Saturday, September 1, 2012

July

2-week old Gabe on July 4, 2012

On Independence Day we enjoyed going to the parade downtown Hillsboro and set off our own fireworks in the front yard:

David waving a sparkler

Nicholas, Zach, David, and Brooke doing sparklers

Amazing fireworks!

Zach (9), Gabe (2 weeks), and David (almost 4)

Gabe at 2 weeks

On Jodi Cannon's blanket
 
On the blanket Aunt Michelle made.



Nicholas trying to pose like Gabe

Blessing day!
July 8, 2012

Gabe with mom and dad


The men in the blessing circle (minus the bishop): Papa, daddy, and Uncle Adam 

Our family

Aunt Michelle, Uncle Adam, Papa, Nanee, Mike holding Gabe, Kate
Zach, Brooke, David, Nicholas

Sweet little hands

Our first harvest of blueberries off the 2 bushes we planted last year.
When Gabe was 2 weeks old, Mike went with the youth on a Pioneer Trek for 5 days so my parents came to stay with us and help out during that time.  We blessed Gabe the day before Mike left so it was perfect timing to have my parents here.
Nanee swinging with Gabe
 
During the week my parents took our kids to Adam's house and held "Cousin Camp" with the kids.  They did crafts, played games, went swimming, and ate lunch.  My kids thoroughly enjoyed it!
left to right: Brooke, Papa, Spencer, Ashley, Anna, Nicholas, Nanee, David (Zach the photographer)

The last day of Cousin Camp was held at Adam's house instead of the park
Mike was a company captain on the trek, which put him in charge of 5 families. Who can find Mike?
One last group shot, then it's hugs goodbye as my parents leave for another 1 1/2 year mission to Ukraine.

Nicholas posing like Gabe (3 1/2 weeks old)

David loves to take pictures of himself with my camera.

Gabe's first ride in the front pack! (3 1/2 weeks old)

Nicholas wants to try the front pack too

And Brooke...

Paying the kids to scrub the fence! They were motivated to do the whole thing in one day.
 My friend, Rockelle, came over to do a photoshoot of Gabe when he was one-month-old and here are my 5 favorite photos:






David turns 4! 
Mommy with the birthday boy!


watching the candles get lit (he wanted a "D" on it written in M+Ms)

big happy birthday smiles!

Brooke lost her 2nd top tooth during David's birthday dinner
The day after David's birthday is Nicholas birthday!



He wanted to spend as much time as possible in this chair:
using the laptop, reading books, playing ipod...


We were able to drag him away from his chair for a little while to take
 him to Red Robin for dinner and free birthday ice cream!

He wanted a chocolate pie and to light his own candles

 
SO happy to get Monopoly with CREDIT CARDS!
 
 
and roller blades!
Nicholas is done with Cub Scouts and on to 11-year-old scouts!

Brooke always wants Gabe to play with her and her friends

Two cuties! (Gabe is 5 weeks)
 Off to the Washington County Fair:
Kate
Nicholas


Zach

Brooke, Zach, and David are pretty serious about the water pump

Brooke and David on a ride

Grandma was happy to go on the ferris wheel with Brooke and David
 

Thursday, July 12, 2012

June


The first week in June was Spirit Week at school.  I happened to only get a picture of Hat Day and yes, this was the best they would smile for me.

My 2nd Annual Piano Recital here at our home with my 9 students and their families.  They all did great!
Back row: Maya, Maggie, Lydia, Zach, Nicholas
Front row: Brooke, Aurora, me, Myah, Avery

My parents came by for a visit for a couple nights and here's my mom playing a piano duet with Zach.

Zach turns 9!
Zach chose to go to a nickel arcade for his birthday and invited his good friend, Dinesh, to come along.

Zach and Nicholas playing a game.

Brooke getting a red ball in a game.

David racing a car.

Followed by a stop at Dairy Queen!

Zach with his presents

When I asked Zach what he wanted for his birthday dessert he said, "A pie crust, with a layer of vanilla ice cream, then chocolate pudding and bananas on top!"  So that's what he got.

Happy Birthday, Zachy!

9 months pregnant

Welcoming Gabriel Spencer:
Born on June 20th at 4:14pm weighing 8 pounds 14 ounces

45 minutes old

3 hours later, the kids came to visit and as usual, we didn't find out the gender before the baby's birth, so we asked the kids if the baby looked like a boy or girl.  I think they were mostly just happy to have  a baby in the family.

Nicholas and Gabe

Brooke holding Gabe

Brooke worried that David isn't holding Gabe's head well enough.

Grandma and her grandkids


Daddy and Gabe

Zach and Gabe

Gabe is ready for his first car ride

3 days old

David, Zach, Gabriel, Brooke, Nicholas

Gabe with David on a beautiful blanket Mike's co-worker, Stacy, made for him


Monday, June 11, 2012

May

This post is surprisingly short compared to last month.  April was crazy-busy and I purposely kept May (and June) not so busy because the baby is coming.

At the beginning of May we actually had some hot summer-like days so Brooke invited 4 girlfriends over to play in the sprinkler.  (Brianna, Brooke, Paige, Sarya, and Bella)

Brooke's reading has really taken off this school year!  She got some Junie B. Jones books from Aunt Sara for her birthday and read them all in no time!

8 months pregnant! (Taken on Mother's Day)

It's always exciting when the first rose buds bloom in the backyard.

We have 3 rose bushes


A rhododendron bush, and a few others.
And that's all the pictures I took for this month!  Other happenings were the Father and Son Campout, Mother's Day were Sara (Mike's sister) and Tom came down from Seattle and Tom grilled up some scrumptious steaks, getting a pedicure, dinner with the girls, taking Brooke to volunteer at a Food Bank, school skating night, and Memorial Day picnic with about 50 ward members.