Update on Benson, Nephi, Spencer, and Summer

Months ago I mentioned in our blog that our due date is Dec. 31st, but that my Dr's office schedule c-sections one week in advance. (meaning Christmas Eve) I thought that they would never schedule a c-section on Christmas Eve, but I was wrong. We are going to have Benson Jon Spendlove on Dec. 24th....CHRISTMAS EVE!!! Kaiser (my HMO) will not do it before 39 weeks. I was kind of hoping that because I have massively large babies that they would make an exception. However, except for an emergency, they stick with 39 weeks. We have really explored so many options, but this one seems to work the best for our family. We are really excited for him to come on Christmas Eve.

The kids have had 2 weeks off for Fall Break. We went to Belmont Park, an amusement park by the beach. Nephi had several upsetting times as he was not able to ride the big kid rides that Summer was able to. But he certainly enjoyed all of the rides that he was able to ride. Summer went on all of the rides. I am amazed at how fearless she is. There were some rides that the younger 2 couldn't go on without a chaperone. Luckily Summer was able to serve as their chaperone since I couldn't ride anything. The kids had a blast. I am so glad we went.

Another day during the break we went on a 4 mile walk/hike around Lake Murray. It was beautiful and fun for all of us to be together. During the hike, Stuart spotted a snake and used a stick to gently get it off of our path as Summer and I are scared of snakes. The next morning we found Summer in bed with Nephi with her shoes at the bottom of the bed. She said that she had a reptile dream and so had to wear her shoes to his room. Wow is she my daughter or what. It sounds like something I would do even as a 30 year old.

Spencer had his first basketball game last night. I was terribly sad to miss it but I had Relief Society. I love being at Relief Society, but would have much rather seen my cute little boy at his first game. Stuart said that he was so cute. He had the job to pass the ball in from out of bounds. He kept on forgetting and so had to be reminded a lot. Stuart said that he'd put his arms up and constantly move his feet when he was on defense. I can't wait to see his next game. He constantly sticks his tongue out when he is concentrating on the game. He reminds me (in looks and actions) like his Uncle Sam and Grandpa Lentz.

Summer has loved starting Achievement Days. On her off weeks she goes to club volleyball. Summer just loves volleyball. She didn't like basketball because of the sweating. Luckily she hasn't worked up a sweat in volleyball. Hopefully she can learn to like it before she realizes that there may be times that you sweat in v-ball.

Spencer

Spencer officially had his first true love! A new family moved into our complex with children around Summer and Spencer’s age. One day, the 7-year-old girl named Leila was here watching a movie with Summer and Spencer and Kathy came out to find Leila and Spencer snuggling and kissing. Leila professed a deep love for Spencer and he reciprocated and POW!!! Love was in the air! After the movie, they took a “romantic walk” (as Leila called it) around the courtyard of the apartments and were in bliss. That night, we had a chat with Spencer about how kissing is for older people and he’s too little. Consequently, Spencer has been very shy around Leila even when she attempts to show her love by giving him gifts (e.g., a chocolate Jell-O pudding cup). Unfortunately, the saga ended just one week after it began when Leila broke Spencer’s new dollar store Star Wars light saber, complete with red lighting and sound. He came in upset and said she broke it and then declared he didn’t like her anymore.

Spencer also had a cute moment in Sacrament meeting last week when the primary was performing their program. He stood with other boys in his class at the microphone to sing the first lines of a song and when the time came, he began singing loud and proud as instructed while the others stayed silent. When he suddenly realized he was the only one singing, he got a look of terror on his face, stopped singing, covered his mouth, turned to his teacher, and buried his head in her dress as he began to cry. It was sooooo tender and sweet, Kathy and I both got teary eyed to watch him. We love our little Spencer!

The things that Nephi likes to wear.

Nephi loves to dress himself in swimming suits...especially Summer's. He got a little help from Grandma to put this one on. He usually doesn't put it on so neatly. He also loves to wear "neckies" (necklaces and bracelets). The other day it was all quiet and my bedroom door was shut, which only means he is up to something that he doesn't want me to see. He found my stash of "neckies" and promptly started dressing himself.

Conan O'Brien show

Stuart and I went to be in the audience of the Conan O'Brien Show. It was a very fun day. We got there early and walked around. The top picture is on Coronado Island on a different day, but we didn't get any pictures together that day so I put that on instead for our date. We couldn't even take a camera into the show (not surprising) so we only have these pictures that we took close to the parking lot and then returned our camera to the car.

We got there early and so were in the third row of the center. We were right in front of the band. In the beginning of the show the camera cut to a little bit of the audience and we were in the footage. It was pretty cool to be on TV for 1 second!

It was such a rush once we got into the studio and saw the spectacular stage. We sat there for awhile listening to music and watching the things they do on stage to get ready for a show. The band of the Conan Show played during commercial breaks and were AMAZING!!! We of course loved seeing and hearing Conan...especially since he was standing right in front of us and super close. It is so funny how different Stuart and I were. He was trying to be as loud as he could, and I was sitting there not trying to draw attention to myself. I know that Conan sometimes makes comments about annoying audience members so I was so nervous the entire time that he would pick us out of the crowd as the annoying audience members. Luckily that didn't happen.

Throughout the day, we learned that going to places like this in "my condition" (pregnant) is very beneficial. The middle picture is of me in front of some important building. I don't know what they do there, but no one is allowed in there. We walked to the entrance and asked the security guard if they had a bathroom. He said, "No, and then looked down at my gigantic stomach and said, "Well, I'm not supposed to do this, but in your condition I'll make an exception." He took us to the basement where the security station is for me to use the bathroom. I thought that it was so nice. Then later in the day when we were seated waiting for the show to begin and after everyone had been told over and over again that once we were in our seats we could not leave for anything, a kind page/security guard came up to me and told me that if I at any time needed to go to the bathroom to motion to him and he would let me use the bathroom (yes, probably not a grammatically correct sentence...sorry) It was kind of embarrassing because I hadn't said anything, but it was also very, very thoughtful. Maybe it is his job to clean up messes...I'm not sure.

Great day!

Summer's baptism

Summer had a wonderful baptism. Summer had been looking forward to her baptism for years so we are excited that she is finally an official Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were so glad that Grandma/pa Spendlove could be with us. Grandma gave a wonderful talk and Summer sang a beautiful song about baptism written by Annie Bailey. It was a wonderful meeting. The confirmation prayer was beautiful.

Summer's 8th b-day party

Summer had a slumber party for her 8th b-day party. It was a lot of fun. We had home-made pizza and rootbeer. Then Summer opened all of her wonderful gifts. Nephi has crushes on all of the girls that came so he was in heaven. Stuart took the boys to a mission farewell party while I took the girls swimming.

Summer was a little disappointed with her birthday cake. She asked me to make a carrot cake. I started making it by grating the carrots. She said, "Mom, what are you doing?" She didn't realize that you actually put carrots in carrot cake. It was delicious to the adults, but not too many of the girls liked it. Oh well, more for me!

My P.H.T. Degree

Stuart and I went on a date to the temple today. After our session, Stuart presented me with my "P.H.T." (Putting Husband Through). He put a lot of work into my diploma, having it full of the correct diploma lingo. He is so sweet! He included the words of his mother's "P.H.T" from his father, "Be it known that Kathleen Spendlove has completed in a most satisfactory and effective manner the major project of admiring, badgering, coaxing, demanding, encouraging, financing, goading, harping, inspiring, jollying, kibitzing, loving, managing, nagging, overseeing, praising, quieting, reminding, suffering, threatening, understanding, vilifying, worrying, and otherwise aiding and assisting her husband in his efforts to complete the requirements for a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Child Psychology from this university." What a wonderful husband I have!