Spencer

Our sweet Spencer

Spencer is such a sweet boy. He is loving, friendly and kind to everyone. He loves babies and toddlers and especially loves our friend Jill's little girls Alaina and Gabrielle. He is usually obedient to my requests, although he says "you make me work so hard." 

Spencer is who I call my "screen" child. He LOVES anything with a screen. The list includes the TV, laptop, wii, my ipod, and  my phone. He obsesses big time, to the point of turning into a different kid. I keep telling Darin we need to stage an intervention:) It is the worst when I put a new game on my ipod. My friends came a couple weekends ago and showed us a new game, so now he wants to play all the time. 

 Spencer likes to be outside. He loves rocks, dirt, water, all the "earthy type things." Last weekend we went to see the water and we had such a great time. He loves to throw rocks and sticks into the water. Spencer LOVES sticks, as well. He is getting quite adept at climbing on our tree house. He climbs up the slide, and also climbs from the main part of the tree house to the roof of the playhouse. He loves to climb trees. He has a favorite at the Lee RECenter. Each time we go, he runs straight to that tree.

 Spencer is quick to do what I ask him. He knows what he wants, and if I tell him exactly what he needs to do, he gets it done to get his reward. He is focused when it comes to his homework-he wants to get it finished as quick as he can to get on with other things he wants to do. Although he gets frustrated when daddy isn't here since mommy doesn't speak Spanish. Mommy is happy when the teacher sends it home with English instructions!!

Spencer is getting better and better at reading as well. He also loves to help Landon read Bob books. Spencer loves playing with Landon. I found a paper at school where he wrote "my best friend is my brother Landon." He is generous with his brother, sister and his friends. He will share what he has if someone doesn't have something. 

We are so thankful you are in our family, Spencer!!

Scuba Spencer

Anther time my kids crack me up!!

I sent Spencer and Landon in to take a bath. Spencer took his clothes off and ran the garage to get this mask. I filled the tub but they put more water in. Spencer is such an underwater kid-I went to get him and he was actually completely underwater. he cracks me up. 

 Brotherly love!!

I could look at these faces all day. I know I'm biased, but man are they so dang cute!!!

Landon

Oh my Landon....you make life such fun.

This kid cracks me up.

Time to update the kiddos. Landon is a funny kid. He has a mind of his own and comes up with some funny ideas. Here are some things about him at this time in his life.

He could live in pajamas. When he knows he has school, he gets dressed, but if I tell him he doesn't have school, he stays in his pajamas. And I don't fight it. He's been to many public places in his pajamas, including the ones in the above picture. Minus the underwear of course:) He mostly gets smiles and giggles and comments like "do it while you can." Or " I wish I could get away with that."

Landon LOVES his daddy. He prefers him when he's sick, tired, mad, happy, just about any time he prefers his daddy. At times it is frustrating because he will say "I love daddy, I hate you." I try not to take it personal, but at times it does get to me. Darin says he doesn't really know what he is saying. One night at bedtime he did say "I really do love you, mommy" so I felt much better.

This child could be left home alone. I mean it. He gets what he wants to eat with no problem...most of the time. He can push the microwave buttons...which is actually not good since he puts way too many zeros. But he loves to help me in the kitchen-anytime I am going to make something, he wants to be my helper. He can crack open eggs-a bit messy, but he loves it. He likes to stir and pour things in.

Landon can be super exasperating, sometimes, and other times he is super fun to be with. We have started the "bob" books so he can learn to read. He likes it and tries hard. He gets frustrated when he is doing work like making projects, etc. He wants things to be perfect and gets so really upset if it is not the way he wants. I subbed in his preschool today and we were making robots. He drew eyes, but then he didn't like them and had a fit until we fixed it.

This little brother truly loves his big brother. He misses him when he is at school and if we are out running errands and I buy him a treat, he always wants to get one for Spencer. Well, for sissy as well. But he and Spencer play really well. He likes everything Spencer likes as well. Saturday mornings he and Spencer will get up and play really well until we get up.

Lanny is still a challenge in sacrament meeting and primary. He just has such hard time sitting still for that amount of time. He is getting better, but we still struggle. He does ok in primary as long as he is not sitting by anyone else who is loud. And the teacher really makes a big difference to him. If he likes the teacher, he will do well.

I just love this little boy-he sure is a stinker, but our family would not be the same without him!

I had to stick up for him.

Spencer and Jordan have been in a Karate class after school once a week. They have been enjoying it, especially Spencer. I have been proud of him-he has been trying so hard. He's so shy and always worries that he isn't good anything, so I have been just so proud of him for trying and sticking with it.

So I really had to stick up for him yesterday. I am the parent who checks the kids in every week and makes sure they are signed out after. I got one of my kids in the class free for doing this, so that was a good perk. So the kids come filing in each week, take their shoes off and start running around. Well, a couple weeks ago, Spencer and his little friend were the only 2 kids to come in and sit right down and start stretching and getting ready. The teacher marked them down for that and after class said that Spencer was one of the stars of the class. I really built him up after class-told him how proud I was, etc. So on the way to school Thursday morning we talked all about how today for sure he would be getting an invitation to test for a belt since he had been doing so well.

Well, yesterday he did the same thing-came in, got ready and paid attention. The coach started the class by telling the kids he would be watching them and looking for the kids he would "invite" to "test" for a belt. I sat and watch the class and Spencer did really well. At one point, the coach lined all the kindergartners and first graders up, and Spencer stood at attention and did everything he asked. Oh, and it's not pertinent to the story, but Spencer was the tallest kid in that group, as well.

So at the end of class, he told the older kids and the kids on the "blue line" and any kid that had a check on their hand to come over to get their "invitation" to test for a belt in two weeks.

This is where I got mad. Spencer was not on the "blue line" nor did he have a check on his hand. WHAT???? I was so upset. I had watched him all class and he was great. I wanted to rip into the coaches. I know this may seem "dramatic" like Darin always tells me I am, but I could not understand it. Spencer was of course heartbroken and felt like he failed. He was obviously confused as he totally expected he would get an invitation.

So I stood with Jordan-who did get one-I think he gave all the older kids one- and asked him about it when it was her turn to get her paper. He told me to talk to him after class, so I did. I told him that he had told me Spencer was top the week before and that I felt like he had done the same work today. He said he was getting better; although he did seemed surprised that he hadn't given Spencer one. It think he realized he had over looked Spence because at one point he had the little kids in 2 lines and Spence was in the back.

So he offers to test Spencer right then, but Spencer was already upset and thought he "didn't think I did a good job." He ran off and was crying. It was cute because Jordan ran over and was consoling him. She was just as upset as I was that he didn't get and invitation to test.

I probably was not as clear as I should have been. I should have just asked the coach why Spencer didn't get a check. One of the problems is that there are entirely too many kids in the class-nearly 40 kids. And how on earth can one coach watch that many kids at all times? Anyhow he grabbed Spencer and they had a little talk after his little crying fit. But Spence said he couldn't tell me what they talked about. ( Later in the evening he said he would get another chance next week. I felt a bit better after that.)

I finally got out of there half an hour after we were supposed to-mostly because the coach had to talk to all the kids, and I was ranting and raving all the way down the hall. Little did I realize the assistant coach was walking right behind me the whole time....awkward!!! At least the main one wasn't-although I worry about him telling the main one how upset I was.

Did I go a little overboard? Maybe. Should I have just left and told Spencer to try harder next time? Maybe. When Spencer cried and ran off, should I have just left it at that so he could learn a lesson? Maybe.

I may not have made the best choice in the situation, but I would do it again.

So I have so much to do on my blog, I decided to work backwards on my memory card.

A few weekends ago, we decided to make some treats. I signed up to take cookies to Landon's preschool for his class Valentines Party, and it was Jordan's day to take snack. She was especially happy because it happened to fall on my birthday; which meant cupcakes, of course!!

So I got all the stuff ready. It was a bit of a risk to make sugar cookies in one day, and turns out I failed miserably. I'll get to that later. But the cupcakes were a success!!! I found a candy kit at Michaels, so we made the candies, then cupcakes and decorated the cupcakes.
The top pic is Landon working the microwave.

Here are the kids watching the candy melts in the microwave. I thought it was cute how they were all watching. 

Jordan getting ready to go!

Putting candy in the molds.

Landon and Jordan working very hard.

Spencer has to check and see what the top of the candy will look like.

Jordan not so happy about how hers is turning out.

Jordan on to the cookie dough. It looks funny because we wanted to make it pink. Yeah, didn't turn out so well. And I didn't keep it refrigerated long enough.

I need remedial training in sugar cookies!

Oh wow-I'm actually in one. Oh yeah...my fingers were messy so I had Darin take a shot. And don't mind the box spring in the background-we had picked up furniture for the spare room the day before and it hadn't quite made it to the basement yet....

Ah...pride!! They worked!!

And the final product-cupcakes for Brownies.

a close up.

I watched an episode of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network...I think...and she talked about photographing her food. My attempt wasn't as successful.

Right now.....

......Darin is watching TV in the playroom, the kids are playing in the basement, and I am all alone in the nice quiet living room.

I neglected my blog for some time now, so I sat down to put a bunch of pics on and do a few entries.

Well, my laptop is having issues. I think I have a virus and I'm not sure what to do. There are a zillion windows that pop up saying various things about my hard drive. It's quite frustrating. I can access the internet, and but I cannot even get pictures off my memory card in my laptop. I may try to get some off picassa web albums, but they aren't the ones I wanted to put up....

Ah well. So I will do a quick run down, on life. I wanted to do some catch up, but I am going to just start where we are and then fill in as I go.

We have been in our house since Nov. 3rd. The move was awesome-the movers were soooo great. I highly recommend hiring movers if you ever have to move!!!

I pinch myself on a daily basis. 

Seriously....

I LOVE OUR HOUSE

Sometimes I just sit and look around and an in awe that we even live here. Really, I can go on, but I'll just TRY to give my top ten.

10. All the floors are awesome....tile, wood, marble, Love them. 

9. Custom blinds in every window-most of  'em are the kid you can put down from the top. Love that.

8, Love the sunshine early in the morning in our living room windows. 

7. A pink room for Jordan and a blue room with a Spider man decal for the boys. Really, I would have chosen every color of paint in this house.

6. Cabinets...cannot tell you how much I love that they pull out. And the trash is built into the cabinets. 

5. My counters are fabulous. They are granite, which was not a must for me, but I LOVE them.

4. Space. Lots of room, lots of space. Like right now-we are all spread all over the house. 

3. My office. It is a wreck right now, but I have visions of what it an become. 

2. And amazing yard. Seriously awesome.

1. Two car garage. Pulling in the garage with groceries in the rain...enough said. 

So we are super happy in the house. We did have one issue with some plumbing leakage during the first few weeks, but thank goodness for a home warranty to cover the cost of the repair.

We are still learning all the light switches, but after talking to the previous owner, who we have a great relationship with and have seen at neighborhood holiday parties, there are some switches that they never really did figure out.

We are in a new ward, which has proven quite a challenge. Having to drive 20 minutes was a big adjustment. It was pretty sad to move from across the street from the stake center to 10 miles away from our chapel. I used to drop Jordan off at activity days and I could either ask one of the many ward members there to bring her home, or I could go home get the boys ready for bed then go back for her; or I could run some errands, or hang out with good friends while she was busy....

not anymore.

There is nothing near our chapel. It is in a beautiful area-very picturesque, nice for good weather, but no running errands or visiting friends because I haven't really made many yet. 

Which brings up the next part that has been hard-meeting people and making new friends. Although there are super nice people and good members in the ward, it does not give off very welcoming vibes. The only people who talked to us the first few weeks were people who knew we were moving there, or ones we know from the other ward before it was changed in the last stake realignment. 

It has gotten better, but it has been hard for me to go from knowing everyone in the ward, knowing the names of every kid in primary, to not knowing many people and being totally out of the loop. I went to a birthday dinner for a friend in the ward I have known for a few years and had a nice time, but felt like I wasn't really part of the group...hard to explain. I have been meeting more sisters, though and now have a visiting teaching list and was told I have visiting teachers, so that's good. I keep getting told it will take time, so I guess I really need to be patient. 

We had a nice Christmas. I felt like I didn't really do as much holiday stuff as I wanted, but we fit in our favorite things-a trip to the Temple, National tree, National Harbor, yummy food, parties, and a great concert-Natalie McMasters.  I did get our decorations out, which was fun to figure out where to put everything this year. We now have a mantle for the stockings, so it was fun to get them up. We found some nice stocking holders we liked and I think it turned out pretty nice. I do have a pic of that I'll have to put up.

There were lots of little things I wanted to get to, but we have many more years in this house so I let myself off the hook for this year. I didn't even do teacher gifts for Jordan and Spencer's teachers. I did Landon's just because I had a little time one morning, plus they put up with him!!

So here we are at the New Year. We are trying two new things. One of which was what I wanted to put pics for. I decided that since Darin doesn't leave for work until nearly 7:30, I wanted to have family prayer before he leaves each day. So I go in and start getting the kids up around 7:10 ish and get them into the living room. We have done ok this week...I end up carrying the boys in and they fall back asleep on the couch. Landon has got up on his own the last two days, though. I really enjoy it. I like that Darin gives us all a hug and kiss before he goes to school. We have a chat about the day and we can pray for what ever blessing we are in need of that day.

We have been working on scriptures again as well. The primary gave us a schedule to finish in the year-specific verses to read each night so we will finish by Dec 31st. I'm excited because I feel like it is doable. It isn't a huge amount each night. Now if we can get the kids to sit still and pay attention, we would be doing well. It is a bit of a struggle each nigh, but we have done it.

So remember how it was quiet and peaceful when I started this, well, the kids found and Landon is now making a fort with the pillows on my nice "new" couches.....Until Darin just yelled that Wipout is on:)

So, I've been hiding out for a while so I better get back to the organizing I started, but I had to mention one last thing...Last but not least.....

We're going to Europe this fall!!

Woo Hoo!!! Darin booked us a cruise for our 10th Anniversary. We will leave out of Venice, have a stop in Italy, a couple stops in Greece, and one stop in Croatia!! 

Can you say excited? Another thing causing me to pinch myself. Am I really living this life? 

Yes, I am, and it's pretty dang great!!