Ethan's Hobby (final copy)

HOBBY

by Ethan Spendlove

What do you do on a weekend? Is it a hot or cold day? Well, I do my hobby in any condition. I go mountain biking with my dad. I go anywhere, anytime, any condition.

I first became intrested in the sport when I was eight and my dad got me a Marin 20" bike. I've liked the sport so much because of the wiledlife you get to witness, and on a hot summer day when you are goin gdonw a mountain at a very high speed, the air in your face andyour whole ody just cools off better then when you jump in a pool. T

The first time I ever went biking I didn't fall, but I almost torked it. That is in biker language. It wasn't as fun as it is now, but I enjoyed it.

How do you improve the sport? Well, I go on harder trails and longer rides to build up endurence. I sort of feel excited when I'm riding. I also have one tip focus, focus in everything.

The last time I went biking it was really short it was only three in a half hours. I do look up to my dad and my Uncle Ryan, who does the Iron Man. I'm not sure on how much longer I'm going to do the sport, but I will do it at least after college. I recommend it to any body who is willing to try. I personally like the wiled life. But be careful not to run over snakes.

Here are a few pictures of Ethan and his hobby over the years.

I would say that he was introduced to this way before he was 8.

Letter from Ms. Myer

Ethan received this nice letter along with an old picture of Ethan in the mail a few weeks ago from his 1st Grade Teacher.

So Sweet!

Wow, has he grown up!

Show Choir

While Rachel went to a sleepover (she actually came home before the sleeping started) the rest of us went to support the youth of our Stake and watched their fantastic Show Choir perform "Turn The Beat Around, music through the Decades. " They did an amazing job. We loved it.

The kids were dancing to the Cha Cha Slide, a favorite in our family.


Just in case you are in the mood for the Cha Cha Slide, here you go.

AND JUST CAUSE...here is the Cupid Shuffle. This is a favorite in our house, too and a line dance I can do.

Love This!

Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” meets Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” in a beautiful piano-cello duet that really rocks. I found this here and LOVE IT!

PaRtY WeEkEnD!

This was the weekend of Birthday Parties.

Ethan went to his friend Josh's party at Time Square and of course had a blast. I actually made the cake and Ethan said that Josh said it was the best cake ever and didn't want to cut it. (not bad coming from an 11 year old)

Matthew went to Tristan's birthday part at the Inflatable Zone AND they had a magician come in to do a show for the kids. It was perfect for Matthew. He had been excited all week for this and he came home with these fun goodies.

Rachel was invited to her friend Isabel's Hanana Montana party at Bath Junkie. Talk about party of all parties. The invitation came with a Hanana Montana shirt to wear to the party, so they all had matching shirts except for the birthday girl of course, who was all decked out Hanana Montana style.

Rachel had so much fun making bath salts, lotions and soaps. The fragrance she picked was honeysuckle and I actually like it. She came home with her Bath Junkie goodies, a Hanana Montana Halmark Christmas Ornament and this OMGosh WAY cute Hanana Montana BIG purse.

I wish I was invited to the party and so does Lauren. I took Lauren with me to drop Rachel off and she was crying when we left because she didn't get to stay. But NOW that is the kind of party she wants, exactly the same way. And she wants to wear exactly the same clothes as Isabel - Hanana Montana shirt, silver sparkly head band, silver sparkly big belt, silver sparkly flirty skirt and silver sparkly "glass slippers."
Isabel's mom is the most wonderful person I know. She is always so kind, giving and generous in all that she does. I am extremely lucky to also have her as my nextdoor neighbor. She's the best.

Who would have thought...

...coloring could wipe you out.

2009 Swim Meet #2 & #3

I had Matthew at Cub Scout Day Camp this week so Steve took the other's to Swim Meet #2 and forgot the camera. But here are some videos and pictures of meet #3.

I love this cute picture of Matthew!

Wow, to still look beautiful with a swim cap & goggles!

Ethan showing off his pink goggles!
Rachel's Breast Stroke in lane #1



Rachel's Butterfly in lane #5

Matthew's Backstroke in lane #3




Matthew's Breaststroke in lane #5




Ethan's Breaststroke in the Medley Relay in lane #5 (they were a whole lap ahead)




Ethan's Breaststroke in lane #5

Cub Scout Day Camp

This year's theme:

This was our 3rd year at Cub Scout Camp. Ethan was able to go as Wolf/Bear and then as a Webelo, while Matthew & Rachel went as siblings because I was volunteering. And they all seemed to have enjoyed it.

Well, this year Ethan felt a little too old and thought Cub Scout Day Camp was boring. So, I was able to take Lauren this year. I think she enjoyed it the most out of everyone. She couldn't wait to be able to go each day. And it was nice for Steve and Ethan to be able to spend some quality time together while the rest of us were enjoying the 100 degree weather out at the Houston Farm & Ranch Club.

It has always been pretty tolerable and I have always had such a great group of boys in my den and this year was no exception. It also helped that this year I only had 5 boys to watch over. We had lots of fun together in the Orange 50 den.

The cheer they finally came up with was; I yell "Orange" then they yell "5-O-are the PROS!" It is hard to find something that rhymes with orange, the chose to go with rhyming with "O" instead of "zero".
A typical day at camp this year consisted of Weather, Geology, Art, Dinner, Special Events, Volleyball, Den Time and Archery.

Weather
Matthew making his own weather vein.

The boys are looking for a rainbow in the spray of water....never saw one.

Weather cheer: Weather is Hot and we're Cool!

Geology

Matthew checking out some really cool rocks.

Geology cheer: Geology ROCKS!

We grated some different colored crayons and then melted them into metamorphic rocks.
They hoping for some crystals in their plastic containers with a piece of black paper, water, mound of salt and food coloring. They left them over night to make their transformation. There was a little success.

Art

Matthew making his collage.

Paper Mache in the making.

Art cheer: Do Art, Don't Fart!

Okay, that didn't last too long before they were told not to do it anymore.

Self Portrait!
Dinner Time

Orange 50 - Matthew, Tanner, Grant, Jacob & Joseph

Of course we all loved this time...

...especially when it came time for Bag Pop!

Special Events
This day Orange 50 got front row seats to Free Spare because we collected the most money for the Cub Scout Fundraiser. Woo Hoo!

Volleyball

My camera doesn't take good action photos inside the barn. But here is Matthew in action.

Den Time

Every day there was a different activity. Here we are doing our favorite activity. We made snakes and lizards out of beads and lanyards. I was too busy making my own to help the boys. But they seemed to manage just fine without my help and make more every time we had some extra time.

Archery
Matthew using all his strength to restring his bow.

Wearing all the proper safety gear; goggles, arm guard and finger guard.

Nice!
Boys had permission to retrieve their arrows.
Some how Matthew managed to be the only one soaking wet. I guess you do want to be all wet when you are so hot.

Mom & Mr.Bulls EyeMatthew Orange 50 - Good Sport, Most Spirited, Robin Hood Award & Extra Service Ribbon for helping clean up the station.

I didn't get to see Rachel that much, but here are a few cute pictures I was able to get .

Her den leaders gave her these awards - Rachel Purple 62 - Volleyball Star & Born Leader!

You can't tell by these pictures, but Lauren did have the time of her life. She loved the fact that she got to hang out in the only air conditioned room around AND she got to go swimming and all the other fun activities they had just for the little ones.

There were about 5 ladies in charge of the Hummingbirds and every time Lauren would see one she would give them a great big hug, of course they loved her.

I had to really go out of my way to get some pictures of her and she was never quite in her cute little posing mood. But here you go.

This little boy apparently had a big crush on Lauren and would follow her everywhere she went.

Me and my GIRLS at CUB SCOUT CAMP?!

The is a picture of all the Melissa's.

The END! Yeah!