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!

Visits From My Sisters!

As you may have guessed, I LOVE it when my sisters visit. I am lucky to have my little sister pretty near-by in Portland and also lucky that my big sis from Nicaragua visits us every summer. There is not much better than having them both here! Last weekend they were both here and it was wonderful. I am so glad they will be back in a few days to spend more time with us!

Marilyn is so good with babies and also so helpful when she visits. Here she is enjoying her newest niece, Antonia.

We all watched the World Cup final together at my Dad's which was lots of fun

Until they lost :(

But we still enjoyed seeing the kids in their Dutch orange!

Elle's and her friend, Kynsdi, took Jacoby and Genevieve for a few walks which the little ones loved!

Future babysitters, for sure!

When Marilyn comes there are always lots of games played which I love!

And also lots of Starbucks runs. If we are lucky, my Dad and Marcus will join us!

Willem, Jacoby and Chad got into the game playing spirit with a little Battleship match!

Jacoby and Nev are so cute together, dreaming of running free outside!

Cousins Genevieve and Jacoby

Just a cute picture of Jacoby and James

Amber takes great shots of the dairy, something I take for granted as I am around it everyday but I am so glad Amber captures so well!

Another cool picture Amber took

David setting the sprinkler for the corn

Happy 11th Birthday Cade!

On Friday Cade turned 11! We love our boy much and I am so proud to be his mom. He surprises and entertains us all the time but mostly he gives us so much joy and love and we are so glad to call him our son. We love you, Cade! Happy 11th Birthday!

We have been enjoying a fantastic weekend in Bend/Sunriver. It has been filled with great friends, family and, of-course, lots of soccer. I'll post lots of pictures soon.

How Do You Say No to This?

Okay, I know I have to say "No" sometimes but it isn't always easy looking at a sweet little face like this!

Girls Vegas Trip!!

My great friends, Julie, Christy, Liz, Amy and I left five husbands and fourteen kids at home for three great nights in Las Vegas to celebrate our 40th birthdays! We had such a great time with so many fun pictures and memories, it's hard to condense in all one blog post, but here goes.

Here's Julie and me enjoying our first drink in Vegas as Christy gets us checked into New York New York...

And all of us enjoying dinner our first night...

Then it was of to our first of many 'Big Chills/Fat Tuesdays' drinks, yum yum...

Posing with The Strip behind us...

Checking out some clubs where we danced with guys and gals much younger than us...

Liz and I toasting to NOT quite being 40 yet...

And taking a jello shot (for the first time in at least 15 years!)...

Lounging by the pool our first full day in Vegas. What a life! Feeling so lucky and relaxed...

Amy and I making use of the many hats Julie brought along!

Next it was a yummy lunch at Spago in the Forum Shops...

And then, my favorite part, shopping the afternoon and early evening away with a 'Fat Tuesday' in hand and great girlfriends by my side. I'm so happy!

Then we were off to Downtown Vegas for my other favorite thing, Blackjack in Vegas!

First a shot with the many showgirls...

We were so lucky to find an empty $5 table where we all played for two plus hours with the best dealer and (bonus) four out of five of us gals went away winners...

Liz and Julie helped out our cause with some carefully placed good luck chips...

We were so happy, we decided to take some pictures in the middle of the street at around 2:30 am...

 
After sleeping in (a little), it was off to the pool again. Okay, maybe this is my favorite thing...

We all certainly enjoyed the people watching at the pool. This guy and his 'buddies' put on a show all afternoon!

Then it was off to another great dinner, this time at Joe's in the Forum Shops. We all shared a room at NY NY and half the fun was getting ready together, sharing curling irons, clothes and jewelry and giving outfit advice. What a great group of friends I am so very lucky to have!! Don't they all look so pretty!

The Improv was a blast that night...

After more gambling and walking The Strip, we sat at a great piano bar at Harrahs and sang the night away. We had so much fun, I didn't want our last night in Vegas to end...

A big thank you to Julie, Christy, Liz and Amy for being such great friends for so many years, I feel so lucky to have you all, and to our fabulous husbands for holding down the fort while we were away. I'm ready to go back to celebrate our 41st birthdays!!