Introducing the "Foot Massager"

I have found the coolest feeling for a foot. We were driving back from Grandma and Sweet Pea's a few weeks ago, when Spencer started having nightmares in the back seat. So I headed back to the back seat of our van to be with him when my foot stepped on the softest, squishiest blanket of cupcakes (sorry Grandma and thanks for making them). This is what happened to those beautiful cupcakes. It really was an awesome feeling on the feet and the cupcakes were still delicious. I may just have to try this again sometime.

Before the haircut

This is one of the last pictures I have of Nephi before his haircut. Too many people were telling me how beautiful my daughter was so thought the long curly baby locks needed to go. I will have to take a picture of him with his new buzzed hair cut. He looks very cute. I keep telling the family that I look at him and think he is cute Keston Thomas of Lubbock with his new hair cut and big blue eyes.

The best way to eat peanut butter

I know Spencer's face is blury in this one, but thought it was a total Spencer pic. He had been at swim lessons and was starving when we got home. I was back in my room and came out to find him drenching his fingers in the jar of peanut butter and rubbing it all over his arms and hands. He sure keeps life interesting.

Mormon Battalion

During the kids 2 week Fall Break, I took them to Old Towne San Diego. I took the kids to see the statues and paintings of the Mormon Battalion. We had a really good day. Old Towne has a lot of 19th Century shops and sets. We had some yummy treats too. We thought of Sweet Pea (Grandpa Spendlove) as we drank a refreshing bottle of Sasparilla.

Day of Play at Sea World

Our friend had 4 extra free tickets to Sea World and asked us if we wanted them. Considering that Sea World would have been $220 just for admission for one day for us, we gladly accepted. We had a great day. Stuart had a scout camp out the night before so met us there.

Top Left: I missed Shamu in the air, but thought it was neat pic any ways (well really not that it is neat, but is the only pics I got from my phone of Shamu so couldn't be too picky).

Top Right: Here Summer is on stage with the host at the Bay of Play at Sea World doing the Hokey Pokey. She is such a shy child! (ha, ha)

Middle Left: Summer is holding a starfish.

Bottom Left: The kids with Elmo. Nephi didn't quite know what to think of an Elmo that size. We were there for Halloween trick or treating. I didn't want to get their costumes ruined so I dressed them in their fun Hawaiian clothes as Hawaiian people. It seems like every picture we have of the kids they are in the Hawaiian clothes. But we really do have other clothes for them. Promise!

Favorite links

I know that you can put favorite links at the side, but I don't feel like taking the time to figure it all out so I am just going to post them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD_ibxy270Q This is a link to an awesome song called "How Can I Be" and is about being like the prophets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqaesQ2EE8w&eurl=http://mytriplecrown.blogspo
This is a link with awesome quotes about us being strengthened for the Second Coming. It has really meant a lot this week as I have been heavily involved in campaigning for Keeping the sacred union of marriage between a husband and wife.

Nephi and happenings of this week

Nephi is becoming more and more aware of the world around him. He isn't old enough for nursery, but last Sunday my friend from the Primary Presidency, Amy Walthall, so kindly took him from me and put him in nursery while she was in the nursery. Stuart is in the YM's presidency and I am the Relief Society Secretary and have to take roll. We were both having a hard time managing our 15 month old who DOES NOT want to sit for anything. So today during Sunday School Stuart was walking him down the hallway thinking he wanted a drink. Nephi stopped at the nursery door and started banging and crying to let him in. Luckily, my wonderful friend came and got Nephi again which made all 3 of us happy!

Nephi isn't talking much, but responds to questions that we ask him. For instance, if we ask him do you want this or that then he will shake his head yes and say, "yeah" or cry for no. He picks up the phone and says, "Hiya." If he is hungry or thirsty then he brings me a cup or plate.

Nephi sleeps in the bottom bunk (twin over full-size) with Summer. He used to cry when we'd shut the door for bedtime. But now that he is with Summer, he loves to be babied by her and stays and enjoys his siblings much more. We always have to check on them once they have fallen asleep because Nephi likes to climb up to the top of the bunk bed to play with Spencer and then falls asleep with Spencer. They seem to be staying up later and later playing and giggling when it is time to sleep. Because they seem to spend most of the day fighting, I usually allow them to stay up a little longer to giggle. I love listening to them play so well together.

Last week we started a new rule in our house that if anyone says anything mean or yells at someone then they have to tell that person 4,7, or 10 (according to age) things that they like about that person. It is amazing at how it changes all of our attitudes towards each other when we focus on the positive. We seem to start things like this and let it die. I really hope that we keep this one up. It has certainly changed my attitude when I am the one having to tell my kids 10 things that I like about them.

"Spencer coming out of his shell"

Spencer gave the opening prayer in Primary today. One of the Primary leaders that was conducting told Spencer that she was so proud of him for coming out of his shell. After church I told him how proud I was of him for having the courage to get up in Primary and say a prayer because he didn't want to say it (yes, I finally succombed to bribing him with a popsicle). I reminded him what Sister Walthall told him about coming out of his shell. He said, "No, I didn't....I dropped my shell." I then realized that he was either talking about seashells or the snail shells that are outside of our house. Summer loves to pick up the snail shells and talk to them calling them "Gary." Spencer on the other hand loves to smash them by jumping on them. Boys are definitely different than girls!! His cute little answers constantly remind me of how literal kids are.

"Who's Our Father" by Summer Spendlove

Who is our Savior?
Who can do great miracles?
Who's our Father?
God is our Savior.
God can do great miracles.
God's our Father.
We worship Him every Sunday.
We love our Savior and King.
He is the light and love.
He is in our family.
I know He loves us.

Summer's Diary entries and notes from conference.

Today I was heading out the door for a meeting about "Yes for Proposition 8." I grabbed one of Summer's notebooks to take notes. As I was waiting for the meeting to start I looked through her notebook and noticed several journal entries. Each time she would start with dear diary and then tell about her day, life, etc. She would also ask the diary questions like "Where do you live? Do you like my LOL music? Do you have a brother? Do you like animals/meerkats? Do you like to swim?" She also asked the diary to "Send me pics of you. Please come visit me." Any ways, Stuart and I thought this was cute.

She loves to write. We were visiting Grandma/pa Spendlove and Aunt Sarah over General Conference weekend. Summer watched her awesome Aunt Sarah take notes and followed her example (thanks for the great example). I was just going to type a few of the things she wrote, but I ended up typing everything that she wrote (in the same way she spelled everything) for a record for us. Summer is so lucky to have such great Aunts.

"Oct. 4, 2008 Jefferey
Angels are sent to help people. Showing themselves. Then all things. Covenent. Instruments from the hand of god. As a seven year old lunged. Brining the cows home I felt home. Angel. god never leave us alone if we are sad. Darkness, sad, alone, prayer of faith. Religion. The princepal of nwoledge our hevenly father. In his goodness Shy like. Converted reavealed. Jesus was baptized instjous River. Holy Ghost desire fizical pure spirit holy spirit love rebieve spiritchaol heart He loves us. Branches convershen faith prayer

poor, pure heart, babelon, temple, Idel, Come to Zion.

life Reedeemer of the world. Never thirst Ligt of life. Never die. Jesus Christ Savior of the world madness hunger resuretion remain blessing clean pure fill thy holly ghost sustain presure health peace joy heal remember gift of the Holy Ghost strong manifest

Spirit of Liberty prevail god Christ forgivein gangered faith rejouce children sin church teach live feast president young saints army rebelion acaszon trail Navoo across flag soldiers true prophet sustain Lord destroy princapls faithful

Boyd K. Packer 1000 miles salt lake city104 fee 65 feet inered royallty understand twelve apostales costato san bible book of Mormon comandments loyal briefly glory suffered

comandment antonement resurectioin eternal family proclamashon kingdom of god death heavenly father gift scripture covenents anointed eternity dead gain faith repent sacred covenents opurtonity mature trials blessing judge reward mortal effort harmony makin no find real happiness wellfare celestenal god plan beware thankfully mighty heart comprehention

Rusell M. Nellson thankful happiness joy eternal plan study desire steal love not endure subject topic apostle sacred virtue family temple exoltashon continue glory sealed holy temple maring possible priestood keys earth pet james joun prophets proclainn beloved parents premortal nature gain eternal life grave indivis??? women gospel

William jump rope song gospel teachings Lord reavealed teacher princapls read understand branches church scriptures how to teach the gospel master teacher athority holy ghost showeth sek sesphal preparation rollende dillengently prophecy power and athority presence of god description edication untutered centrd marvelous identify focus appeared feat He called me by name Sunday School preside Monson forgotten dert"

Thanks for the shells Grandma

Naptime for Nephi and Grandpa

Yeah General Conference at Grandma's!!!!