Summer is rolling on by!!!

I can't believe July is half over!! It has been a very busy summer so far! Let's see, just to recap---We've been traveling to Des Moines, Rapid City, Illinois for soccer, Rochester, Wisconsin, Omaha for swimming, Brandon for baseball...whew! The boys have been having fun! David and I take turns going and usually take a couple kids with us so we can divide and conquer!

Zach has been focusing more on swimming now that soccer has slowed down. He decided to skip going to Regionals for soccer and go to Rochester instead for swimming.
The first weekend in June, I took him, Liz and Haley---and Molly down to Omaha for the swimvitational to see some of the Olympians swim just before the Trials began. Haley and Zach had fun "teaching" Liz all about the swim-lingo and Liz seemed to be a pretty interested learner! We drove home thru a storm and then relaxed the rest of the weekend. @nd weekend in June we watched Zach play in the DG tourny and attended the Special Hearts Picnic with Molly. This was a special picnic for kids with "special-hearts" and their families. We got meet some very special people who we are eternally indebted to--- Dr Stamato, nurse Laura and Dr. Waltz. We met Polly and her family and Ethan who is a rambunctious 3 yo! Can't wait to see them again!
The next weekend was Rochester for Zach and baseball tourny for Ben. Ben team was fairly well stomped on for most of their games but we kept it fun---something so many of the parents seem to have trouble doing. There is a problem when the outcome of the game is more important to the parents than the child! This class of 6th graders will be an interesting bunch to see grow up---or should i say their parents will be interesting to watch!!
We finally got our boat back and have made several trips out. the boys are getting great at the knee board and are wild on the tubes! Molly even had a ride on the boat! Bella, Dominic and Sam are getting better at riding the tube also!

We attended the Olympic Trials for the week of June 28th- July 6th. WOW!!! That's all I can say! We had everyone down there except that David had to go back to SF for the majority of the week due to work issues so I was left with our 6 plus Max and Jimmy and many other swim team kids who decided to spend the day with us in between prelims and finals. It was a very challenging week being without a car and my partner-in-crime- David! But all in all the week was a huge success! The kids got to meet many of the Olympians--- some of their favorites were Ryan Lochte, Aaron Peirsol, Amanda Beard and Michael Phelps just to name a few!
the funniest thing was watching Haley in her quest for the week to get to meet Ryan Lochte. She was just never in the right place at the right time! Zach called her one night to say we were right in front of Ryan but poor Haley couldn't get back quick enough from dinner with her family and another family. so Zach decided to do the next best thing...he asked Ryan Lochte to talk to Haley on the phone---which he did and Haley was thrilled....I also got a picture of him talking to her! Big Hit!! On the 4th of July however, the best thing happened to Haley. Just as Ryan was accepting his medal, Haley screamed down to him and he threw his flowers to her! The girl was mess the rest of the night! It was priceless!!!

After coming back home, I had to quickly leave again for Chicago for the PC conference. I went with Stacie, Janelle, and Terra. Terra had never left her dtr before and was having a hard time. she was very nervous about flying so Janelle and I put her between us and "mothered" her---which was good because it took my mind off of being nervous as well. She did great!! Later that night we went to Navy Pier and made Terra go on the Ferris Wheel. She was very nervous but we pushed her outside her comfort zone---told her it was her therapy! I came back the day before my birthday...which was uneventful...so I worked...did a Bridal Shower, went to church ate my favorite pizza with the family then ate ice cream cake! They did write some funny letters to me. And they got me a Dara Torres t-shirt--autographed and all--for my birthday!
But truly the thing I love the most is when the kids write me letters. I want to save all of them and then go back and read them when they are older! hopefully I can faithfully do this!!
This week has been hard, trying to get life going again! My house is a mess, kids are tired from playing outside all day and I am so tired!! My hips continue to hurt so I am finally going in to the dr to figure out how to make the pain stop. I know DAvid must think I'm a baby but I feel like i can't keep up with this crew with the way i'm feeling! I have to get myself healthy again! i have about 30 lbs to lose before I will feel better! Good luck to me!!
Today we celebrated Dominic's birthday with a backyard party on the waterslide. He had a "Speed Racer" party and loved receiving speed racer toys! He is sleeping with his cars tonight!! Dominic is becoming more and more strong willed..but cuter than anything!!! He gets away with murder!! Everyone falls under his spell! No one except for me is immune to it...and even I get sucked into his trap of cuteness every now and then! That boy can charm the skin of a snake! He definitely makes this family laugh! He and Bella are starting to become the best of friends and the worst enemies! He is very excited to start school because he got a new Speed Racer backpack! He is planning on going to school tomorrow...he won't be very happy with me when I have to tell him it's not open yet! instead we will go to swim lessons!
Time to go help David feed Molly who just started cereal...he is getting more of the cereal all over him and Molly rather than in her mouth! My work never ends! Here I come Molly!
Mom