Spencer Turns 18

It's unbelievable that it was 18 years ago that we brought our first born home. I remember being pregnant and seeing a cute blond baby boy on a book I had and thought how wonderful it would be to have a blond, blue eyed little boy. He was made to order. He has brought so much joy into our life. What an adventure the last 18 years have been and what a sweet son he is. I guess I'm feeling a little melancholy because we have been receiving college acceptance letters and he'll be out in the real world. I remember the first day he went to kindergarten and I thought have I done enough to teach him whats right because I have no more control over him now that the outside worlds influence is upon him. I wanted to do this a month ago so here goes.

18 Things We Love About Spencer

1. We love Spencer because he is our first born. This makes him extra special. We remember everything he did because it was all new to us.

2. He is best friends with his dad and the relationship they have is envied by several fathers in the ward who have gone on camping trips and high adventure with them and seen how well they get along and enjoy each others company.

3. He adores his grandfather and always goes to his grandfather for wisdom and mechanical advice.

4. He is easy to talk to and is not judgmental. Everyone who knows him seems to like him. When I go shopping with him there is always someone who knows him bumping fists with him saying "Wood or Woody what's up?"

5. I love Spencer for his taste in music. He has always had music before it's time and we always hear it first from Spencer.

6. He's an Eagle Scout. I am proud of his efforts in receiving this noble title. I am proud of him for going to cedar badge for three years and being on staff for two of those.

7. He is not afraid of work. He will do anything you ask. Always helpful around the house.

8. Very determined! He wanted a hockey rink in his backyard so every morning he would get up at 5:00am and turn the hose on to smooth out his rink.

9. He has a sensitive heart towards others. He has been a peer tutor for challenged students at school and has become well liked by them that they have gone so far to make him gifts.

10. He is very curious and mechanically inclined. He use to take everything apart and not always get it back together but now he can fix just about anything in the garage or anything that deals with a computer.

11. Is grateful and appreciates all that his mom does.

12. Tells and repeats stories in the funniest way that we are always laughing when he is around.

13. Loves the outdoors and enjoys snowboarding and motorcycling and camping. He wants to live close to home again some day. Knows how to load, hitch, and haul a motorcycle trailer,pitch a tent, build a fire, Carry a 54 lb pack for a week live on cliff bars and fish for a week.

14. Spencer knows the importance of family and loves his family and loves his extended family and loves to be around family and have get togethers. As much as Spencer teases his brother and sisters deep down he would do anything for him. This past Christmas he saved all his lunch money and allowance and bought nice gifts for all of his siblings. He won't let any of his friends date his sister and any guy that asks him if they could ask her out he says no your not good enough. He loves to brag about who he is related to and loves to talk with people who know or grew up with his aunts, uncles and cousins.

15. Has the prettiest hair even when it was long and people around thought he needed a haircut.

16. Has always had to try hard, nothing has been easy for him. This is a blessing for him though he may not see it now but he will be able to do anything he sets his mind to do, because he's had to work for everything and with his determination he will get what he wants.

17. Is truly a loyal friend, when maybe he shouldn't have been at times.

18. Last but not least we love him because he is Spencer and no one else is like him and we love him for who he is!

Spencer Goes To Senior Ball

February 14th Senior Ball Dinner

With four high school dances and Valentine's Day on the same night Spencer's group didn't want to attempt to go out to dinner. We hosted the dinner at our house. It was so much fun. Brinley and Brielle served and cleared plates. Rick grilled the steaks and Preston washed dishes. We had fancy shrimp cocktails that we put in little stemmed crystal, artichokes, spinach salad, tenderloin, twice baked potatoes and wax beans, carrots and green beans. We had parsley on the plate and criss crossed the beans to look gourmet. We looked professional.

This was the dessert. Chocolate cups with cheesecake filling and strawberries with chocolate and a mint leaf. I loved these glitter plates I found at Target.

Spencer was the fortunate guy to take Krista. She is such a sweetie and has a great sense of humor. They did a great job picking their outfits and matching so well.

Senior Ball February 14th

Whitney Goes to First Formal Dance

Whitney finally got to wear one of her formals she bought last summer. She found two dresses on clearance that she fell in love with and when she got her check from Boise State (for winning 1st place at NHD) she didn't have it for more then an hour and went and bought her dresses. Aunt Amy helped us hem it and then we added a strip to fill in the v neck so she would feel more comfortable dancing around. Then I sewed on 9 yards of red sequins on the waist and bow. I couldn't find the right red in packages so I bought 9 yards of sequins pre-strung for $3.90 and sewed them on individually. I loved the fact that I could sit and listen to music or watch a movie and not feel like I was wasting my time. I'm already anticipating sewing sequins on her pink one I love finding bargains and being able to modify.

And her wonderful date was Collin Andrus. He's and all around good guy in sports, school, piano and singing. She was so surprised when he dropped off the pink jello with his message inside. His question said "I would be tickled pink if you would go to Senior Ball with me?" She answered him with a huge basket of dum dum suckers and a big hunk candy bar and said "I would be a dum dum not to go to Senior Ball with a Big Hunk Like You!"

Whitney had three dates for the day date because the other two girls didn't want to go sledding. They missed out, not Whitney she had triple the fun. After sledding they ate lunch at the Pita Pit and learned what baba ganoush is. It is an eggplant spread.

Whitney Sweet 16 And Never Been Kissed

So Whitney turned 16 in December and I was so busy subbing and getting ready for Christmas I didn't get time to do a birthday tribute for her. She is a peace maker in our home and sets a good example for us every day to strive to be our best. She is getting everything she can out of life. We love you Whitney.

Rick Spencer and Whitney Climb Mary's

Spencer, Rick and Whitney had beautiful weather and a day to enjoy the snow. With the need for adventure they decided to take their boards on their backs and hike up Mary's.

No chairlifts here in the back country. The hike took about an hour as they trudged in knee deep snow. You didn't want to get off the packed trail or you would sink into waist high snow.

All these pictures were taken with Rick's Iphone. Now that his camera is always with him we have definitely collected more pictures of activities.

Thankful for another adventurous soul who took their picture. Kristin was carpooling kids to birthday parties and received this text and picture on her phone. "Wish you were here!" I love technology.