Spencer and Daddy

While Spencer is by far my favorite subject to take photos of, it seems that when the camera comes out, he turns serious. Spencer is a bubbly, energetic, seriously happy little boy 99% of the time. Looking back at my posts with photos of him, I realize I capture very little of his sweet and goofy personality. John did get a few smiles this last Sunday while I was baking.

Normal camera cameo for Spencer.

Meet Bob, the snake. Spencer grabbed him at the store the other day. Bob is an easier name for him to say rather than snake, don't you think?

Cream Cheese Crescent Roll Bars

I am in the mood to bake. While I love to bake, I rarely make time for it. Last week I made my sister Tanya's recipe for Pudding Cookies. These cookies really are delicious. I have had many requests for the recipe. Stop over at Tanya's site, The Sunday Baker. You will not be disappointed!

The Sunday Baker <----- Click here

CREAM CHEESE CRESCENT ROLL BARS

2 (8oz.) pkg. crescent rolls

2 (8oz.) pkg. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 egg white

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. crushed nuts

1 tsp. cinnamon

1. In a 9 x 13 inch buttered pan, mold on package of 8 oz. crescent rolls to the bottom.






2. Cream 2 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese with 1 cup of sugar. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Spread mixture over the molded crescent rolls.




3. Mold other crescent rolls over the top of cream cheese mixture in pan. (I molded them on my cutting board as the cream cheese mixture can be messy to work with.)
4. Beat 1 egg white and spread on top layer of crescent rolls.
5. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup crushed nuts and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of egg whites.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (I check mine starting at 20 and remove at 25 minutes.)

Enjoy!

Riding the School Bus

Spencer is going to ride the bus to and from school this year. He rode last year only from his Early Childhood class to daycare. He loves riding and is a complete angel when we take trips. He usually does better than his parents do! He has the same driver as last year and said "HI" to her as soon as the bus doors opened.


Another good report from school today. Yeah!

Getting in one last Blue's Clues song before we head out to wait for the bus.

Despite looking back, he went right to his seat and took his backpack from the driver.

My Baby is Growing Up

With great joy and relief, I am reporting in that Spencer's first day of Kindergarten was a complete success!!! John, being the great daddy he is, took off work this morning and drove Spencer in for his first day. I, plain and simple, chickened out. This may sound like I am a bad mother (or mudder, as my nephews used to say). Really, Spencer and I are very very close. He is still young enough to like me and I eat that right up! Spencer does however act completely different in the classroom when I am around. He picks up on my mood and it can really affect him, sometimes in a bad way. I would have cried and he would have stressed out and the morning would have started out completely different. John, on the other hand is Spencer's security blanket. When he is hurt, John is the only person who can calm him down and comfort him. Kind of nice that we both have our strong points with our little man.

Spencer's teacher reported that Spencer had a wonderful day, listened and followed directions well, supported another student by patting her on the head and saying "good girl" and generally tried hard to do what was asked of him. Yeah Spencer!!! We had one tired little boy tonight.

All Growed Up (from the Rugrats)

Dad and Spencer

Mom and Spencer

His secondary aide, Spencer, primary aide, Spencer's teacher


Very happy to be back in school.

I just love this one!

Who Said Frogs Aren't Cute?

We had our first official frog photo shoot tonight! John decided I needed to take out the frogs and get some pictures. I do try almost every night to get some after I turn their light off but due to the lack of light and the fact that they don't cooperate well, I maybe get one good photo out of 50. I couldn't believe my ears when he said he would take pictures and help out! Turns out that Simone loved him and kept climbing all over him and jumping on his arm. It was very cute and of course made John more comfortabe holding them.

I have to give credit where credit is due. I took none of these photos. That big hairy arm isn't mine either! John was a frog hog!

Simone

Simone

Xander

Simone

Xander

Xander

Xander on top, Simone bottom



How can you resist that face?!

Scuba Steve and the Mommies

That is the name of Spencer's new band. Pretty catchy, huh? (have to have seen Adam Sandler in Big Daddy).

Spencer has always loved music and singing. The weekend of the wedding, he came home with his own band in a box. It has a drum set, harmonica, tamborine,recorder, keyboard and guitar. He has since switched between all these and is proud of his ability to make noise by himself. We are proud of him too! A few short weeks ago, he couldn't blow the harmonica and now he runs around playing it for us with the cutest smile ever at his success.

We are currently looking for new members to join our band. If interested, meet us in the middle of the living room after dinner!

The Hole in My Heart

I have a hole in my heart that will never heal. A hole that reminds me at many turns of the very special little boy who's smile used to light my day. It has been three years ago today since I have seen that little boy, since I have heard his voice or felt his arms around me giving me a hug.

Three years ago today that my sister Tanya's oldest son, my very first nephew, went with the Lord and left many behind to mourn the empty space in our lives that he once filled. Colin fought bravely and with all he had but cancer takes precious loved ones without regret or sympathy.

My fascination and great love for Colin started when my sister honored me by asking me to be with her in the delivery room. I loved my little alien, blond haired, red faced nephew immediately and that love and bond only grew as he did. I miss him so very much and still look for him when I visit my sister's house. I think of him every day and talk to him every night before I fall asleep. It has become a habit for me to tell him about my day and let him know how much I miss him.

I keep Christmas cards that Tanya sent when Colin was still here because her family will always be the best family of FOUR that I know. To see his name with theirs is only right and natural. I have many things Colin gave Spencer that I have stored in Spencer's closet, waiting and hoping some day he will understand what these gifts mean. I have pencil boxes and notebooks full of Colin's art that mean more to me than the Holy Grail. He was always giving Spencer and I gifts. He loved to make people happy. A hero with a heart of gold...

I take comfort in knowing that Colin is feeling no more pain and that someday in the not so distant future, I will be with him again, in whatever form and it will be like we were never apart.

Please light a candle tonight in honor of one brave and very missed little man, who's place in my heart still holds his laughter and kindness close and who's love has changed me forever.

Brothers