Camery tag

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

B = BEST FEATURE: eye color

C = COULDN'T DO WITHOUT: music

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

E = ESSENTIAL ITEM: nice spot in the shade

F= FAVORITE PAST TIME: Sleeping

G = GOOD AT: baking

H = HAVE NEVER TRIED: sushi

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

J = JUNKIE FOR: romantic movies

K = KINDRED SPIRIT: none

L = LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I hate cooked fruit

M = MEMORABLE MOMENT: birth of all my children

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

O = OCCASIONAL INDULGENCE: cheesecake

Q = QUOTE: "This too shall pass."

R = REASON TO SMILE: Healthy kids

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

T = TAG SOME FRIENDS: Kimber

U = UNINTERESTED IN: mocha cappuccinos

V = VERY SCARED OF: swimming in the dark

W = WORST HABIT: nail biting

X = X MARKS MY IDEAL VACATION SPOT: Holland

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

Z = ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius

Soccer Tournament

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

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

July 4th 2008

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

Grandma Sara

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

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

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

What we've been doing

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

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

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

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

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

Busy busy busy

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

Fun Day

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