SOCCER SATURDAY

Today was a full day of soccer for us. Cameron played his first game at 10am, Maleah was at 12:00 and Rena was at 3:00. Everyone did really good and had a fun time. Maleah even played without crying and without any bribes!

Here's Cameron out there playing goalie.....

GOLDIE AND FRANKIN

Rena finally got her pet fish!!!!

For months Rena has been wanting a pet. She started out wanting a dog.....which I quickly said "NO" to -- then she moved on to a cat.....which I even quicker said "NO" to! I convinced her that a goldfish would be a perfect pet to start with.....and she luckily said "OK".

When we first decided on the goldfish she was told that she would have to earn her pet. So she started doing extra things around the house -- she was volunteering to set the table, clean out the dishwasher, clear the dinner table and more....she really wanted to earn that goldfish!!! When I said that she had finally earned her fish she was so excited and wanted to get her fish right then, but it was right before our Washington trip.....so she had to wait a little bit longer......

So, it's been a long wait for her but I think she is happy with her new pets, Goldie and Frankin.....

.....I hope these little guys stick around a while......she will be devastated if she finds one of them floating at the top of the bowl -- plus, I don't want to have to go back to the dog, cat, fish debate again anytime soon!

SOCCER GIRLS

On Saturday both Rena and Maleah started playing soccer.

Maleah had the first game and she was so excited before we left the house -- she was dressed and ready to go early, walking around the house with her soccer cleats on. BUT once we got there and got out on the field she did NOT want to play soccer (and she made sure everyone knew!). The first half hour of her scheduled time is suppose to be for practice. So, I stood out on the field with her holding her hand (trying to get her to stop crying) and trying to convince her how much fun it was going to be......it didn't work!! So, Jeff came and took over -- I went and hid (because she knows if I see her I'll melt and "save" her.). She still made it known that she didn't want to be there, but she tried a little bit more with Jeff (probably because he bribed her with money). She spent the first half of the game running after the ball, crying with tears rolling down her cheeks. But, by the end of the game she had quit crying and actually looked like she was having fun (and had earned 10 bucks from Jeff & his bribe!). Hopefully next week will go better -- she says she's excited to go back.....

Maleah is dressed in the blue shirt -- her team is actually the burgundy team, but they didn't have her shirt for her this week.....

Rena was just the opposite of Maleah......she had no problem getting out there to play. I'm sure it helped that her good friend, Olivia, from school is on the team and that Olivia's dad is the coach. She did really good and is excited for next week also.....

FAMILY

We had such a great time on our trip and had so many pictures that I just had to post some more. These are pictures of us just mainly "hanging out". There are a lot of the girls -- they apparently like to have their pictures taken.........

FUN, FUN, FUN IN WASHINGTON

WOW -- we sure did have a good time on our trip to Washington........and we've got the pictures to prove it!! Here's a look at our vacation, day-by-day.....

We arrived into Seattle at about 7:30pm on Wednesday night and Stacy picked us up at the airport and took us straight home to their house. The girls instantly jumped on Megan's lap, Cameron & Alex pulled out the Lincoln Logs and Stacy made us all a snack.....

On Thursday Stacy had to work so we hung out at the house with Megan & Alex. The boys did some more building and the girls spent the day just having fun with each other......

My friend Lisa and her kids came over to visit on Thursday also........the kids were all on Spring Break so we had the day together. Emma, Lisa, Shane & Sara.....

On Friday Stacy took the day off and we went out to lunch with our good friend, Anne Roff......

After lunch it was back home. Megan spent the day (& weekend) printing them all some Easter pictures to color.....

This is what Stacy's living room wall looked like by the end of the weekend.....

Friday night Lisa came back over with her kids & Craig. We had a fun night just hanging out.....

We started Saturday off with some Easter Egg coloring.....

After we finished our eggs we met Grandma Lynne out for lunch.....

We had a "nobody's birthday party" (because it wasn't anyone's birthday and everyone got presents). The girls got these new outfits and loved them so much they had to put them on at the pizza place.....

Saturday night we got together with Craig & Lisa and family again. This time we were at their house for a surprise birthday party for Lisa......

On Sunday we didn't do to much. The kids had Easter baskets to go through in the morning and hunted for Easter Eggs. After that we made a trip to the grocery store, took flowers to the cemetery and took a tour of Puyallup -- I always like to drive around the old neighborhood and check it out when I'm home!

Stacy had all the fixins' for Sundaes for desert on Easter.......Yummy......

On Monday morning we headed out early for a drive over Snoqualmie Pass to visit Grandpa Jim & Grandma Gail in Moses Lake. Cameron had more Lego's to play with there.....

....while the girls did lots of coloring and card playing with Grandma.....

Cameron decided to cook his own dinner while we were there.....

On Tuesday morning Grandma fixed Maleah's hair.....

Cameron decided to take the John Deere for a quick ride around the yard before we headed out.....

After lunch with Grandma & Grandpa we loaded up and headed back West. We stopped in Snoqualmie Ridge to visit with our friends, The Mudd's.

Max & Cameron did a lot of playing and then decided it was break time - which meant they wanted to play the Playstation.....

The girls made themselves some very fancy jewelry.....

Max and Cameron.....

Rena, Isabella and Maleah.....

My good friend, Pamela, and I....

We headed back to sleep in Puyallup after visiting & having dinner at The Mudd's, but then got up early on Wednesday and drove back out to Snoqualmie Ridge to visit with more friends. We all gathered at The Brenne's, but the fun included a few different families - at one point we had 4 mom's & 12 kids in the house!

Beckett, Maleah, Campbelle, Cameron, Christian and Rena.....

Marie, Jill, me and Pamela.....

Marie, Jill, me and Laurel.....

All of the kids......

Campbelle, Maleah and Rena.....

Rena, Christian, Cameron, Adam, Marcus, Beckett, Maleah and Campbelle.....

Me, Laurel and Jill.....

On Thursday we took it easy in the morning, went birthday shopping for Megan and then just hung out with Megan & Alex when they got home from school. It was a nice, relaxing day!

On Friday Megan got out of school early to spend the day with us and then Craig, Lisa and family came back over for one last get-together. We had a fun evening eating dinner, riding quads, playing basketball (the kids all beat me!) and celebrating Megan's birthday.

Cameron thought the quad was pretty cool.....

I told Megan to go slow.....

Maleah loved riding with Mike.....

.....and Megan.....

Rena had no interest in riding, but had fun with Mike's dog, Hershey.....

Happy 14th birthday Megan (it's not really until the 27th, but I wanted to celebrate while we were there!).....

On Saturday the weather was nice enough for us to go see the Daffodil Parade in downtown Puyallup. The parade was a BIG deal when I was growing up (an all-day party at my grandparents) and I was in it atleast 3 times (marching for Puyallup High School), but I hadn't been to it in years......so, we headed over to McDonald's for lunch and then walked to the parade.....

After the parade the boys went home to ride the quads some more and the girls went shopping. We have such a great time with Stacy & Megan......even the girls have fun at the mall when we are with them.....

Saturday night we just hung out at Stacy & Mike's.

The girls were loving Hershey.....and he was finally allowed in the house since the girls were no longer scared of him.....

Mike and I played a few games of cribagge -- I won again and again and again.....

Mike built us an outdoor fire and we all headed out for some smores......

Sunday morning -- time to head home. The kids were just hanging out before we had to go (and before the tears started).....

At the airport saying our last good-byes to Stacy -- before the tears started again.....

Being silly.....trying to avoid the tears....(it didn't work!).....

We had such a great time and are so glad that we got to spend time with everyone that we did. Thanks Stacy & Mike for putting up with us (and the mess at your house) for 11 days. I can't believe how fast the 11 days flew by, but what a great time we all had!