Lexi's 1st Soccer Game

Lexi had her first soccer game last night. She was pretty excited about it. I really didn't get to see her play much, because I had to leave to go to Danielle's shower. While I was there, she was out on the field running around and kept grabbing herself. Paul thought it was because the shorts were to big......wrong.....I asked her if she had to go potty and she said YES!!!! I had forgotten in the rush to get to her to the game that prior to leaving the store to buy the cleats for her game, and running home to get her dressed and then to the get to the game on time that she said that she had to go to the bathroom at the store, and since we were running late (what else is new lately?) I told her to hold it, (the girl could probably hold it all day long, while her big sisters start crying after about two minutes). So I ran her up to the disgusting bathroom, and she relieved herself, and went back to play the game.

First Day of School for Kami & Liz

Yesterday was Kami & Liz's first day of school. At 6:45 am they came running up the stairs, fully dressed, with hair done, and said good morning. They were so excited to return to school, they were getting bored with summer, and not having something to do everyday. They both have teachers that they had last year. Liz's teacher looped, which means she moved with her class from 3rd grade to 4th grade. Kami's teacher last year had a baby, and her teacher this year was the one hired for the last 6 weeks of the year. It should be great with the teachers already knowing the girls!!!! I forgot to take the picture, and remembered last night, so the picture is from the 2nd day of school.

Poster Girl for Dr Rubisch

Lexi had to have 2 cavities filled yesterday (8/12/08). Her big sister Fawn works as an assistant at the dentist office, we started going there about 5-6 years ago because my friend Deanna Trump, is a hygienist there also. We know everyone that works there, and all my girls are very comfortable at this office.

Lexi was watching Shrek 2 with a head set, while they were working on her. She also had to have a pair of glasses on because of the laser. She kept closing her mouth, Dr Rubisch wondered if she was asleep, we didn't think so, then a few minutes later we realized that she had totally fallen asleep while getting her cavities filled.

Fawn and Mandy (the other assistant) said she would make a good poster girl for how kids should act at the dentist. She had no gas, no shots, no nothing!!!! They only used the laser and it is painless for small cavities.

Girls Trip To Cali-Day 5 & 6

The kids woke up today, way before I was ready for them too!!!

After breakfast, we decided to go to Dinosaur Park, and the farmers market there. (Not nearly as big as the one in San Luis), and then go to the beach again, because that is all the girls wanted to do.

Trevor joined us today at Pismo Beach. He had his surf board, and told us he would let us know if he say any ocean creatures for us to look at, because before he went out he could see some seals. Kami & Liz went out in the water up to their waists, and probably about 20-40 ft away, (I don't do distances guessing very well) there was a group of Dolphins swimming by. It was amazing.

The kids loved the beach, the water, the sand, and everything about it. I wish it would have been a little warmer though.

After the beach, Jacque & I loaded the car, while Trevor took the kids swimming at the club house again (thanks for that).

We headed back to St George after feeding the kids lunch. The ride is about 8 hrs, but it took us about 9. We only stopped once, I think it was Barstow, at the Taco Bell, for potty break and dinner, and gas. This took about 30 min. Then Kris got pulled over with 10 miles to go to get to the house in St George, and got a ticket for no insurance in the car, and for failing to stay in one lane. I think that the cop thought he had a drunk driver, and was not about to give anyone a warning. If you want a more detailed version of this ticket, let me know, and I will tell you all about how unfair I fell it was. After all of that we arrived at the house in St George at about 1 am, totally exhausted from the drive.

We got up the next morning and went for a swim, and then decided it was hot, and we wanted to go home. Cleaned up and went home, and were able to make it home in just less than 4 hrs, with only 1 quick stop. Can I just say the trip home was a lot smoother than the trip there.

Thanks for everyone that helped make this trip so great!!!! We had a great time, and had wonderful experiences!!!

Girls Trip To Cali-Day 4

Jacque and I went to the grocery store to get food for lunch at the beach, and then went to Trader Joe's--I had never been to one and was curious what it was like.

We then went back to Nicole's and head to Avila beach, because it is sunnier with milder waves.

The girls loved the beach, Jamison and Lexi chased lots of birds. I think that all of the kids rolled in the sand and were covered head to toe with sand. Kami & Liz braved the 60 degree water, and enjoyed the waves. Kris got sunburned, forgot to sunscreen my face and chest. They didn't want to leave, and begged to go back the next day.

We went back to Nicole's and went swimming at her clubhouse. Jacque put her swim cap and goggles on and got in the water with the kids!!!!

For dinner we went to Klondike Pizza, and then walked the Pismo pier, and then to Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Lab for Ice Cream. On the pier we saw a boil of birds (I think that is what it is called) It was pretty weird seeing that many birds.

After we went back home, and the kids were asleep, Trevor stayed with the kids, and Jacque, Nicole & I went to the movie and saw the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Jacque laughed at me because I fell asleep a couple of times and started to snore!!!!!

Girls Trip To Cali-Day 3

Part of our purpose for this trip was to go to the American Girl Store and to visit my sister Nicole at her new home.

We got up and got ready to go. Packed our bags, and miraculously carried all our bags down to the car by ourselves. (I was to cheap to call the bell man), we were quite a sight, Jacque had to tell Kami & Liz to stop grunting, and no one would look at as strange.

We need to eat breakfast, and we thought that we would try to find a McDonald's with the GPS. Well, who knows were the McD's was, we ended up giving up, and found a Jack In The Box on our own, without the GPS. We decided that it needed to be updated, and was only useful for guiding us on the roads, or a destination that we could type in the address.

We then headed to the American Girl Store were we were going to meet our friends there. I called them on the way, and asked what the were doing. Well somehow we hadn't communicated very well, because they were planning on going the next day. Panic set in because she had the reservations for lunch, and I didn't want to have this messed up. So I did my best and did not let my girls see my emotions. We arrived at the store at about 10:30 am, and there was hardly anyone there, Jacque helped them pick a hairstyle for their dolls that they had brought with them, and I went up to see if there was any way that they had any spots for us for lunch. My emotions got the best of me, when the girls weren't there, and I started to cry, as I talked to the girl at the restaurant, she told me not to worry, they had room, and would go move two tables together so that we could eat lunch. I pulled myself together and went and told Jacque and the girls.

We sat down to lunch, and had a great time!!! Halfway through Kami & Liz said "this is fun, can we do this again? We thought that this was going to be stupid" Glad that they really enjoyed it. After lunch all 3 girls picked out the dolls that they wanted to purchase, and we looked around the store some more, and then left to take the 3 hr drive to Nicole's in Pismo Beach.

On the way there, I bribed the kids with a drink and a treat, if they would be quiet on the drive. The Chevron that we pulled up to, sold food, but the food was inside with the attendant, you just had to tell him what you wanted, this would have never of worked for my girls-----to indecisive, they have to be able to look, and look and look. So we loaded back up and went to another gas station. The bribe did work though!!!

We arrived at Nicole's at about 5 pm, unpacked the car, and head to San Luis Obisbo for dinner and the weekly Farmer's Market that they hold there. We had dinner at Firestone BBQ, it was great!!! The walked the street that they close off for the farmer's market. It was a pretty neat experience, and the berries that we purchased were Delicious!!!!

Girls Trip To Cali-Day 1 & 2

We all piled in to the car, at about 6:00 pm Tuesday to start out our girls trip. Jacque had rearranged her work schedule so that I wouldn't have to go by myself. (I am truly grateful for her help). We drove to St George, got there around 10:30, put the girls to bed, so we could get up and start our trip to LA the next morning.

Somewhere between Baker and Barstow I had Jacque text our cousin Alan, whose house we were planning on staying at on Wednesday night, to make sure we were headed in the right direction, and to let him know about what time we would be arriving. He texted her back and said that he was in AZ working, (It had just come up), and that his neighbor would let us in, after much thought we decided to try and get a hotel, since we really just wanted to see and visit with him. Nicole from the office has a brother that works for Marriott, so we called her, and thankfully they both went out of there way, and we were able to get a hotel in downtown LA, at a great price!!!!

When we got to the hotel, they hadn't received the certificate for the friends and family rate, so he had to fax it again (THANKS SO MUCH), and then they finally got the certificate, and we were able to check into the room. The beds were doubles, so I was glad that we had grabbed the aero bed from St George to use at sister Nicole's.

We got settled and decided to drive to Santa Monica pier, to see the ocean, and get some dinner. We went down to get the car. (They only have valet parking at this hotel). The valet brought my car up, but didn't park it very well, and the area was packed. I decided to not wait for the taxi, thinking I could maneuver out, well I was really close to the taxi cab that was next to me, and hit his mirror down the side of my car. I about lost it!!!! The taxi driver said all it did was move his mirror, but he asked me several times if I was going to be ok, and to be careful out there. The kids were so loud in the car, and then that happened, and I was supposed to be driving in LA, not knowing where I was going. Thankfully Jacque was able to calm all of us down, and we headed out to find some dinner.

I had borrowed my dad's GPS, we had found a Ruby's that the GPS said was 3 miles away, well after about 20 minutes, and who knows how many miles, the GPS said that we had arrived at our destination-----Only no Ruby's was to be found!!! We finally found somewhere else to eat, and then went to stop at a Walgreen's to see if I could get some Zanax, because I had left mine home. Well, the prescription had expired, so that was a no go, I was going to just have to cope with my anxiety----Sorry Jacque & Girls, for my crazy anxiety. Well by the time we had finished at dinner and Walgreen's it was dark, and we decided to got back to the hotel, and get some sleep. Believe me we all needed it!!!

Happy Birthday Natalie!!!

Happy Birthday Natalie!!! You are an amazing woman!!! You are always there for me when I need you, and you always have been!! Sometimes you were the annoying little sister when we were growing up, that always wanted to tag along, too bad it takes growing older to realize that is really cool to have your little sister wanting to tag along and be with you. But I really love and appreciate that relationship that has developed between us as we have gotten older. You are great!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Bowling Is Hazardous to your Health

Last night we went bowling with my family. We had never taken our kids bowling so we thought it should be great fun! Well, it didn't start out so well, Paul was helping Lexi, and she had dropped the ball and it had rolled a few feet (maybe 2) so Paul thought that he could walk out on the lane ande kick it to make it move. He didn't realize how slippery the lane is, and slipped and fell. The bumpers were up, and are automatic, and since it was Lexi's 2nd ball, they started to close automatically. His foot was in between the bumper, and was going to be smashed by it, so he tried to make it come back up, and somehow he cut his finger.

He needed to go have stitches, Danielle, who wasn't bowling, took him to the Urgent Care, by our house. The girls and I finished our game, It was a long one, they had never bowled, except for on the wii, and were somewhat freaked out about this whole bowling experience, with blood and all.

At one point I went and had them put the bumpers up & down for Kami, she freaked out even more. So we had them removed from her, I didn't realize that she was really traumatized by it. Nonetheless, we finished our bowling game approx 1 hr & 15 min later, and went to pick Paul up at the Urgent Care.

When we got there the Dr was just getting ready to stitch him up, so I took the girls and got them a Frosty, hoping to calm them down some. Well after we had done that Paul called and asked what Hospital to go to, and that freaked out all the girls. So we picked him up, and against his wishes, we all took him down to St Marks hospital. I dropped him & Liz off, and went to the office to finish something. Kami, Lexi & I returned to the hospital at about 10:30, hoping he would be done soon, since this had happened at 7:15. Well, they had just taken him back to the room, so we had to wait until the dr came in to stitch him up. He had on his report that it was a saw that had cut him, we laughed and told him it had happened bowling, he didn't believe us at first, but then we convinced him. He had never heard of that happening before......Just our luck!!! Liz & Lexi watched intently as the dr stitched him up, while Kami hid her face on my shoulder or would walk out of the room. After 2 stitches inside and 11 outside, and through his finger nail, he is all together again, and we were able to head home at 12:10. What a long night!! I sure hope we can go bowling again some day without it being such an experience!!!