Our Birthday/Soccer/Sunriver Weekend

I am learning that with four kids we often have to squeeze a whole lot into our summer weekends. But once the car gets packed and we are on the road, I am happy as can be, enjoying just being together and trying to savor all the moments. This weekend Cade and Gabrielle played in a soccer tournament in Bend. So, in an effort to make these summer tournament weekends our vacations as well, we rented a house in Sunriver where we stayed three nights with a house full with ten kids and five adults! We also celebrated Cade's 11th birthday while we were there. Aside from fewer wins than Cade would have liked in his tournament, it was a fantastic weekend. The kids had so much fun being together and Chad and I had a great time playing cards, talking till past 1:00 in the morning and drinking a few margaritas with our friends (and Liams' parents), Jason and Michelle, as well as my brother, David. Here are a few highlights of the weekend...

Cade on his birthday morning (before his first game), hanging out with three of his best friends: Edgar, Liam and Pascal.

Cade opening up his gift from us, a Ronaldo jersey and some cash which he plans to add to his savings for some way-to-expensive-for-my-pocketbook soccer shoes!

The boys (including Willem) had so much fun together all weekend including a first night wherein they claim they slept only two hours. Willem told me that he is so glad he has an older brother because he loves hanging out with Cade's friends

The evening of Cade's birthday we went to dinner at the place of Cade's choosing, Outback Steak House. We were so lucky that my sis, Marilyn, and her hubby and two of her kids were in Bend visiting friends so they joined us as well.

There was also lots of soccer to be played. Cade's team had a disappointing weekend, losing two close games and then they played the other U13 boys team from his club for the final game; Cade's team loaned them three of his team's players (the other team had played all weekend without subs) and ended up tying the game 3-3. Cade did get one of the team's five goals of the weekend. Elle's team played tough all weekend, making it to the championship game where they lost to a top Seattle club.

Liam and Cade acting silly as usual!

Saturday afternoon we rode bikes to the river so the kids could wade in the cool water after some hot games. At first they waded tentatively. The water was so cold!

But it didn't take long for the kids to start jumping in!

Then they started jumping in together

Cade and Liam

Next they decided to all jump in together!

Finally, Jason started throwing them in!

Finally it was back on the bikes for a ride back to the house

Michelle (with a little help from the rest of us) cooked us all fabulous meals all weekend!

Gabrielle worked hard in the sun all weekend...

...And helped earn her team a second place finish!