

Eli up to bat. I hate pitching to them. They hit really hard

Jaidon and Quinton Lybbert with Xavier

Xavier is learning frisbee so he can disc golf with daddy.

Vanessa making a splash!

Eli cannot stop twirling his hair. The other day he while holding his gum accidentally twirled it into his hair.

The reason once again for not having as many pics of Alexandra is because she is often off doing her own thing. Not close to me where I can take lots of pictures of her. I will try to get a few more shots of her. We have lots of summer to go.

Bikes

2009-06-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

So while buying Xavier's bike Eli wanted to get a new one. I told him he had to ride without training wheels. He said he could. I said he would have to wait. When we pulled into the garage he got out of the car walked over to the bike Xavier learned on and rode it across the garage. then looked at me and said I told you I could ride without training wheels. Guess I owe him a new bike.

(will insert picture soon)

He has now been riding for a couple weeks without training wheels. He is fine with the bike he has and loves to ride. he can spend hours going up and down the road. I don't' let them go far. One day Grandpa Glade took Eli, Xavier, Carter, and Byron on a long ride out to Pelican Point and around. Eli talks about that day all the time.

Taylor Swift

2009-06-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

One morning a couple days before the Taylor Swift concert in Spokane Vanessa came out all dressed up. She said "C'mon girls, it's time for the concert."

Xavier, Eli, Vanessa and Shorty stayed with Cousin Shammee at her house. They read books and went on a treasure hunt. They were so excited to show me what they had found. Items included a bright yellow flat soccer ball, pad lock with no key, baseball and polished rocks. Cassius paid them 4 quarters for picking up rocks in the backyard. They had a great time. Alexandra and I went to the concert which was insanely crowded. We waited in line to get her a t-shirt. Alexandra was surprised by how loud the music actually was. We had floor seat on the end of the row. Next time I am opting for cheap seats. Because we were on the floor and everyone stood it was hard to see the stage. But during the concert Taylor walked around and came right by us and went to a smaller stage closer to us so we could see better for a little while. The concert was pretty good but I have to admit it was different going as an adult. I just wanted to sit back and listen to the music while the younger crowd there wanted to shout I love you's and try to follow her as she walked around wanting to get hugs and autographs. Afterwards we headed back to Shams where we had a sleepover. The next morning we shopped a little bit getting Xavier a new bike I had promised for riding without training wheels.

What I do with my spare time

2009-05-16T14:57:00.000-07:00

Someone recently believed that I was spending much of my time on myself. If I have time to spend on myself it is only because I am about to explode and cannot function anymore. In that case I use this "spare time" to shower, walk, or stare at some inanamate object until something awakens me back to reality. Oh and occasionally I will write up a quick blog. So if I am not spending all my time on myself then what am I doing. I will list a few for a typical work week: (Random order) Coming up with breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Cooking/preparing them, cleaning up the dishes and wiping counters. Packing lunches for school. changing diapers(avg. 10/day) changing kids clothes from pj's to clothes bathing and back to pj's. Sometime changing wet or muddy clothes. finding shoes. Wiping noses. Finding socks. Laundry.............. Changing bedding from accidents. After stripping the entire bed having the dog crap on the mattress without its protector on. trying not to kill mentioned dog and spending a good hour scrubbing and shampooing bed. Soaking up pee from do all over the house. Cleaning up spills from kids cups. brushing teeth, mine and 3 others twice a day. turning on and off sprinklers. moving hoses. wiping butts on toilet. helping wash hands. starting movies. helping apply fake fingernails or polishing nails or clipping toenails. taking out the trash. teaching kids its not ok to say stupid. Teaching them what is ok to say and in what tone, losing the sarcasm. spelling out words at a pace they can write them to make signs for forts. helping construct forts. driving to and from practices. answering phone calls. making phone calls to schedule appointments. breathing. sweeping, mopping, vacuuming. mow lawn. set up slip n slide. supervise water play. fill up squirt guns. rearrange cushions back on couch.
Those are just a few things. I am sure we all have many days when asked what did we do today we opt for saying "nothing much" when really it is so full of stuff it would sound similar to the above. So please for my sake don't assume that because I am home all day with my kids and a few others that I don't do anything. or spend the day on myself. thanks.

Vanessa speaks

2009-05-12T14:46:00.001-07:00

Not only does she speak but she doesn't stop. I love some of the things that come out of her mouth. I will try to remember a few. They are funny because remember she is 2.

She goes outside where she sees Byron and Xavier on bikes. Hands on hips..."Boys! Boys! That is just too dangerous."

If I tell her I need to do something she said I can do it "After later"

She smells a stink, looks at unnamed person and asked "Who farted" they giggle, she continues waving her hand in front of her nose "What did you eat?"

She is calling for the dog who doesn't come and she throws her hands in the air. "Oh, forget it"

she has now begun telling stories. the latest is goes like this. Daddy fell on the road and is crying. I need to get him to Spokane. It really hurts. But that is what happens when you jump on the couch.

She talks about Derek all the time. and has placed him in memories of actual events that he wasn't there for. It is cute. One time dad took me to the doctor so I could get ear drops. Daddy took me to the lake to see the fish. Daddy is picking me up later to go to the movie feeder.

Been busy

2009-05-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

We have been pretty busy lately. We finished up soccer. Xavier tried baseball but remained a little too shy. Maybe next year. Derek was able to come home for a short visit. I do mean short. It was only 4 days. I cannot believe he has been gone 2 months now. I took the days off and we just stayed around the house. Unfortunately, all the plants I ordered came in the same day he did and I had to spend part of the time doing yard work. Derek did walk the kids to the park and had a good time with them. We had a BBQ with a few of his friends. Then he had to fly back to Indianapolis. He has since flown to Kuwait, where he is currently. He called from Iceland which seemed way out of the way. When he called I asked how it looked. His response was it is dark. I forget about the whole time zone thing.

Besides yard work, which takes up quite a bit of my time we have been having fun in the warmer weather. I finally got around to taking the training wheels off of Xavier's bike. He was more than ready, it took him a few tries and he was a pro. Now he, Byron and Eli can go on rides up and down the street. Eli rides this awesome tricycle my dad found in Spokane. I will have to get some pics of them riding. Alexandra has already been swimming at a friend's house. She is always on the go. The kids like when I pitch nerf and whiffle balls to them. I hate doing it because they his so hard, even with plastic bats, I am afraid of getting hit. They all have a blast on the trampoline practicing flips. We spend our Sunday evenings down at my parents house. While the adults play Loser the kids play doing whatever with their cousins. Usually trampoline, walking to the lake, and running around.

On the field

2009-05-12T13:54:00.001-07:00

Alexandra's team remained undefeated this year, including the tournament we went to in Ephrata. After one long day of 4 games they took home first place. As much fun as it is Alexandra is ready for a break. I think they are taking a month off before they begin practices again for a few more tournaments this summer. I have no idea how many goals she scored overall but it was a lot. She has improved greatly. The team is really coming together and playing as a team with more passing and assisting. It's great to see her work well with others and develop one of her many talents.

Off the field.

2009-05-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

Xavier, Eli, and Vanessa have been great at Alexandra's practices and games. Sometimes they are allowed to go to the play area but many times they have to stay close. I know they get bored but still keep a pretty good attitude. All too soon I am sure we will be watching and supporting them.

Shorty the Chihuahua

2009-03-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Derek and Eli brought him home from Arizona as a surprise. Eli had originally named him Theodore but it was a little long after going through many other options we ended up with Shorty. He arrived 8 weeks old and 2 pounds. I am not excited about house training but the kids all love him.

Derek and Eli in AZ

2009-03-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

No pics

2009-02-14T21:45:00.001-08:00

My camera is in AZ with Derek so I will add pictures when he comes back.

I miss my Eli

2009-02-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

It is Saturday and he has been gone since Monday. I can barely stand it. I am glad that Derek has this time to spend with him and I had summers in Arizona where I brought the kids back to Washington with me for a month. It was nice to hear form Derek today that Eli wanted to see his mom today. It feels good that he misses me but at the same time I don't want him to feel sad. So Eli, I miss you lots.

So sweet

2009-02-14T21:35:00.000-08:00

I looked over to find Vanessa had made herself a little bed on the couch. Spread her blanket out all nice with a pillow and she had her arms folded head bowed and eyes closed and she was saying a prayer then she pretended to go to sleep for maybe 30 seconds before she jumped up and ran to play. But how sweet is that to think to pray.

Mom, Why are you so mean?

2009-02-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

I hate that. I hate when my kids say I am mean. Seriously? They think I am mean. I am pretty sure they don't know what mean is. This question has come up after I let them stay up late to finish a movie, take them bowling, buy them smoothies and fries and wait while they play quarter video games, take them to Walmart letting them pick a toy or treat. I wouldn't say my kids are spoiled or rotten but it really hurt when they asked. I wanted to know how I was mean. I know for sure I have never instilled fear into them. Sometimes I wish they had some so my threats of punishment would cause them pause. They think I am mean if I don't get them everything they want or send them to their rooms. So my answer to them is I am mean so they will grow up to be better adults. So they will recognize/know right form wrong. So when I am not there they will know how to treat others. What is not acceptable. They usually only get in trouble if they have mistreated someone. But mostly I am mean because I love them. Of coarse that answer made no sense to them whatsoever. If you loved us you wouldn't be mean. So to demonstrate I told them that I have to hold Vanessa twice a day tightly in my arms and get her to swallow her nasty medicine that she tries hard to spit out. Sometimes gags then spits at me.I have to pin her down on the couch in order to put drops in her ear. She fights and screams and makes me feel totally horrible, telling me to go away. She wants her daddy, I am the bad guy. I want to comfort her tell her I am sorry but she runs from me. After she calms down, a good 5 minutes of screaming, she sweetly tells me "you hurt my feelings, momma" All this mean stuff I do is for her to get better. Because I love her.

Seeing Red

2009-02-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

Well over a year ago Alexandra said she wanted red highlights in her hair. Yeah right. Well she still wanted them and I thought what the heck. I was getting my brown eight months of growth roots lightened she can go with me and get highlights. She chose fire engine red. I need to get a good photo. They will however, fade in 6-8 weeks leaving her with blond highlights because they were bleached first. They are very much her personality. She loves to look good. She tries to be stylish. Now I only say tries because some of the outfits she comes up with drive me bonkers. But I figure she probably knows better than I what is "cool." I have seen the preteen shows on TV and their outfits are quite wacky. Wow, I am getting old.

I did it again

2009-02-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

I took Vanessa with me to the store. After all the daycare kids went home Meg watched Alexandra and Xavier while we went to get her prescription which I keep trying to spell perscription. My plan to go in get the meds and leave. Standing in the waiting line I think since I am already here I should just pick up what i need so I don't have to come tomorrow. Instead of paying right then i take them with me and begin to travel the store. Vanessa stayed in the cart the whole time but kept throwing things out. It wasn't until I was ready to check out that I realized my purse wasn't in the cart. Ugh! What an awful feeling. So after scowling at Vanessa I know that it's really my fault. She's two. So starting at the pharmacy where I remember seeing it last I made my way around the store in the exact same way looking on the floor and shelves. Nothing. I stop at the customer service desk. nothing. Now I make my way around the store the exact same way but his time putting back everything I have picked up. Valentine balloon, socks, milk, ham, ice cream. I hope that is okay to put those types of things back. I had to keep the yogurt Vanessa bit off the edges of the lids. Kept the bananas, she'd already stepped on them. Luckily I had my phone in my purse. I call Kimber ask if she will be available to bring me my spare keys and $30 to cover what is in my cart. she said yes. I feel bad it being her birthday and all. she calls back said her parents are heading that way they will pick up my keys and bring it out. i have now been at the store for an hour and a half. I sit on the bench and say a little prayer. I am tired. The last two trips I carried Vanessa. She too is tired. Up walks Tara Bowes. She inquires if I am ok. I explain my situation and she insists we walk it again. My feet hurt I just want to sit and wait for my keys. But we go maybe this is the answer to my prayer. Pharmacy is closed so we skip asking them. We ask other employees if they have seen anything. No. I feel I should ask the lady at the fitting room. Nope. Head to the milk. Tara keeps mentioning we search through the clothes. easier to overlook then the empty milk isle. We make the whole round of the store ask customer service again. No. Start for the 4th time to walk the store. Vanessa's head has dropped onto my shoulder. Remember she is 34 lbs. We check the bathrooms and head to the fitting room. As Tara searches the rooms I look down into a cart and there it is among the other clothing items needing to be returned to the racks. I believe some employee picked it up thinking it needed to go back to the pile of purses. It 's not fancy and had only my wallet and keys in it so not heavy. I could see how the mistake could be made. I am insanely relieved. I am glad i don't have to explain to Derek once again what an idiot I am. You see he has heard similar things before. I tend to put things in a "safe place" only to forget myself where it was. I have misplaced my wallet many times bringing me to my knees asking the Lord to help me. I know that it was the Lord who helped me find it once again. I once misplaced a ring that was my grandmothers. Oh how I prayed to find that. i prayed over the coarse of a year thinking ever possibility of how I could have lost it. When and where did I wear it. A good time later I unpacked a bubble wrapped a sugar bowl that was my great grandmothers, took out the tissue inside and there was the ring. I will not lose that again. But instantly I remembered the moment I put it in there. A good hiding place. Unfortunately, I have misplaced/lost things that were not recovered. A different wallet, very special sentimental bracelet, earrings, keys. The keys, I had to use them to get into our apartment. A couple hours later couldn't find them. The wallet I used to pay at the store and didn't have it when I got to my car. Derek gave me some earrings, I wore them everyday for weeks until one day I felt my ear and there was no earring. he bought me the same pair (Not cheap, from Zales) so now I should have 3. Nope down to 2. He doesn't buy me jewelry any more. Maybe it is a good thing my fingers are to fat so my wedding ring won't come off. Anyway that was just a little bit about me.

Ear affection.

2009-02-14T19:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Kimber and Meg who came over to watch the 6 kids then 10 kids after the bus so i could take Vanessa to the doctor. Vanessa happily played in the waiting room and when they called us back she got right on the scale. 34 lbs now. She spied the sticker drawer and asked for one. The nurse said it was fine to pick one before instead of after. she picked Dora and then grabbed a pencil too then headed straight for the door. "Let's go home now, momma" If only that was enough to make her better this time.

Dr.- So how long has it been draining like this? All over your pillows I bet.

me. at least 4 days.

Dr.- whenever anything starts coming out with tubes you call me right away.

me.- I did call a few days ago and your nurse said that the tubes are doing what they are supposed to do and left it at that.

Dr.- I'll go ahead and slap her for you.

Thank you, I knew I was right. That this ooze is too gross to go away on its own. And I must correct myself that it doesn't smell like wet dog. It smells like rotten fish. It is no longer just oozing but bleeding. Not sure if that is on the inside or surround from her scratching it in her sleep. She screams when I try to pat it with a tissue. The doctor sent the prescription to the pharmacy and we were on our way. Xavier keeps saying she has an ear affection. I think that is so cute because he is so kind to her. He whispers to me that it is dripping and I should wipe it. He doesn't want her to hear and upset her.

2009-02-11T08:11:00.000-08:00

It has been somewhat strange around here. Derek and Eli left for Arizona two days ago. I miss my little Eli. I keep feeling like someone is missing when I look around checking on all the kids. I have never been apart from any of my kids for that long. I think the longest away from Eli is overnight when I was in the hospital with my ear infection. But even then Derek brought the kids up during the day. All last week Eli would talk about going to AZ where it was going to be warm and maybe go swimming. I don't remember ever swimming in February when we lived there but I thought maybe. Anyway, Eli asked Derek when they got there where they were and Derek said we are in Arizona. Eli said "this isn't Arizona. I don't see any big pool." Eli is such a cutie. I love the way he still likes to cuddle. The other kids aren't like that anymore. Vanessa likes to be held but not cuddle. Eli practically forms around you when you hold him.

Alexandra started soccer again. She is ready to be busy again but it will be different now that I will be the one taking her to practices. I really liked Derek doing that because I have to take all the kids with me and practice is from 5:30 to 7. Too short to go home and come back but too long to set and watch. Especially because the first month is in the school gym. She and Xavier are working on their reading so they can earn Silverwood tickets. I told them I would take them this summer if they earn tickets through the school reading program. Xavier is doing much better in school. The first quarter his teacher said he wasn't progressing, didn't know letter sounds or names. I didn't worry but it was nice this quarter because he knows almost all of them now. Yesterday he came home from school and asked if I had to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was in Kindergarten. I said yes and he said it is bad to say. I think that some Obama fan must have said something but he tells me because it says "invisible" in it. I had to explain the meaning of "indivisible" He has also grown out his hair. Hasn't had it cut since the last incident that left it too short. I think it looks pretty good.

Vanessa is a pain in the butt. But we still love her. I took just her to the store with me the other day and it took me a good 45 minutes longer. She would climb out of the cart and just take off running. She thought she was so hilarious and having the best time ever. For the first half hour i was pretty good about it keeping her pretty close and in the same isle but then I reached that point where I was done. I seriously could have walked away from the cart and left the store if we weren't out of milk. I don't really care what other people think but you can't avoid the looks. The ones if I am letting her run crazy and the ones when I am trying to discipline her in public as patiently at possible. I asked Vanessa why she was running and being so naughty and she said. "I just happy." How can I argue with that? Because she has tubes in her ears she no longer gets the painful pressure from buildup behind the eardrum the goop just oozes out. It happened once with Eli. It gets in her hair which I try to keep pulled up. It is so gross and now the last couple of days she has smelled like wet dog. It has a really bad smell. I called the nurse and she said that the tubes are doing what they need to do and their is no need for antibiotics but I specifically remember Eli getting on meds when his drained this much.

I have been busy with kids here everyday. Derek worries our house will be destroyed but so far no major damage. Most days are 10 kids til noon then 8 til 4 then 12 till 5:30. twice a week I get 2 more kids random hours. Those days seem harder but not because the kids are harder just more stress I guess. I am ready for spring. We have been able to go outside for a while in the afternoon and the kids seem so much better when we get out and run around. I am trying to get some projects going. Pick up a hobby. I just don't know what I want to do. Spider solitaire gave me a headache yesterday. I want to feel I am accomplishing something. Something will work out. I feel I have been so lazy I just want to crash when the last kid is picked up. By the time we finish dinner, showers, and reading their isn't much day left. I hate that it is dark so early. So bring on spring. I am not falling for the 6 more weeks of winter Punxsutawney Phil, even though it did snow a couple inches last night. I am ready to work outside bu the ground is still frozen. So any ideas of something fun that leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment?

TV is educational.

2009-01-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

I was walking home with the kids a couple nights ago and I asked them "How are we going to get up the driveway? It is covered with a thick sheet of ice."
Vanessa quickly responds: "Woddow"
Me:"What?"
Vanessa: more clearly "Waddle like a penguin."
So that is what we did. I thought that was so funny. I know that she learned it from an episode of Dora. But how smart to apply it to this situation. Have I mentioned lately how fluent she is. I know that all parents think their kids are geniuses. Other adults who talk to her will tell me how well she speaks. I am around other kids her age and kids older so I know she does things different. She is very smart. Many of the other kids her age use one word to get what they want like "juice." She will say "I need water, I am sooooooo thirsty" She speaks clearly and in thought out sentences. I asked her if she wanted to take a bath. Her response "Actually, I watch cartoons." When walking down the hall to her Sunday class she looks at me knowing where we are headed and said "Mommy, I will cry" I felt bad but she went right in and asked me "You come back later?" When I ask her if she is done doing something like coloring she will answer "I almost done" then she will finish up and put them away.
She loves reading books and can name all the animals in the Martin/Carle books. You know the books, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? She can tell you the animal that will be on the next page before she sees the pics. Animals like spider monkey, water buffalo, peacock, walrus. leopard. Her favorite is the Hippopotamus. She got a blue stuffed hippo from Kimber that she now carries all the time and won't let anyone else touch. When we get to the page in the book that has a picture of a blue hippo we have to say "Vanessa's Hippopotamus, Vanessa's Hippopotamus, what do you hear?" It's cute.

Xavier's Messy Meat Loaf

2009-01-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

At school Xavier's teacher had the kids write down recipes then she sent them home laminated with their Christmas cards. So if anyone is looking for a new recipe here is Xavier's Messy Meat Loaf... "You put eggs on top of the meat. Some bacon on top of it you put red sauce in. Then you flip it over. You put ketchup adn hot sauce on. Then you cook it on a pan then eat it. Then I'm all done." I thought that was cute. And doesn't sound too bad. I asked if he wanted to make it but he said he doesn't like hot sauce. Note...I haven't ever used hot sauce.

snowwwwwww.

2009-01-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

I guess if it is going to snow it might as well be a lot. This is the first year the kids have really played in the snow for long periods of time. So it makes it worth it to help with snow pants, coats, gloves and boots. If only they would hang them on the hooks when they come in the door. The hooks are at their shoulder height and right where they dump all their stuff on the floor. But it it doesn't bother them that they get stepped on and don't dry out then it doesn't bother me. We have the perfect hill in the lot next door. It took a few runs to make a good path. I was just glad that they could really do it all by themselves. Vanessa was anxious to go. She rode down with Eli the first time and they fell over at the bottom. I ran down to see if she was done for but all she said was "again." Xavier was first to venture off and try other places making other paths to go down. Steeper ones. Eli has probably spent the most time sledding over the past few days. One day Derek and I watched Eli out the window while he tried to climb the hill pulling his sled for about 10 minutes. When he finally got to the top he let go of his sled which went soaring back down the hill without him. One day we had frozen rain so the next day their hill was a sheet of ice. they went a lot faster and farther after that.

National Guard Party

2009-01-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

Derek's unit was having it's annual Christmas party. I was hoping it would help get me in the Christmas Spirit. I just haven't been able to get excited about Christmas. But it seems that most people I talk to feel the same way. Anyway we headed over around 11. The kids were all excited and that is what counts. This year seemed a lot more crowded. They had games set up for the kids to play so they won tickets and got some prizes. After lunch Santa came. Eli refused to sit on his lap this year. Vanessa wasn't interested either. The kids opened their gifts and played a few more games. Derek tried taking them out to see the trucks but it was absolutely freezing.

Eli turns 4

2009-01-02T10:36:00.000-08:00

Since we already had a party while Mima and Brian were here we just had a small thing on Eli's actual birthday. My mom brought over a gift, a nutcracker music box. He loves playing the ones at her house. I just hope he can take care of it. Shamee came over bringing him some tattoos a gummy spider, and football. We gave him Horton Hears a Who and a pair of footed pajamas which he calls squiddees. I guess on some episode of SpongeBob Squidward wears some similar pjs. We had cupcakes with the kids that were here and called it a day. My 4 favorite things about Eli. 1. He is so lovable and loves being held. 2. He notices when I get a new shampoo. He still holds onto my hair and after getting a new shampoo that has a tropical scent to it he said he liked the way it smelled and asked if they made that kind for boys. 3. He is very strong willed. If I look at it that way it is a good quality. Sometimes I think it might be more like he is stubborn. I can tell him something ten times and he will act as if I never spoke. I can look at this about him and laugh. However it is not so funny when I am trying to get him to hold still or go to bed. 4. He really makes me laugh. Especially if you watch him without him knowing. The other day I asked if I could play his DS. While I played he sat behind me holding my hair looking over my shoulder and telling me everything I needed to do even though I told him I already knew how to play. then when I would die he would take it out of my hand and offer to pass this part for me. I pretty much quit trying to ever play video games.

2008-12-03T13:19:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T23:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T18:19:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-03T12:22:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-09-10T15:06:00.001-07:00

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?

2008-09-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-08-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-08-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T22:45:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-08T20:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

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!

New lawn. Where are my kids?

2008-05-21T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ava, Alexandra, Eli, Xavier, Winslow.
That's right. They are in the front yard where grandpa has mud. Lovely.

T-Ball

2008-05-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Xavier with Royce

Batting Left handed

Derek is coaching Xavier's T-ball team, the Cardinals. What a great Dad. I am adjusting to not being a part of everything the kids do. Alexandra's swimming and soccer and now Xavier's T-ball. Maybe it will prepare ME for Xavier going to Kindergarten. I do get to go to his games. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was still surprised at the game. Every kid gets to bat each inning, there are no outs so everyone runs the bases regardless of what happened to the ball after they hit it, and everyone plays on the field when the other team is up to bat. It was pretty cool. Since Xavier was last to bat the first inning he got to run all the way around without stopping. Home Run!! Xavier likes it and I can tell he has made a few new friends.

The backyard

2008-05-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Xavier, Kaylee, and Eli

Our backyard has been driving us crazy. besides the fact that it looks horrible the amount of dirt that comes in is maddening. And it isn't regular dirt, it is like ash. So take a few kids cover them with baby powder then send them running through the house. Our solution, Sod. Instant lawn. Almost. We, and by we I mean mostly Derek, his friend Manny, and I spread 24 cubic yards of topsoil in one day and laid 3000 square feet of sod the next. Xavier spent a long time helping shovel dirt into the wheel barrows. We also put up a fence, set 13 railroad ties, and planted climbing plants along the fence, ground cover, flowers, and vegetables. I hope that everything grows OK. I do have a bit of a brown thumb. I have never grown vegetables before so we shall see. I had considered having the hill leveled before we put in a lawn but I am glad we didn't, the kids like rolling and running down as well as slip-n-sliding. I love my backyard!!!

Alexandra's Baptism cont.

2008-05-06T13:07:00.000-07:00

Now that Alexandra is 8 she chose to be baptized. I thought it was pretty cool that she asked my dad to do it because he baptized me 21 years ago in the same church building. He then confirmed her a member of the church and she received the gift of the Holy Ghost. She is such a wonderful girl. I would probably be lazy and stay home from church more often if she wasn't so excited about going to church every Sunday. She always reminds us to say a family prayer in the morning as well as read our scriptures. She is a great example for her brothers and sister.

Don't they look handsome.

Diggin in the dirt

2008-05-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

We have spent the last 2 weekends figuring what to do with our yards and then creating it. Everything is so expensive; fence, sprinkler system, dirt, sod, plants, trees. So far we have put in fence posts. Derek and Berto dug the post holes. I did my best to help Derek cement them in. i had asked my dad if he would do some more cement for a patio. He said no but when I went ahead and dug it out and got it ready he offered to do it. I figure he didn't want someone else to do it and mess it up. He had other cement work to finish up and it didn't take as much time to pour as it would have to prep. My dad refers to cement as weed control. Derek thinks we will have the backyard done by the end of the month. That would be so awesome.

Alexandra's Baptism

2008-05-06T10:18:00.001-07:00

May 3, 2008 What a beautiful girl.

February 1, 1987

Yeah that is me, mullet and all. Why, why did my mom have my hair like that? She liked the look of "feathering it." Yikes.

Xavier loses another tooth

2008-05-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

Xavier lost his second tooth. It has been hanging in there since his last tooth came out. And I mean just hanging there. He went to bed with it under his pillow and woke up with 4 One dollar bills. He was so mad. I mean furious and I couldn't figure out why. He just kept saying they are just ones. Did he expect them to be fives. he even went as far as ripping one into pieces. Finally i sat down and asked him what he thought was going to be under his pillow. He explained that he didn't get any gold coins. Ahh! Last time he got the new golden dollar coins. So after a little distraction I told him to go look again and sure enough he had two of them in his pillow slip. Completely changed his attitude. He was so excited that the tooth fairy had come. So I ask myself should I keep trying to right things instead of letting him deal? Yes, they will have enough disappointing experiences that I am going to do the best I can.

Baby Banessa

2008-04-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

My sweet baby Banessa. After a few days of antibiotics Vanessa seemed to be fading away. She didn't eat or drink anything, hardly made any noise and just lumped on the couch. It was so weird. I took her into the clinic to see Dr. Kearns. I wasn't going the walk in again. He said that her ears were fine surprised that I was ever told she had an infection. He did an X-ray on her chest and had a nurse come draw blood for some lab work. He figured it was dehydration but wanted to take all precautions. He had the pediatric nurse try to put in an IV so we could avoid a trip to the hospital.

We ended up going into the hospital at 5:30 pm. Friday night. The got the IV in pretty much right away. I thought it would be a nice little break for me. Relax watch a little TV and get a good night sleep on the bed next to her. It's crazy after all these years i still think such crazy thoughts. Vanessa was stuck to the IV machine so she couldn't move more than 3 feet. I did get a little nap in but the nurses come in all night. Vanessa was feeling better about 2 in the morning so she was awake and wanted to be entertained. Fortunately I got her back to sleep around 5 but then I was awake. She slept a bit but then for the rest of the day she wanted to be out of there. It was so hard. I though I was going to go crazy. Vanessa wide awake wanting out of this tiny room. I couldn't even go the bathroom. I had to hold her and keep her from running out of the room and ripping her IV out. She was so restless I think she could have pulled it off. The doctor that had seen her that morning thought they should keep her another night. i think I would have died. they would have to sedate her or find someone else to held her because I would have to leave. But thank you Dr. Kearns for telling the nurses if I thought she was good enough to go home then she could be released. So at 4:00 we headed home. Yeah!!

A horrible Monday with a nice surprise

2008-04-15T21:17:00.000-07:00

Since I only had 2 daycare kids I decided to attempt a trip to the clinic. I am going crazy with my whiny, crying, and now barfing kids. Dr. Kearns was booked so we headed to the walk in. Yeah that's right. Me and five kids to the walk in clinic on a Monday morning. Cael, who's 13 months and Vanessa now 18 months both cried to be held. Eli too was crying but at least wasn't pulling at me. People were looking at me like I was crazy or they were irritated like I had anywhere else I could take them. After one hour of crying and occasionally screaming kids the strangest of things happened. No it wasn't our turn. A large man probably in his late fifties who only spoke Spanish gestured to hold one of the babies. Since I knew my kids wouldn't go for it he held Cael who went right to sleep. This allowed me to calm Vanessa who went to sleep. That man sat with me for the next hour holding Cael. He even offered to help me in the back room but I ran into a friend who went back with us. What an awesome thing that was and he may never know how much that helped me.
Turns out Vanessa had an ear infection as well as thrush. Eli had an ear infection. So after 2 1/2 hours I was sent home with 4 prescriptions, 2 jars for collecting Eli poo to check for a stomach bacteria(yea poo collecting), and 1 giant headache. I was so relieved to be home except my house looked like a pig sty. It wouldn't have really mattered but I noticed my dad must have walked through the entire thing to get to the doors and put on the bolt locks. I am so tired that the last thing i feel like doing after everyone leaves is clean. Not that I really get a chance with Eli and Vanessa still just wanting to be held. And that's more important anyway. My kids are sick and need me to sit and hold them for a while, going on 8 days now. I have a hard time taking care of stuff as Derek will confirm. I misplace things like phones and remotes but when he asked if I can take care of anything I felt good saying Yes, I take care of my kids. All the other stuff is just stuff.

Back up to March

2008-04-15T20:46:00.001-07:00

We had snow at the end of March. It was crazy. Actually the crazy part was I let the kids talk me into getting the snow pants and boots out of the attic for them to wear for 10 minutes get mud all over then take them off and leave for me to clean. But it is all good. I cannot remember why Eli was crying but Vanessa loved it. Wearing her boots with a skirt and t-shirt. The snow was gorgeous to get up to in the morning but as expected turned to rain int he afternoon and all melted away.

Spring Break

2008-04-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

After a week of the kids feeling sick I got a sore throat. It started Monday morning. The first day I was to have 11 kids here. Fortunately they didn't all make it. I think I would have fallen apart. I felt horrible. But we got through the day. Tuesday wasn't much better. Eli, Vanessa and Isabel (Alexandra's friend) went with us to Alexandra and Xavier's Dentist appointments at 8:00 in the morning. Xavier threw a fit when they wanted to spread some goop on his teeth. I had to pin him down and hold his mouth open. He ended up spitting most of the stuff on me. Thanks. At 10 I took Vanessa to her well check appointment. She didn't get shots because she had a fever of 103. The rest of the day as well as Wednesday are a blur. Thursday and Friday were hectic with all the kids. I had older kids here b/c of spring break so they wanted to go outside a lot. which is fine except our house is surrounded by dirt and a good chunk of that dirt ended up inside. Xavier got sick so he spent one entire day on the couch. Eli has had a fever of 102 for an entire week. He has not slept well at night so just passes out during the day. He and Vanessa fight over me holding them. I hold both and they try to push the other off. Over the week I got little sleep with everyone coughing and crying all night so the house was destroyed. I was embarrassed for anyone to see it. But I was wiped out so rather than cleaning Derek took me out to a movie Friday and Dinner Saturday for a friends birthday. It was so nice to get out without kids. Saturday morning I got up early and hit a few garage sales thinking I would get a nap later in the day. But Alexandra had a soccer game. We were asked by the president of the swimming association if we were interested in getting her on the swim team. She has to start in lessons Monday. I think it will be good for her. Sunday the girls and I went to church while the boys stayed home still a little sick. The afternoon was spent relaxing and recovering. Ugh Mondays.

Alexandra's Birthday

2008-04-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

April 7th was Alexandra's 8th Birthday. It was also the first day of spring break so she didn't have any school. She didn't get a real party but did have cake and presents and one friend spend the night. Thank you mom for her makeup, Shamra for the outfit, Grandma and Grandpa Perez for the cute clothes, dad for the bike and me for the scriptures and ring.

Xavier loses his first tooth

2008-04-02T14:30:00.000-07:00

Xavier lost his first tooth. He was so excited for the toothfairy that he slept in his own room the whole night. And for that he was given $6.00.

On St. Patrick's Day he asked "If today is Patrick's Day, when is Spongebob's Day?"

Easter

2008-03-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Needless to say everyone was tired after a late night. The day started off a little strange and disappointing. I wanted us to go to church as a family but the boys were tired and Derek volunteered to stay home with them so they could sleep. My parents spoke in Sacrament meeting and it was absolutely wonderful. I had stressed about Easter eggs and baskets but was reminded of the true meaning of Easter. After hearing talks, songs, and prayers I went to my primary class where I had 5 six year olds wondering if I had brought them candy. I told them the story of Easter and the sacrifice Jesus had made for us. During my lesson I truly felt the spirit testifying to me that what I was saying was true. That the atonement of Christ is true. Christ had suffered and died for me and for my sins. I have never doubted that it was true but the feeling I got was a wonderful reassurance of that truth. It isn't just a story or some historic event with only importance a long time ago. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is just as important today as it was then. We are all to be resurrected to live with our Father in Heaven again. What a wonderful gift we are given. With that thought I had a new feeling returning home to my husband and kids. I felt calm and all the stresses of a holiday disappeared. I had begun to dislike holidays because of the stress not to disappoint. Holidays were a lot easier when I was the kid.

After lunch at my parents and an egg hunt for the kids we returned home where we literally laid around for the rest of the evening.

Seperating the girls from the boys

2008-03-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday my mom and I took Alexandra and Vanessa to Spokane for a little shopping while Derek took Xavier and Eli to Tri-cities for a hockey game. It was kind of bitter sweet. I have been wanting to get out of town ever since I started working but I sort of expected the boys to be excited for me to come home or want to go with me. They wanted to be with dad. It ended up being harder for me than it was for them. I have been away during the day but they are home when I get home. This time I left while they were still sleeping and they got home late so they had fallen asleep in the car. As much as they can drive me crazy by hanging on me all day and needing me to do every little thing for or with them, it is hard having them not need me so much. I am excited that my kids are at ages where we can start doing more as a family and doing things everyone can enjoy. Spring is here and I am excited to be outside. It seems there is more to do when the weather is warm. Or maybe I am just more willing to do them when the weather is warm.

A few pictures of the house

2008-03-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Family Room
Morning vs. Afternoon
Kitchen

Living Room

Alexandra's room.
I painted the dresser. Ain't it cute?
Xavier and Eli's room

Boys room decorated with all Derek's sports memorabilia.
Derek and my room.

Alexandra's first soccer game

2008-03-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

We had Alexandra's first soccer game this last Saturday. It was a lot of fun. Derek ended up coaching her team because they didn't have enough people signed up to coach. I think he really likes it though. There are only 7 girls on her team so it is a lot of game time. She did so good. I was really impressed and amazed by just how fast she was. We are going to Quincy this weekend for a tournament.

Alexandra is number 2 on the Chiefs.

Kids Pics

2008-03-06T20:50:00.000-08:00

Our little big girl

2008-03-06T20:08:00.000-08:00

How many times can you hear "They grow up so fast?" But it is true. Vanessa is not a little baby anymore. She can run with the beg kids. She can be both very girly at times with makeup and babydolls. Then tackle like a football player with the boys.
Glamalicious!!

This is her beautiful bed head. I love her hair!!

winter days

2008-03-06T19:36:00.000-08:00

I am so glad that I will never have to walk up and down those wacky stairs again. Especially in the winter. We had atleast 2 weeks of below 30 degree weather that the ice on the stairs never melted. Most people would shovel and i tried but I just kept thinking it would warm up and melt away. As for the stylish winter clothes I scored at Penny's. Snowpants $2.48 each and 3 Adidas jackets $11.00 each. Had I not had Vanessa in one arm and more time to look around I think I could have scored more. I love finding a good deal. I bought the kids snow pants that fit this year and some to fit next year. It was awesome.

Stairs of Death and winter deals

2008-03-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

Falling off the edge of the Earth

2008-02-18T15:48:00.000-08:00

We have been moving and trying to get settled in for the past few weeks and are still without internet. Hopefully this week we will be up and running. I am anxious to catch up on Camery, Candace, and Alisha's blogs. I am loving being in our house but we are still without a few things. Like any sink on the main floor. So if anyone uses the bathroom they have to go down to wash their hand. or wash them in the shower. Our water heater has been on the fritz. We get 30 seconds of scortching hot water then 2 to 5 minutes of lukewarm water and then it runs cold. Derek hates his 4 am showers. I usually wait until mid-day to shower. We also have to do all our cooking in the basement. The kitchen should be done end of this week if the sink I ordered comes in.

Everyone is doing well. Derek is back on at Genie and really likes it. Yeah!! I am still watching 2 kids/day plus my own. Derek took Eli and Xavier to get haircuts. I need to get some photos. Their hair is short. Eli looks like a tennis ball. Anyway I was only intending on letting you know I have not fallen of the Earth just need to get back online.

New Years 2008

2008-01-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

For the first time in years, like 7 years Derek and I went out. We put the kids to bed at 8:30 and had Meg come over at 9. We went over to Jimmy and Nicole McEachrin's to just hang out. We ended up taking Vanessa with us. Another couple was there and we planned on playing some games. A few of Derek's other friends showed so everyone sat around and talked. I actually ended up playing with Vanessa until she had had enough. I hoped she would have gone back to sleep but no luck. We ended up leaving early and getting home at 11:45. Vanessa fell asleep and Derek and I just lounged and played Mario Galaxy. I loved it. I like doing things with other couples but feel out of the loop when it is Derek's single friends around. When we move we hope to host a lot of things so that will be cool. We should be moving in the next two weeks. I hope that we do since Derek has already invited friends over for the Super Bowl.

I did make a few resolutions this year. They are the same as always

lose those last 80 lbs of baby weight that are still hanging on.
cut back on wasteful shopping. I spend too much money on crap.
Eat healthy with the kids. They have my nasty candy habit/addiction.
Attend church every Sunday and for all 3 hours. I think it will help now that I have been called to teach the 6/7 year old class. I think it is really important that Xavier and Eli get used to going to their own class and not being with me all the time.
And just work on being a nicer, happier, all around better person.

Merry Christmas

2008-01-02T17:24:00.000-08:00

We went to dinner at my parent's house Christmas Eve where we played games and opened presents from my parents. It was fun to get together with family. I do miss the days when I could play board games without interruption. 4:00 am Christmas morning I heard Alexandra and Xavier at my bedroom door all giggling with excitement which I quickly smashed with one word "No." They quieted down and waited patiently until 6 when they could no longer contain themselves. Derek got up and helped them search for their hidden stockings. Vanessa and I got up around 6:30 and we sat around waiting for Eli who got up around 7. Our kids got spoiled. Lots of clothes, games, cars, baby dolls, shoes, and toys. Vanessa got the cutest baby dolls but fought over the boys race cars. She has sine taken to them and likes to wrap them and give them their bottles. Alexandra was hooked up with clothes, mp3 player, Vtech laptop, dirtbike and helmet, and a DS. Eli and Xavier both got movies, cars raceway, drums Nerf guns, and my personal favorite Carnival for the Wii. Derek got some clothes and a Mario Galaxy and money. Derek surprised me with a mothers ring which is so beautiful. I also got money, clothes, earrings, a cactus, and a few other things. As a family we got bar stools. 46"LCD TV, and a new sectional. I cannot wait to move. The rest of the day we spent at home relaxing and playing with our new toys.

On another note of Christmas we watched the Santa Clause 3. In it Jack Frost is told that no one is allowed to upstage Santa at Christmas. It made me think how Santa has upstaged Jesus. I hope to try to teach my children the true meaning of Christmas as it is overlooked so often. I had a child at my house who looked at a picture of Jesus I have and I told her it was Jesus and she told me that Jesus is just a baby. It is not just his birth that is so important but his life and how he lived and died for all of us. Anyway I hope we can remember him all year.

Happy Birthday Eli

2007-12-18T13:12:00.000-08:00

Eli's birthday was yesterday but we sang to him and had cake on Saturday. It wasn't anything big. He opened his gifts which he loved and had a pinata when one of Derek's friend Mike brought over his boy Reese. Eli is so good at sharing when it comes to candy or any new toy. Mima gave him walkie talkies, grandpa and mima gave him mega blocks racetrack and clothes. Grandma Carlene gave him stickers, books, a poster, and some money. We gave him a book and the lucky duck game which hasn't gone over very well. Vanessa likes to sit in the middle of it and steal all the ducks.

Today Eli and Xavier were using the walkie talkies. Eli is still working on pushing the button when he talks. I took a turn talking with Xavier. I asked him what color things were that he could see in the other room. Then I asked him how many fingers he had. I heard him start counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 then static as he passed the walkie talkie to the other had. After 5 more seconds he responded 10. It was so funny to listen to. We are trying to ween the kids off candy and to eat healthier. It's hard during the holidays. I hope that as I try to do better it will be easier for them. The earlier they start the better.

Ear Tubes

2007-12-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

After numerous and never healing ear infections Vanessa got tubes. Our day started at 2am when Vanessa woke up for milk. Since she wasn't supposed to have anything after midnight I thought I could just rock her back to sleep. Not until 4 did she go back to sleep. That's when Xavier yelled for me to get him a drink. I finally fell back asleep at 4:30 so when the alarm went off at 5:45 Derek had to wake me up twice. I got up and ready and carried Vanessa out of bed and to the freezing car and drove to the hospital. I was told to be there by 6:30. She was examined and changed into hospital pajamas and both big toes had cords hanging from them. Then we had a wonderful I mean horrible wait until 8:00 before she went back. It was awful to have them carry her away. I remembered exactly how it felt two years ago when they did Eli's tubes. She did wonderful and was happy to see me. She was only out of my arms for maybe 20 minutes. All the nurses commented on her beautiful curls. She will feel and hear better. I am really blessed that I do not have children with any serious health issues. It would be so hard to leave them in a hospital or have them in pain. Derek went into work late so he could stay with Xavier and Eli and get Alexandra off to school. I was so tired. I am so grateful that I don't have to get up early and shower every morning before 7. It is always so cold. I am so blessed to be able to be home raising my kids.

Most, if not all of Derek's friends wives and girlfriends all work. Being a stay at home mom isn't to be considered. But many of them have their kids in daycare for 10 hours a day. So pick up your kid, dinner, bath time, and put them to bed. It would be strange. And insanely expensive for us with 3 kids not yet in school. I wouldn't want to rely on family help. I love that I can pull in some money now. It took a while but Derek knows that raising kids and being home all day is challenging and stressful and many times overwhelming. It is nice to have his support. I do understand that some situations require moms to work. Derek and I figure if I had a job outside the home where I actually brought home extra money we would just have more stuff. Maybe upgrade the cars but mostly just stuff. So I will trade all my stuff to raise my own kids. I am truly blessed.

I got a Job!!!

2007-12-05T13:18:00.000-08:00

I have been planning on starting a daycare when we move into our new house. I have taken all the required classes and bought all the supplies but cannot get certified until we have a home inspection. I cannot get one of those until I have a home. However, a few friends were looking for full time sitters with or without a license. So yeah, they are bringing their kids here. Right now I just have 2 to watch Ava and Chloe, both three. Which is fine with me. It has really opened my eyes to what a horrible mother I have been. Before they came over I could barely muster enough energy to get through most days. I hardly did anything with my own kids. It was just easier to say no when they would ask for me to do things with them than try to do something and get totally frustrated. Now with other kids here I feel like I have to be doing something. We go on walks, fly kites, make cookies, color, read books, and just run around outside. Before my kids would go outside alone, which is okay, but I feel I could have been doing more. I always felt like I had something else I needed to do first. Other things were more pressing. But now i feel like during the day I just need to be a good mom to my kids and that is actually enough. Who cares about all the other stuff. The other part is I cannot yell or get mad at other children so why do I get mad at my own children for the same mistakes. I have the most awesome children in the world and I have the ability and opportunity to be the best mother. It is strange and I am so grateful that I realized that I can be a better mother while they are still young and won't remember much from this age. So babysitting has been a real blessing. My kids like having other kids to play with and I enjoy my own kids so much more.

National Guard Christmas.

2007-12-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

Derek had drill this weekend in Ephrata where they had a Christmas party planned for the families of the members of his unit. It was unbelievably nice. They had games set up for the kids. Fishing for presents, beanbag throw into a box snowman, and a cake walk. As well as raffles. Eli threw the bean bags in and when he received his prize, a stuffed penguin, he threw that into the holes. He didn't know he was supposed to keep it. He loved the toy too, calling it Cody Maverick from Surf's up. Alexandra won a cake in the cake walk and our family won a raffle for a Walmart gift card. After the kids all won piles of prizes; stuffed animals, puzzles, nerf guns & shape sorters, we ate lunch and Santa came. The kids took turns sitting on his lap and receiving a gift. All of my kids got something that was on their Christmas list. I thought Derek had something to do with it but he didn't and it was just luck of the draw. The gifts were labeled by gender and age. Alexandra got a pink track suit and a book, Xavier received a metal basketball hoop that hangs over the door, Eli a musical book and $25 gift card, and Vanessa got a cabbage patch snowman baby. I was floored by the great gifts. I think that I loved spending the day together as a family having a good time the best.

Snow Days

2007-12-05T12:01:00.001-08:00

It has been rediculously cold so I guess it might as well snow. We woke up to a beautiful blanket of snow covering ther ground. I think I could actually like it if we weren't building our house right now. My dad thinks snow is a bad four letter word and prefers not t hear the word spoken. Alexandra has to go to school in it and they are not allowed to pick it up off the playground. Xavier was out the door by 7:30 throwing snowballs at the window. He wanted me to go out and make him a snow man. We tried but it is too cold for me. We only had a few days before it rained and all the snow was gone. so now we look forward to the next snow fall.

The Goofy Goober

2007-11-25T12:24:00.000-08:00

I only title it that because Xavier loves Spongebob. Derek still calls him Baber Bave. Lately I have been saying E-Xavier because I combine Eli at the beginning. I cannot get names right. He tells me that E-Xavier is not his name. Derek took he and Eli to the skate park the other day even though it was like 28 degrees outside. Xavier loved it. He sat on his skateboard and went down the half pipe a couple of times. he is trying to ride on one foot on the concrete and has been trying to do tricks on his board at home on the carpet. It is cool to see him build confidence. We got a couple large boxes and Xavier has spent the last 2 days building a fort. First he drew a steering wheel on it and it was a car. Now he has cut holes all over it and he likes to get in and close it and it is a fort. I swear boxes are such great toys. They require imagination and provide hours of fun. Plus they are almost always free.

Eli and the cats

2007-11-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

From the day we got our cats Eli has been very attached to them. He carries them around, picks them up from their naps, pulls their tails and throws them holding just one paw. He traps them under baskets, boxes and in the closet. He pulls their fur and drops them into water in the bath. But when it comes to bedtime they always curl up next to him. Every night they get onto his bed and literally sleep on top of him. The other night he was sleeping under a warm blanket and Shadow was grooming Eli's sweaty forehead.

Eli still likes to hold my hair when I hold him or rock him at night. He hasn't been feeling well and has woken me up a few times to ask me for a handful of hair. He just holds it or brushes it over his face and then falls back asleep. The other kids have blankets. He never got attached to his the same. I guess his security is found in my hair. As sweet as it sounds it can be quite uncomfortable sometimes. i cannot believe that he will be three next month. He seems so much older most of the time.

Days Gone By

2007-11-20T13:26:00.000-08:00

Time is flying and yet I don't feel as though I have gotten anything accomplished. My kids are all bathed, fed and healthy except for the occasional sniffle. So I guess we are doing OK. It got cold, very cold where it doesn't get over 40 in the day so we have been stuck indoors. We try go go out but never last long. I took the kids down to watch Grampa Glade and Marty pour cement at the house. I do believe that my dad can work harder in one day than I have worked everyday in my whole life added together times 2. We are lucky to have him building our house. It will be built well and at a better price than imaginable.

The boys keep busy making forts and fighting a lot. Alexandra is busy at school. Vanessa is the biggest trouble maker I have dealt with. She climbs on the table, pushes everyone out of her way, empties drawers and cupboards, dumps cat litter, fights for toys, and can now open doors. So the kids used to be able to build and play without her by going in the room and shutting the door. now they have to lock it. But she is hilarious. Derek was wrestling with Eli on the bed so she climbed up and laid right nest to them. Every time Eli laughed or let out a squeal she would laugh too even though she wasn't actually part of the playing going on. I was thinking at what point does the cute little "momma" she say turn into the horrible "mom" my kids say. when she says mom it is so sweet. when everyone else says it I just think, what do you want. That sounds so terrible when I write it but there are days I think the word mom should be limited to 50 uses/day.

Another Typical Day

2007-11-09T20:11:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately the events you are about to read are typical. We start our morning way too early. 6:15. Since I stayed up and watched CSI last night that only gave me 7 hours of interrupted by children sleep. Derek went to work. Alexandra got off to school OK. Eli hit Vanessa in the head with a foam padded bat. I attempted to clean the house doing 7 full loads of laundry so everything will be clean when we come back from camping this weekend. Vanessa opens the kitchen drawers and tries to climb them like stairs. She gets into everything. Pulls out the chairs to climb and stand on the kitchen table. I have pictures to add later. She climbs in the bathroom and proceeds to brush her teeth with whatever toothbrush is available. I have replaced every ones toothbrush at least twice in the past couple weeks because after using them she carries them around and loses them or puts them outside.

Eli has been wanting to dress himself lately. I think it is great. One less thing for me. Today's ensemble was Winter boots, Surfboard swim shorts, and a backwards Halloween shirt. After putting his shirt on backwards he looked down and said "Hey, there's no picture." Since I had no plans of leaving the house I didn't really care We did end up going to Kimbers to pick up Winslow to come and play. Vanessa fell there and hit her head hard on the corner of the door frame.

At home I was just completely exhausted trying to stay awake. Vanessa took an early nap. Yeah. I used that time to do dishes and be lazy. The boys rode bikes and even though it is only in the low forty's filled up water balloons.

The cat just bit my retractable mouse cord in half. That's what I get for typing on the floor.

We went to gramma's. Vanessa emptied one of her cupboards of cake mixes and canned food. Xavier and Eli jumped on the trampoline. Eli ahas traded his winter boots for cowboy boots. I get my hip length jacket out of the closet for the first time this season and it was a bit more snug around the hips. Lovely, like I need the constant reminders I need to lose weight. My van was full of storage unit stuff so we went to the storage unit to unload. My key broke in 1 of the 2 locks. I was glad I had already locked one. Decided to hit Walmart on the way home to get supplies for the weekend out of town. We all looked like scrubs. It was awful and I am so glad I did not run into anyone. Barely got home to greet Alexandra as she got off the bus at the wrong stop b/c the bus driver forgot to stop at her stop.

Back at home made dinner, more water balloons, Vanessa filling every ones cups on the table with Cheetos. Eli driving me nuts. He doesn't want to take a bath until I tell Xavier to go first. When it is finally his turn he throws a fit as to what order his clothes have to be removed. Fit over, no bath, put to bed. Alexandra and Xavier start fighting and get sent to rooms. Kicking walls and crying. Now of coarse it is almost bedtime so they are hungry again and begin playing great. I swear they get along well and play so loud when I just want some peace. I love that they are playing and getting along but why do they get louder. I think I am just done for the day. Thank you 8:00. Bed time. My time. I am ready to crash but want to wait up for Derek who is getting his tattoo finished. I will never bore you again with this but I wanted to put in a day in the life.

Fall

2007-11-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

Down went the temperature. Down comes the leaves. I love trees. Especially ones that shade the yard but the amount of leaves is ridiculous. The kids thought it was fun to put more leaves on the trampoline and jump around. They had a pretty good time sliding all over the place.

Vanessa is no longer the baby. Except when she sleeps. She is a toddler and running with the older kids. I was telling the kids to look at an image on the computer and she came right over pushing her way over them to see what it was all about. She keeps up with them so well. We have a little Spongebob couch that she has claimed as hers. If Eli or Xavier or even Derek sit on it she comes over and pushes them off. Literally using all her strength to push. But what a doll she is. I am really blessed to have the children I have. I love them so much. Even though they can fight and argue and drive me crazy I couldn't ask for better kids.

Halloween

2007-11-04T15:53:00.000-08:00

Eli is Mr. Bones, Alexandra Army Girl, Vanessa witch (wouldn't keep hat on) Xavier Motorcross Driver(didn't like helmet.)

As with many holidays I was ready to cancel Halloween. Trying to get everyone in warm clothing then putting costumes over them. Eli and Xavier both wore two pairs of pajamas under their costumes. Alexandra couldn't find any pants that didn't bother or make her itchy. Vanessa kept pulling on her dress trying to get it off. But we did it, we got ready and went. We went to Uncle Marty's first then Aunt Shamra's. Eli was dumbfounded after receiving his first piece of candy. That was it. All the hype about trick or treating and all he had was one peice of candy. I had to explain we had to go to lots of houses in order to get lots of candy. At 5:30 we went to trunk-or-treat at he church for fast candy and hot dogs. That ended by 6:00 and the kids were ready for more. After calling around Derek decided to meet up with Roy and his kids. We went with them last year. It was freezing but the kids didn't mind. Eli and I straggled behind so I tried to catch up by crossing someone's yard instead of going down the driveway, sidewalk and back up the other driveway. The neighbors door was 20 feet away straight line instead of 100 going around. Bad idea. The lady came out and yelled at me. I was so emberrassed. Of coarse I knew what sidewalks were for but she felt the need to remind me. It took me a little while to get over that. Anyway, the kids got loads of candy. Happy Halloween

Drill Weekend

2007-10-28T01:25:00.000-07:00

Derek had drill this weekend. It is so much nicer having him go to Ephrata instead of Yakima. He doesn't have to leave so early, drive so far, and can come home for the night. This week they went driving out at the sand dunes. It was cool because I took the kids out and we watched them drive their course. Eli loved to watch the "big green trucks." Eli and Xavier really wanted to ride in them. I was a little wary when Derek said he wanted to join the National Guard with the war going on and all. I would hate if he had to leave. It has turned out ok. One weekend a month does come up pretty fast and he was gone for three weeks this summer but he really enjoys it and feels that he is learning new things. I think soldiers are awesome. I am just a little selfish about sharing him and our time together. His unit is not set to deploy for atleast a year. Hopefully, much later if at all. I must go now it is crazy early and I need more sleep. God Bless America!

Carving Pumpkins

2007-10-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

Xavier asked to buy pumpkins everytime we left the house. Finally we did. Then he asked everyday for atleast a week if we could carve them. When buying he insisted that no ones be larger than his. I found the white one to be perfect for Vanessa because she is so light. Friday Derek helped carving and cleaning out the pumpkins. It actually took hardly any time at all. There are no pictures of Alexandra here because she chose to go to Corinna's and watch The Haunting Hour instead. It was fun to carve them and the kids loved the way they turned out. Now if I could just remember to get some candles.

2007-10-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

We went up to the cabin this weekend just for the sake of getting out of town. The weather turned out great and we were able to be outdoors while there.
Derek took his gun as well as the one he got me for Christmas a few years back. It was pretty cool. I had never shot anything but a pellet gun. The kids loved it too. Xavier hit the can causing it to explode. That was pretty awesome considering he couldn't really aim and had to have help holding the gun.

Two of Dereks friends came with us. One with his wife and two kids. It was nice for our kids to have other kids to play with. They seem to fight less. We got there Friday night around 9 and had a campfire letting the kids stay up until after midnight. That left everyone tired the next day. But we still got out and took a walk, shot the guns and had another fire for most of the day. Derek and Alexandra spent some time trying to master Guitar Hero on Andy's XBOX. Overall it was a great weekend and we hope to go again soon.

My wonderful beautiful family

2007-10-10T20:46:00.000-07:00

Everyone is doing good. Alexandra missed 2 days of school with a belly ache that went away shortly after school started. She has beed getting better at reading. She is currently reading Junie B. The toothless wonder. Xavier is good. He is so sweet. He tells me I am beautiful and that he loves me. He has been enjoying having Winslow over to play. They have a good time playing outside, even in the rain like today. Where to begin with Eli. He has always had such a large vocabulary. Yesterday he wore a jacket because it was "Chilly." Today when done eating he tells me. I am "finished now." Not done but finished. Sometimes I forget that he is only 2. he can speak and explain everything. All since he was around17 months old. the downfall is he picks up on bad words too. We are working on that. Vanessa is such a doll. We went to the clinic. Atleast 10 other kids took turns playing with her but didn't interract with each other. Last night Derek held her and brushed through her hair with Alexandras brush. He did it only for a minute and when he stopped she started in with her Uuh. Uuh. She wanted him to keep going . It was so cute. Derek is busy with work and coaching kids football with some of his buddies. It seems he is gone a lot. I have been filling my few moments of quiet with reading the Twilight series. Thank you Candace for getting me hooked on those. Back to them now

2007-10-09T17:20:00.001-07:00

The House

2007-10-05T11:25:00.000-07:00

We should be in by Christmas. So I keep telling myself and the hundred other people who ask when it will be done. I was just there today deciding what kind of lighting goes into each room. UUUHH I don't know was my answer. My dad asks me what I want and then helps me change my mind until I say what he already planned. For example, what color of roof? Black. Are you sure? Ok dark gray. Really? Light gray. Good because that is what I have. Next topic. Do you want outdoor lightfixtures in the soffets or coming out of wall? Out of the wall I say. If you do that then you will have more bugs flying around. Soffits then. Great he replies. Now I try to say you know best. I am picking out cabinets next. I think. I am so excited ready to move. We have been in limbo since we moved to ML. It will be nice to feel settled where we can have people over. And the kids can have more space to run and play. I will have projects to do. I am excited for yard work. Yeah!!!

Myspace and blogging

2007-10-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

I would grant derek the title of King of MySpace. He is on it all the time. And for what? to view comments from people he just talked to on the phone. I started a myspace account but had zero friends to contact. OK so I felt like a loser because Derek has a ton of friends so I cancelled my account. I saw it as a way to chat back and forth. Something I don't do. Blogging on the other hand is about writing for myself and my kids to print out later. However, today I viewed Ashley Boise blog which let me to Alisha Marlatt and onto Haven Villireal and Nena Earl. AAAGH. I am doing what derek does on my space. So I quit. I am sticking to my own and anyone who contacts me. I will not surf through bloggerville. It takes too much time. Right now Eli just barfed and Vanessa is begging me to pick her up. I love that though I do not have many friends the ones I have are close and the best.