19 Things We Love About Spencer

1. He's not confrontational.
2. When you go anywhere with him you are guaranteed to run into somebody who knows him.
3. How he used to try to use big words as a little kid and slaughter the English language.
4. He has a tender heart and feels for the underdog.
5. He loves motorcycles and knows how to fix them.
6. He loves snowboarding.
7. When he's interested in something he learns about it with a passion.
8. He's not perfect but he's not a hypocrite to save face.
9. I love his subtle laugh! It's contagious.
10. He can tell a good joke or story. I loved how he use to tell us Chuck Norris jokes
11. He is a hard worker and not afraid of work.
12. He's a good scout, he is always prepared. His grandpa and dad taught him well.
13. He is reliable.
14. He is a loyal friend.
15. He's charitable. He is always helping someone out in need.
16. I like his taste in music. He always likes something before it becomes popular.
17. How he can cook good burgers and steaks.
18. I like his sense of humor to stir away anger.
19. We love him because he is who is. No one is going to change him. Except for maybe the girl he falls in love with.

College Road Trip

Am I really that old? Sending my first born off to college. It seems like last year when he was rocking in his swing and laughing at Rick saying Boo! Then it was just last month that he was watching Barney and learned how to say Go to da doct- er. Then he advanced to bigger words like air -condish -a- refrator, Fridge-refrator and the woo-die-her and pacifier-dat. Translation Air conditioner, refrigerator, blow dryer and pacifier. He was 15 months old.

Then I remember taking him to preschool and being told he knew who the President of the United States was. I was so proud. A boy said George Washington and Spencer confidently said no he's not, he's dead! Who is it then asked the teacher? It's President Gordon B. Hinckley! Wow he was so proud of himself. His baptist teachers were quite impressed as well. They had to ask me who this Gordon B. Hinckley was with the middle initial. So Spencer brought the Ensign tthe next day that had a story about President Hinckley and also the latest release of the Proclamation of the Family. It was a great example of the church for these ladies and they were very impressed. Yeah my sons a missionary.

Then it was early mornings going to all day kindergarten where he was the only blonde in a class of curly black hair. He was the glowing angel in the crowd of color. His teacher loved his hair. I loved his hair. The two of us would wake up early and I dressed him, fed him, brushed his teeth and styled his beautiful perfect hair. Then I'd open the front door that was never used by us except to greet our favorite friends. I never imagined that I would be opening it to let one of my children go out into the big world on there own. Bye mom love you! As he'd skip down the driveway carrying his Spiderman backpack eager to meet the world and ride the great big yellow bus. Spiderman winks at me and says he'll be okay. Everyday I'd ask myself have I taught him everything. Well here we are 13 years later we have managed to still smile through grade school, science projects, cuts and bruises, junior high and braces. Skateboards, Nintendos, Haro bikes ipods and cell phones. Soccer, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, skiing, snowboarding, cub scouts to earning his Eagle Scout. Learning to drive to jumping vans and motorcycles. May I suggest that motorcycles handle the impact a little better then mini vans and steering wheels never reattach the same after an airbag is deployed. Gorilla tape never looks pretty around a steering wheel. So today we took Spencer to Logan for college. We loaded everything into our car and rode with his roommate. Our first struggle was getting out of town. We wanted to leave by 10am and didn't get out of town till 1pm. Computer technical problems. Rick was downloading the last bit of software and things to Spencer's laptop. Yeah we are finally on the road!

Not for long Dillon's truck got a flat and he doesn't have a jack or a spare.

Who wouldn't have a jack in their car? Um we don't! We ruined ours first trip out with the trailer and we haven't replaced it. Oops, we're a lot of help. We had to wait for Dillon's brother to bring him a spare from his truck and then we went back to Pocatello to find a tire. No luck it needs to be special ordered. Off we go to Logan on a prayer with a spare not meant for his truck.

Whitney found the beauty in the moment.

Home sweet home for a year. The Student Living Learning Center or LLC.

Covered parking? How would it be? Only $140 a semester.

Outside view of LLC lounge.

Whitney made Spencer's bed, I put away his clothes and Rick helped set up the computer.

It's clean and it will probably be the last time it looks this way. Till check out!

Filled the kitchen with food.

Cool stairs. But where are the talking portraits like at Hogwarts.

Common room not as fancy as the Gryffindor Common room. But they do have a fireplace.
Have fun Spencer we love you! We are looking forward to family weekend in October.

50 Year Gap for Family Graduations

May 26, 1959 / June 2, 2009

Spencer graduated from Idaho Falls High School 50 years and one week his grandmother Cherney graduated from Idaho Falls High School. She is on the planning committee for their 50th Class reunion this summer and has been making all the name tags for everyone. She was able to attend and it was quite nostalgic to see her grandson graduate from her old high school. We even walked her past the tiger tile and down the hall of fame where all the trophies and pictures are. As Spencer and grandma were looking at old yearbooks the most noticeable difference in the school was the trees. All the trees are massive now.

Prayers Do Get Answered

We were having the worst luck with cameras! I dropped Whitney's camera on the driveway the night of commencement and couldn't even get the pictures off the memory card. The camera was sent in luckily it was under warranty and it should be back in 7 days. Then after graduation we couldn't find our camera. We assumed I lost it in the parking lot walking out of the school. I was so sad to not have any pictures of Spencer's graduation.

Prayers do get answered! Luckily today I found our camera up in the dishes. Go figure on that one. We are in the cabinet every day for plates and pills. I promise I looked in there when I ripped the house apart trying to find that camera. Anyway I finally can post some pictures. Yes, prayers can be answered we found our camera and our son graduated from high school. Four children to go!

Spencer Becomes An Aggie

Spencer decided to go to Utah State University. Home of the Aggies! He is planning on staying in Snow Hall with a friend. We are excited for him since it's far enough away that he will feel like he is away from home but close enough that he can come home once in awhile. There are quite a few kids who have chosen to attend Utah State so this will make the transition more enjoyable. We love Logan we had a great time visiting when Spencer played Lacrosse down there.

Spencer Girls Choice

Amanda asked Spencer to girls choice by painting his truck windows "orange you glad I asked you to Girl's Choice?" She had orange confetti, orange pop, orange candy and oranges every where that he couldn't even get into the truck. It was kinda funny because he had just spent the Saturday before cleaning it for the first time since winter. It's kind of sad to hear how these kids are all excepting college offers at different schools. I will miss them hanging out at our house. It's been so nice to live close to the school and have them come to our house to eat. Now they drive from the high school to our house for lunch. Saturday was a lot of fun because I was still up when Spencer got home so I got to visit with them in the kitchen.

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!

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.

Spencer Goes To Commencement

Spencer and Amanda.