Just a few Randoms...

Rachel was helping make a truck load of Chocolate Flax Seed Muffins, a family favorite.  We don't make them very often because it is so messing-grating carrots and apples is an extra step in muffin making that makes it not so much fun.  This time I borrowed my neighbors Vitamix to help and well.....it was fun while it lasted.  My sweet little helper was pushing all the good stuff to the bottom of the blender when all of a sudden it went shooting up to the ceiling and everywhere else. 

Matthew on a lazy summer day.  He is our video game Master!

Rachel working out  barefoot.  You can tell she is really working up a sweat.

Caught Lauren reading an old hymnal.  Go figure!  But it was a cute picture.

A FEW Merit Badges

Ethan received 10 merit badges tonight. A couple of them he earned while in Texas, a couple at a Boy Scout Pow Wow and the rest he earned at Boy Scout Camp Kern. He got, ART, CARPENTRY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, FIRST AID, LEATHERWORK, MAMMAL STUDY, NATURE, PERSONAL FITNESS, SPACE EXPLORATION and WILDERNESS SURVIVAL.

Participating in the Pledge of Allegiance Being recognized with Dad alongside him

Allen Christiansen telling some "Ethan" Stories.

Congratulations Ethan! We are all so proud of you! Keep up the good work!Steve was also recognized that night with a certificate for being a great leader at camp. And he also put together a very nice slide show of camp for us all to watch after all the awards where passed out.

Soccor Goal Project

We were looking for a summer project, because apparently it is extremely boring around here. So with Soccer season approaching, Ethan and I looked online for some soccer goal plans, printed them out, did a little Home Depot shopping, came home and within 30 minutes he had it all cut and ready for some help putting it together. He did a great job.

But this project did not entertain quite as long as I had hoped for. Hopefully it will entertain all with lots of practice.

THE gecko

I don't remember if I have posted at all about our pet Gecko. But here is the story:
During one of our trips to G&G Spendloves, Ethan caught a lizard and we brought it home with us. He wanted to keep it "forever" so off to Petco we went looking for lizard necessities. The Petco worker that helped us, kindly suggested that we let the lizard go back to the wild and tried to sell us another kind of reptile. Then told us that she had a Pictus Gecko that she was needing to find a good home for. It just so happens that she was a member of our church and I actually visit teach her sister. Small World! She was a college student and was getting ready to move to San Diego and had to get rid of a "few" of her pets. So after a few lengthy emails full of instructions and details about her gecko, we made arrangements for to bring it to our house and show us how to take care of it. We actually had to wait a good month for this to finally happen. Ethan was a little impatient.
Well, now we have a pet Gecko. We have a Gecko that does nothing. The only exciting thing he does is shed his skin every so often. It is not as exciting as Ethan had hoped for. But hey it is a pet and this was way before we got our puppy, Duke.

The poor thing doesn't even have a name.

Puppy News

We had our little Duke for a week and he started coughing and gagging a lot. Ethan and I took him to the vet and it turns out that he had pneumonia. Not really what first time dog owners needed. They gave him a shot and then we fed him a pill everyday for ten days.

We tried putting his pill in a piece of cheese, then a piece of chicken and then a hot dog. None of those methods were very successful. He is a smart little puppy. He would eat all the food and spit out the pill. Rachel reminded us that our old neighbors in Texas used to give there dog a pill wrapped in some bread with peanut butter. SUCCESS!!!

We were all a little nervous for little Duke. We knew he was pretty mellow for a puppy and now we no why.

But no worries, he is now ALL PUPPY!!! He has only chewed up 4 pairs of goggles, a couple of swim noodles, one shoe, one soccer ball, one kick board, etc... He is actually still a really good puppy. And we ALL love him. Well, okay....Steve is still trying his hardest.

At the Vet.

How can you not love this! He is a cuddler!Growing Up!

Aaronic Priesthood

Ethan's Special Day Photo Shoot

Ethan: I was excited to get the priesthood and to pass the sacrament. I was glad that my dad was my teacher. And thankful that Grandpa was able to be there to stand in the circle. When my dad was ordaining me to the priesthood it felt good but everyone's hands on my head were heavy.

Steve: I can't believe this day has finally come. Ethan was very ready to make this move and take on this responsibility and it's great to now see him passing the sacrament. It was nice having my folks up that weekend and having my dad stand in the circle. I hope and fully expect that Ethan will continue on this path and make many good and important choices in the coming years.

Dad, Grandpa, Bishop Henderson, Lyle Henderson and Carter Lancaster all stood in the circle. We missed having more family and wished they could have been a part of this special day, too.

G&G Birthday Visit

Grandma & Grandpa Spendlove were able to come for a visit this weekend to help celebrate Ethan's birthday and to be a support for Ethan when he received the Aaronic Priesthood.
Of course we had a little fun too.

Grandpa was schooling the boys in Frisbee.

He was also trying to cool Grandma off a little.

But someone didn't want to be cooled off or wet. Silly Grandpa!!!

More Fun!!!

Soccor Season Has Begun!!!

This is just an intro to all the many other soccer pictures that are to come. This is Lauren's first time ever to play soccer. Sometimes she loves it and sometimes she doesn't. But she looks cute out there playing either way.

This year all four of the kids are playing. Which is good because we wanted them to, however, that means we have 7 soccer practices a week along with 4 soccer games.

To some of you that may seem like nothing. To me, it's probably a little much, but I just think it will make the rest of my pregnancy go by super fast. WOOHOO!!!

Ethan's Birthday Dinner

Ethan wanted seafood for his birthday dinner. So he chose to go to Red Lobster. I don't think our family has ever been to Red Lobster before. It was fun and the food was pretty good. The boys enjoyed eating their crab legs. And the rest of us enjoyed eating Ethan's birthday ice cream that he couldn't have on top of his special birthday dessert. Thank you Ethan.

We love you and still can't believe that you are 12 years old.

What a good looking bunch of kiddos!!! Happy Birthday to You!!! Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy Birthday Dear Ethaaaannnnn!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy 12th Birthday Ethan!

The day has finally come. Ethan is now 12 years old. This means middle school here in California. {Gotta love those years.} It means he no longer has to go to primary. {Yippee} It means he can now get the Aaronic Priesthood and help pass the Sacrament. {He can't wait until Sunday.} It means welcome to the age where life seems to get a little complicated. {Already trying to figure it out.}

Ethan is such a good boy. We are so proud of him. As parents we HEAR all kinds of great things about Ethan - polite, hardworking, good manners, good with the little kids, competitive, talented and smart. {We HEAR-meaning we don't always SEE.} We know Ethan has some great experiences in store for him, we know he will accomplish much and be a great blessing to many.

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY ETHAN

WE LOVE YOU!

Mom, Dad, Matthew, Rachel & Lauren

This was his birthday breakfast. He requested lemon poppy seed muffins and crepes. Some with strawberries and some with lemon juice and sugar, his favorites!

WHAT A HANDSOME YOUNG MAN!

WHAT A CUTE LITTLE 4 MONTH OLD!

Recyclers

Just thought I would catch this moment of our family trying to do our part. Matthew took the iniative to start saving all our bottles and cans. Luckily, we have a recycling center right around the corner from us that he can take them to and earn a little bit of money at the same time. All the kids are helping him here as he deposits his loot.