My budding photographer

So my little girl loves to play with the camera and at first all the pictures were of elbows, shoes, or headless people but she is getting the hang of it and took some really cute pictures of Spencer the other day. I wanted to share them with you. The one on the left is my favorite! I like his expression and it looks like he is reaching for her or for the camera - I'm not sure which. I like that the camera strap is hanging in the picture - it shows a little humanity. :) Spencer is growing by leaps and bounds. I had never before finished a box of rice cereal but I just threw the first one away yesterday. Eva didn't eat and so it shocks me how much he eats, even though it is probably just normal amounts. We are getting him weighed next week and we will see then what he is up to now. It is fun to have boy this time!

Spencer visits the hot springs

June 2, 2008: My mom lives in Saratoga Springs and out there they have some natural hot springs that they have turned into swimming pools and a hot tub. We took Spencer out there to swim for the first time ever and Ihe didn't seem very impressed. He was quite fussy afterwards which is very unusual for him. I don't know if he didn't like it or if it just was a new experience for him. We will try him again another time!

Do you feel like you're in a whirl?

I have been feeling quite overwhelmed lately with all that is asked of me and Adam (my husband) reminded me of this poem I was sent via email not too long ago. It makes me feel better because no one can do it all. I have to decide what are my priorities and let go of the rest. It is hard to let go of the house to get my work done or play with the kids but sometimes, that is what needs to happen.

The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (aka Vickie Gunther) Look at me, look at me, look at me now! You could do what I do if you only knew how. I study the scriptures one hour each day; I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray. I always keep all the commandments completely; I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly. I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear! I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair! I memorize names of the General Authorities; I focus on things to be done by priorities. I play the piano! I bless with my talents! My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance! Each week every child gets a one-on-one date; I attend all my meetings (on time! never late!) I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul, But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all, I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished; Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished! Our family home evenings are always delightful; The lessons I give are both fun and insightful. I do genealogy faithfully, too. It's easy to do all the things that I do! I rise each day early, refreshed and awake; I know all the names of each youth in my stake! I read to my children! I help all my neighbors! I bless the community, too, with my labors. I exercise and I cook menus gourmet; My visiting teaching is done the first day! (I also go do it for someone who missed hers. It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.) I chart resolutions and check off each goal; I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll. I can home-grown produce each summer and fall. But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all, I write in my journal! I sing in the choir! Each day, I write 'thank you's' to those I admire. My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen! My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean! I have a home business to help make some money; I always look beautifully groomed for my honey. I go to the temple at least once a week; I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak! I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread; I have all our meals planned out six months ahead. I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply; My shopping for Christmas is done by July! These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them; You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them! It's easy to do all the things that I do! If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!' she said and then she dropped dead.

Searching for direction

As some of you already know, Adam lost his job 3 months ago today. We have been trying to figure out ever since, where it is Heavenly Father wants us and what he wants us to be doing. So far, we haven't come up with any answers that have worked out. It feels kind of strange to be in this position again. The first time Adam lost his job (Jan 2005), Eva was a few months old. The second time (Feb 2008), Spencer was a few months old. This seems to be a trend we are setting and I am not excited about it! :( So we are doing what we can to figure out where we are supposed to be and trying to spend time with the kids, organize our house, get caught up on my apartment managerial work, etc. I have to admit, if money weren't an issue, I wouldn't send Adam back into the work force ever! :) It has been good for me and for the kids to have him home. It is hard on him, though, since he feels it isn't where he is supposed to be. Life sure sends some curve balls but we are learning to catch them.

Spencer is 6 months old!

Honestly I can't believe Spencer is that old already! Where has the time gone? He also doesn't seem like he is reaching all the milestones he should be. It might be my skewed perspective that is the problem because I am comparing him to Eva and it might be an unfair comparison. They say baby boys develop more slowly than baby girls so I should cut him a little slack! :)

He is adorable! He is starting to make cute tata noises and he is learning to do raspberries. He has rolled over from front to back a couple of times but that was about 2 or 3 months ago and he hasn't done it since. At least I don't have to worry about him scooting his way in danger zones. He eats a LOT more than Eva did and he feels quite heavy - looks like we just feed him cream instead of milk! :) He loves sweet potatos (so did Eva). He didn't like rice cereal until we mixed it with a LOT of peaches. He doesn't mind if we mix it with pears but he likes peaches best. He is not a carrot or squash fan. Those two were no gos. We have yet to try anything else. We have stuck with the sweet potatos so far but we should branch out next week to . . . green beans, yeah! We'll see how that goes.

Nap time . . . on the floor!

So, I went to take a shower this afternoon and left Adam in charge of the kids. Crazy thing to do, I know but I have to shower sometime! :) Anyway, as I was getting out of the shower, Adam comes into the room and says "Just call me Hudini." I asked him why he said that and he preceded to tell me this story: Adam had been sitting on the floor holding Spencer and with Eva lying on his leg. Spencer had started to cry so Adam told Eva he had to get up and find Spencer's pacifier. She took him leaving amazingly well and stayed where she was. Daddy found Spencer's pacifier but decided it needed to be rinsed off before he gave it to him. So he went into the bathroom to rinse it, only to find the sink blocked by spencer's bathtub (we had just bathed him). So he put Spencer on the floor in Eva's room while he went back and emptied the baby bath and rinsed Spencer's pacifier. He then gave it to Spencer and that was the end of that. He said it wouldn't have worked so nicely if he had planned it. So I came out of the room to two sleeping children. Quite frankly, I would have left them there but we were on our way out the door so we had to move them both - what a bummer!

We had a blast at the ZOO!

April 26, 2008: We took a trip to Hogle Zoo and had a blast! We were limited somewhat on time so we didn't see everything we would have liked to but we did see elephants, rhinos, a white alligator, monkeys, a red panda, camels, llamas, peacocks, and my personal favorite, penguins.

This was Eva and Spencer's first trip to the Zoo and Eva enjoyed it very much. Eva's favorite thing at the zoo was the train. As soon as she heard there was a train that was all we heard about until we got on. It was so fun to see her so excited!!! Spencer of course could have cared less about any of it - he just "hung out" with Daddy! :) We all got a little sunburned but it was worth it.

We want to go back soon to the Zoo and to visit the "This is the Place" monument park. Hopefully we can go before it gets too hot and I melt outside!

Here is the group who went including 3 of my sisters and most of the cousins on my side of the family.