Softball Tourney- with a little help from the sister..

Lexi had a softball tournament in Tulsa- their catcher had just tron her MCL, and another girl on her team didn't come because she was sick. Lexi's coach has been awesome with understanding why we choose not to play sports on Sunday's, but when the team is down so many players we've told him Lexi will stay and play.

This particular tournament was a little trickier with the other teammate being sick, it took the team to 8 players which means they had to start with an automatic out unless they could come up with another softball player.

Ashlee stopped playing softball years ago for a few different reasons, one of them being the ball always hit her- seriously in the weirdest plays she'd get nailed by a ball in the back, head, arm, leg.. She switched to karate and then to tumbling.

We asked Ashlee if she'd play this one game so the team didn't have to start with an out- it took a little convincing, but she agreed.

I loved watching Lexi take the "Big Sister" roll very serious and was very encouraging to Ashlee, and be a great motivator to Ash so she knew the whole team appreciated what she was doing.

Even though I have never really enjoyed playing sports- I LOVE watcing my girls play! Lexi has very specific things she does when she gets up to bat right before getting in her hitting position. She has to move all the dirt around because all her teammates are so much taller their footprints are too wide for her so she has to fill them in. She also does a few swings while holding her hand up signaling to the pitcher she's not ready.

 Lexi crossing home plate after scoring

 

The team was awesome with Ash too, she's not very tall, and definitely not used to playing against girls this size. She got up to bat and was told not to worry about hitting anything- we all anticipated her striking out. She surprised us when she hit a couple foul tips, and then got a walk.

She got to third base and then while starting to run to home the girl batting hit a foul ball that nailed Ashlee in the thigh! They called her out, which was frustrating because she wasn't out- she was in foul territory so she should have been safe. Later the 2nd ump told us she really was safe, but because our coach forgot to ask for a 2nd opinion he couldn't say anything.

 The next time she was up to bat she had a few foul tips and then on the third strike amazed us when she took off running because she remembered the dropped third strike rule. If the catcher drops the pitch on the third strike the runner can try and make it to first base. While Ash was running the catcher grabbed the ball. The catcher was really off balance which caused her throw to be off. I could see what was about to happen, and Ashlee knew what was coming too- you could see her scrunch her head in a little. The ball hit her right in the head! But because of that ball to the head we got a run and won the game!

The Sunday games they had another girl come up to play, so Ash was able to watch instead of playing.:)

Lexi has gotten really good at bunting this year!

 

Lexi's team played really well, but after two losses came in third place for the tournament. It was such a fun weekend, aside from needing to play on a Sunday. With Ashlee and Lexi playing soccer and softball, their practices and games end up over lapping and Darrell and I split up taking them. I haven't gotten to know many of the girls or parents of Lexi's team and was able to get to know them over the weekend. I think a lot of the parents think we are crazy for not playing Sunday's but for the most part they are understanding. Lexi's coach always tells us as we leave on a Saturday night, "You know, you guys are the ones making the right decision- you are right to choose to go to church and not play." I'm so thankful we found a coach that understands!!

Here is team Nitro with their trophy! 



Lexi's Surprise

Lexi is almost 13, I can't believe it!!

With her upcoming birthday and the fact that Darrell and I were changing our cell phone plans, we decided to get Lexi an iPhone. She is a great kid- and rarely ever gets in trouble. Darrell had spoken to her briefly about getting her a smart phone. I told him he was way too nice, and that she needed to earn it. She hasn't been great at getting her weekly jobs done lately. In all honesty she's gone 3 nights a week to softball and then most weekends has softball tournaments so she doesn't have a lot of time. But, I told her she had till her birthday to prove to us she could keep her jobs done and be more responsible with them, and then we'd decide if she gets a new phone.

She was on top of her jobs- like all over them. Her room was clean, her closet was clean, her bathroom was clean, and even her assigned room stayed clean.

I have been in serious need of a new cell phone. I didn't care what it was- I just wanted one that worked correctly and would actually let me receive and send my texts, ring when someone called me, and alert me when I had voice mails when they were left- not days later.

If we got the new phones and new cellphone plans Lexi's phone would be shut off- so we had to do it carefully so she wouldn't suspect anything. The day was set- two weeks before her birthday- but it would be worth it.

I contacted my friend who makes YUMMY cupcakes and asked her for 2 dozen. She was so sweet to make them on such short notice for this big surprise.

I contacted Lexi's church leader to see if we could drop in on their service project that night with cupcakes and phone for her.

I contacted my friend who's house the service was being given to make sure she was okay with us going it there. (She has a 2 year old and 7 month old triplets who might be sleeping at the time of the surprise and I anticipated a little screaming.)

All was set, so we went to buy the phones. They had a glitch in the system at AT&T and the normal 45 minute process took 2 hours- but in the end all worked out.

I rushed home, but because I had gone to my car with Baylee in meltdown mode- I left Darrell with my new phone too, but had no way to call him and tell him where I was. He had to get back to work so he took the phones with him.

When Lexi got home I had a whole plan ready in case she told me her phone wasn't working. But she never said a word. (Come to find out her phone had been freezing up the day before so she thought it wasn't working because it was still frozen.)

She headed out to her church activity, and I ran my other two girls to their church activities- then ran home to grab these cupcakes and the phone.

I picked up two of Lexi's close friends, they've all been close since we moved here. I'm going to try and post the video I took of her opening her present- it was really funny!

We knocked at the door and started singing Happy Birthday- but none of the girls knew who we were singing to since it wasn't anyone's actual birthday. I finally pointed at Lexi while we were singing, and gave her the present. I can't get it to upload, so here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xq8IyYsYiE&feature=youtu.be

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The girls all enjoyed the surprise and the cupcakes. And best of all is that Lexi was completely surprised, and very happy with her gift. She is an easy to please kid- it's hard to get a really excited reaction out of her because she is happy with anything she gets- I loved that we got the really happy excited expression!





Happy Easter 2013

Easter crept up on us this year, we had a busy few weeks with kids activities, but finally figured out when the kids could color eggs. Baylee is at the fun fun age where she is really understanding holidays and gets into them. Lexi and Ashlee are on the opposite end where they will color eggs, and be excited for Carly and Baylee, but already knew what was in their baskets- so no big deal.

It makes me sad, they are growing up so stinking fast! I know I keep saying it, but every once in a while it's like a little slap in the face reminder that I need to appreciate and enjoy these crazy busy fun times.

The girls slept in until after 8:00, that's a record in this house for holiday mornings! They came down and hunted for their baskets, then hunted for the eggs the Easter Bunny hid through out the house.

While I made a big breakfast they all stuffed themselves with candy and junk, but still managed to eat a little breakfast.

 We are so thankful for our Savior and the HUGE sacrifices He made for each of us. We talk often of our family being eternal, since our Grandpa's are already in heaven. But we've also started talking more and more about the Atonement. My older girls are starting to gain their own testimonies, and I love to hear them share them. I love the Easter season! I always think about how we come out of a cold and drear gloomy winter, into warm, spring sunny days. The Savior is like that in our lives, in our dark gloomy times He is also the light that makes us feel warm and happy.

Happy Easter!



Houston and Memories

I feel like I need to give a brief history of the Wiser/Fontano friendship. Before Darrell and I met at the University Ward, I had a best friend named Tara. Looking back now I will say we were kind of really big brats sometimes, but mostly we were nice. In the couple years we were attending the University Ward we became very close friends. We both dated different guys and did lots of double and group dates.

 

There was a group of Mormon guys, they called themselves the Frojo's. At UNLV the sorority was the Rojo's, so of course the Mormon's had to make their own group who didn't drink- and who really really loved to watch UNLV basketball. These Frojo's were CRAZY! They all wore red wigs, and dressed awful, and they even had a Frojo t-shirt. Darrell and Pete were Frojo's.

Darrell hadn't been attending the University ward consistently because his Dad's cancer had returned and it was bad. His Dad passed away in July of 1998, and in February of 1999 he started attending the University Ward again.

Because I have a bad memory I can't remember exact dates, but somewhere in this time Pete told me he really would like to take Tara on a date. Of course, I set that right up. Pete and Tara dated for a while, then Pete moved to Cedar City and they broke up. Pete moved back to Las Vegas around February 1999, because he and Darrell were practicing a big half time show with the UNLV dance team. Yes, the Frojo's were well known, they had been on ESPN- and were loved by everyone except the Rojo's and Tara and I. We thought the Frojo's were embarrassing and weird. We both said we'd never be caught dead with one. I'm thinking we must have said that before Pete and Tara dated the first time.;)

Anyway, Pete moved back, and Tara and I went to watch the Frojo's practice. And while we were there a guy who I had seen a couple other times kept talking to us like he knew us. I thought Tara must have known him because I didn't. But Tara didn't know him either. That night Pete introduced Darrell to me. (yes, he was the guy who kept talking to us) 

There were a few other occasions that Darrell had been talking to Tara and I, but months later told me he was trying to get close enough to see just how tall I was because he thought I was cute but looked taller then him. (I used to wear platforms and shoes that had a heel- so I looked taller.)

 

Pete told me later that night that Darrell thought I was cute, and Tara and I had been planning on doing a themed double date, her taking Pete and me undecided on who to ask at that point. Then it was decided I'd ask Darrell.

The date was set for a Saturday night, and Darrell asked me to come watch him dance with the UNLV dance team- which meant staying and watching the basketball game, and also meaning sitting by some Frojo's. I reluctantly agreed (I already mentioned I was a brat) and was surprised to have a really fun time. I was really surprised to watch Darrell do a toe touch in the dance too!

Darrell asked me out for the next night which I think was Friday, and then Saturday night was our double date with Pete and Tara.

Those three dates in a row lead to Darrell and I seeing each other every single day except one- and March 15 he proposed to me, and May 22 we were married.

Pete and Tara also started dating again. Pete proposed to Tara in the Sunrise Hospital parking lot, after they came to visit me when my appendix had to be removed the week before our wedding. Pete and Tara got married August 7.

 

Fast forward 13 years and 4 kids later- and here we are today. The Fontano's and Wiser's haven't seen each other in almost 8 years, and have only emailed a few times. It's so hard to keep in touch when we are so far apart and all so busy with our everyday lives.

Pete and Tara have lived in Houston about 5 years (I think). We decided to see if they'd be up for a short notice visit. We were so happy to find with a little juggling of schedules we could do it!

While driving to Houston Darrell and I were reminiscing of those days- so many fun memories!

The day and a half we spent there, we all laughed so hard! My kids heard some great stories of their parents, and oh my goodness did we laugh!

The kids all played, Baylee was a little shocked to find that she couldn't woo Ben with her cuteness. He doesn't really like to play with girls, and Baylee told me she "Just wanted Ben to be her handsome Prince." Ben wanted NO part of that! Pete and Tara's daughter Abbey is only a few months older then Carly- they played great. Lexi, Ashlee, and Jeremy played basketball and just hung out watching basketball and listening to funny stories.

I talk all the time about being thankful for so many great friends that I have been blessed with in my life- and Pete and Tara are some of them. I have many others also!

Here are a few pictures I took of the kids while we were there.

 Ben and Baylee

 Abbey Oliver and Carly

 Abbey, Carly, Ashlee, Ben, Jeremy, Oliver, Lexi, and Baylee

 Goofy kids!



Spring Break

Our friends the Patterson's were planning on going to San Antonio for their Spring Break and asked a few of us other families if we wanted to join them. The only time we were in San Antonio was when Darrell and I went to get his nephews to come home with us. That was not a fun trip at all, so we were excited to take a fun trip there.

Four families went, Bingham's, Hooper's, Patterson's, and Wiser's. Between our families we have a total of 16 kids and 8 adults- that's a lot of people!

We left early Wednesday morning, and stopped a few times for bathroom and lunch.
We got there about dinner time and took all the kids to Buffalo Wild Wings- YUMM-O! After we took them to the hotel pool.

That's a lot of kids- and oh my, was it noisy in there!

Thursday we spent the day at Sea World. Everyone had a great time, and the weather was perfect! We were worried it would be really hot, but it was cloudy and chilly most of the day- and the best part was there was hardly anyone else there!

 The older girls all had Chacos to wear- as much as I thought they were ugly, I am taking it back, I think they kinda grew on me.

Ashlee McKenna and Sammy

Front row and Splash zone for the Sea Lion show

Trying to touch the dolphins

Splash zone seemed like a good idea since no one got wet at the Sea Lion show, but Shamu gave some great splashes!

 Ashley and Lexi

Carly and Baylee make me laugh in these two pictures! They start with giving thumbs up, but on the first drop they look horrified! Carly is not a fan of the losing her stomach feeling, so she really doesn't like many rides. She ended up liking this ride, but really just enjoyed keeping her feet on the ground.

 All the kiddos

 Nicole Aubrey Alissa and Stefani

 Scott Aaron Darrell and Mike

Friday we went to the Alamo, it was much warmer- ok A LOT warmer, and the kids just weren't as into the historical sight like we thought they'd be. After a quick snow cone treat we headed over to the Riverwalk.

It is crazy to me that they have a mall on top of a river- so cool! We walked for quite a while and then at a Mexican restaurant by the Riverwalk.

We had to kind of rush to get to the NBA Jazz vs Spurs game. We planned on leaving at half time thinking Baylee would be a disaster- but the kids, all of them, were really into the game. It was a sad loss for the Jazz, but such a fun event to have gone to! (No pictures because it was dark and we couldn't take our cameras in)

Saturday we drove to the Temple, it was rainy so no pictures, but it was GORGEOUS! The Temple is set on a hill, and looks amazing. We then drove to Houston to visit our long lost friends the Fontano's.