Saturday, June 23, 2007

Strawbie (Gabe lingo) Pickin'


Our "loot"






Grumpy Ethan and his puney fruit....

One of my favorite activities at camp last week was picking our own strawberries. I have always been interested in "pick your own" orchards but they are pretty hard to find in DC! I was so excited to find an orchard near our camp and on the way back home we stopped and picked FIVE pounds of fresh strawberries. Sam and I had a great time. Ethan was sickly and complained the entire time (but we still had fun with him) and Greg sat with Gabe as he slept peacefully in the van. I'm considering becoming a farmer when I "grow up". I so enjoyed talking with Sam as we searched the Strawberry fields for sweet produce. Yesterday I washed and cut our treasures and today we enjoyed the best strawberries we have ever had. Sam said they tasted like "Splenda" which I'm going to assume is a grand compliment for the local Strawberry farm!

Check out the other two posts below for last weeks happenings!

OCF's White Sulphur Springs Family Camp


Gabe on the tire swing!




Western Night dinner on the porch.


Gabe and I in our Western garb.


Camp is EXHAUSTING!!




Sam was so proud of himself for climbing the entire wall and ringing the bell.


Ethan is so light that it was difficult for him to actually climb the wall, but he did enjoy hanging upside down "like Spiderman".


Roasting marshmellows at the campfire.


Ethan with Lil' Ethan, the craw fish he caught.


The boys in the lifejackets from Granny and Grandpa.




Well, this past week we had a great opportunity to go to "camp". White Sulphur Springs is a beautiful camp, nestled in the woods of rural Pennsylvania. We had heard a lot of wonderful things about the family camps offered by Officers' Christian Fellowship from friends at Fort Riley but we had never had an opportunity to visit one ourselves. This year we took the plunge and decided to spend our family vacation doing fun, family, camp stuff (if you know me, you would know this is WAY out of my comfort zone!!).

We left for camp around 1400, right after Sam's Promotion ceremony. The drive is only 160 miles, which theoretically should only take about 2 1/2 hours. OH how we LOVE (hint the sarcasm) DC. It took us THREE hours to go 59 miles. It was a nightmare!! At about 45 miles in, I realized I had forgotten my bathing suit. We saw a Target at the 59 mile mark and we stopped to stretch our legs, pick me up a suit, and grab some dinner. After the initial traffic yuckiness we had smooth sailing up to PA. We got to camp six hours from our departure time, exhausted and basically ready to go to bed! The rooms at White Sulphur Springs are very quaint, clean and comfy, but the lodge does lack a key pregnant women must....air conditioning! I initially thought I might die from heat but some seasoned "campers" taught us the tricks of keeping your room cool and comfortable (ie. Greg and I haven't wet the bed in at least 30 years so we thought it would be okay if we removed the rubber sheet).

On Saturday morning we got to really experience camp. First let me say the food was FABULOUS. They have a local gal who has been cooking for them for the last 20 years and she really knows how to put on a spread (evident by the four pounds I gained last week...hey I am eating for two...well sort of). White Sulphur Springs "campus" is beautiful and there is TONS to do. Throughout the week we enjoyed horseback riding, craw fish hunting, fishing, hiking, kid activities, rock climbing, swimming, canoeing, fellowship, speakers, and much more. I highly recommend the camp to anyone!

When we first got there we weren't sure if we were going to like the experience, but afterwards we left more connected with each other and with the Lord and we met some great new friends. The boys can't wait to go next year. Check out our pics from the week to see all the fun we had!!

My Baby's not a Baby Anymore


Graduation Party

Mrs. Broka, Sam and Mrs. Bieger (Sam's WONDERFUL teachers!!)


Getting his diploma from Mrs. Wilson.


The "handsome" cap he decorated.


Singing


My little stair steps :0)


The last day of School!

On Friday, June 15th, Sam "graduated" from Kindergarten. It was a great promotion ceremony. The children sang a song in honor of their teacher who died from cancer in May. After the song they walked across the stage and received a diploma from the principal, Mrs. Wilson. We are so proud of Sam and everything he learned this year. The party in his classroom was the perfect ending for a good year. Right now we are trying to decide what we want to do for 1st grade. We have a lot of good options and we (including Sam) are praying about what would be the best option for him next year.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

More PICS from Brooks and Dunn!!


Greg, Dave and I after the concert!! Thanks Dave for our great night!!


What you don't see behind the curtains...busy, busy, busy!!


Alan Jackson from back stage!!


Brooks and Dunn "Only in America"


At the Meet and Greet.


Put on some lipstick just in case Brooks and Dunn wants a kiss ;0)


Joel held my Guest sticker well!


Waiting for the concert.

Check out my post from yesterday for details of our night.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Brooks and Dunn BABY!!


A friend of mine (Dave) does Marketing on tour with Brooks and Dunn and asked Greg and I if we wanted free tickets...uh, YEAH!!

Last night we had the pleasure of going to there concert...oh and did I mention that ALAN JACKSON was also on tour with them!! HOLY COW was it a great night.

Greg and I started our night at a great restaurant called Coastal Flats. After a dinner of shrimp and grits and crab cakes we headed to the concert. We tried to keep our expectations low, but we sure didn't have to. Dave hooked us up with some SWEET tickets. They were about 80 rows back and in the center (sounds crappy but they were FABULOUS and would have cost us A FORTUNE!! We brought binoculars, but who needs them that close.). Before the concert Dave showed us where to go to get our "Meet and Greet" Stickers. We actually got to MEET Brooks and Dunn!! We didn't have a conversation or anything, but we did get a great picture with them!!

After the Meet and Greet we headed back to our seats for an AWESOME concert. Did you know that adults go to concerts and actually sit down and watch instead of standing and acting like maniacs?! It was refreshing!! After their concert there was some free time while the crew set up for Alan Jackson, Dave came and grabbed us and took us back stage! We got to go see the outside of all the tour buses, Alan Jackson's is SWEET!! It looks like something out of the future. I would have loved to have seen the inside. We did get to see the inside of the bus Dave tours in. It was pretty nice too. They definitly ride in style! Greg, Dave and I talked in the bus for awhile and then Dave took us on stage and we got to watch the Alan Jackson concert from back stage. It was SO COOL (as Gabe would say). I felt very special and enjoyed being out with Greg for the first time in ages. It's nice to be a grown up!!

Thanks Dave for the tickets!!!! I'll update with more pics from our big night whenever Greg gets home and helps me figure out his camera.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

I need one of these!!!




Okay, since Sam is only in Kindergarten I didn't realize what a pain in the puttity it is to try to transport cupcakes. I was ecstatic to make it to school without any problems. I've decided that I must have a "Cupcake Courier". Check it out at www.cupcakecourier.com It is the coolest thing and I'm sure will make the elementary years much easier...I've a feeling I have a lot of cupcakes in my future!!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Lots of Updates and Some CHANGES!!

Hi all, don't know how many of you are actually reading the Spencer family blog, but if you are out there I wanted to let you know about some changes. I guess when I originally set up the blog I had set my settings so that only people registered with Blogger could leave comments. I have since changed this so anyone can leave a comment.

Check out all of our recent happenings and make sure and let us know you are "checkin" us out!!

Babe Ruth??!!



Gabe LOVES sports, especially baseball. I'm not sure he can even see the ball, but it sure doesn't stop him from swinging!!

Sam's Birthday!!



Writing thank you notes.



Get that spooky spider (or as Gabe says...POOKEY PIDER!!)

The new book from Gigi and Papa...by far his favorite!

Granny and Grandpa's box!


Black widow!!
Before school on Friday. Looking pretty good despite vomiting 8 times in three hours!! Poor Sam.

A box full of spiders!! Nothing a big shoe couldn't take care of!


Almost too cute to eat.

On June 2nd, Sam turned six. I cannot believe I have a son who is six and getting ready to graduate from Kindergarten. He is so big. Everyday he delights me with how smart and clever he is. He is such a fun kid. He is also a very no nonsense child, very mature for his age. He loves to learn about things that "worry" him, particularly spiders and tornados. When I asked him what type of birthday he wanted he told me a spider tornado birthday. I was finally able to convince him to go with one theme and we settled on spiders. On Friday I took cupcakes in to his class that looked like spiders. His cake on Saturday looked like a huge black widow and had creepy lime jello guts. It was a ton of fun to make and a lot of fun to watch the boys eat.

Sam was thrilled with his gifts. He receieved a spider themed package from Granny and Grandpa along with some cash, his FAVORITE gift! Nina and Tim gave him some water guns. GiGi and Papa got him a book, microscope and Hummer remote control car. From Amy, Casey, Eric and Laura he received more of his favorite gift, MONEY! From Ethan and Gabe he enjoyed sidewalk chalk paint and from us he received a book and an awesome airplane that shoots from a "gun". He loved all of his gifts and said it was the best birthday ever! He was so thrilled with everything he started writing thank you notes right away without prompting. He's such a thoughtful kid!

Keep him in your prayers as he is still vomiting about every 10-14 days and we still aren't sure why. He definitly has the doctor perplexed. We go for allergy testing at Walter Reed on June 25th, which is the Monday after we return from Family Camp at the Officer Christian Fellowship Camp in Pennsylvania. We are all excited to go!

Memorial Day!!


Mom, "Nina", the boys and I. The boys are sporting their new Buzz Lightyear Jammies from Gigi and Nina.


The Spencer/Leppert/Akin/Derham family Memorial Day feast.


Chillin' at the "O" Club Pool


Gabe was pretty sure someone told him he wasn't supposed to play with fire, so what was this guy doing!!

For Memorial Day we enjoyed a great weekend with our family. On Saturday night we went to a Japanese Steakhouse for an early birthday celebration for Sam. It is always fun to watch the boys faces at those places. On Sunday we spent the day at the pool...ahhh...summer, it is so nice to have warm weather and pool fun! Sunday night my Dad's two sisters came over for a little Memorial Day cookout. Even though it rained it was nice to be with family. Monday Anna, Mom and I spent the day at the mall shopping, I had a blast. I can't tell you the last time I was at the mall without two strollers and three kids! Hope everyone else had a wonderful Memorial Day and remembered why we had the day off. If you need a reminder check out www.icasualties.org.