Out of the desert and into the waves......

After just 3 weeks of school we could call it....."Break from the heat" maybe? "Heat break" instead of "Fall break?" Whatever you want to dub it.....I love being less than a days drive from the cool mountains or the beach! Merl needed to be in San Diego for a short Saturday meeting last weekend - so we tagged along. My generous aunt and uncle allow us to "bunk in" at their home when we come which is what makes these frequent excursions a possibility. This time we drove into San Diego later Friday night so Merl could work a full day.

Saturday morning after dropping Merl off the kids and I enjoyed the cool weather at a park, did some grocery shopping, and visiting with my uncle. After lunch we packed up and then picked up daddy who had traded his dress clothes for the beach attire and we jumped on the freeway headed for "Beaches".....

I'll be real here.....the beach is not my favorite place....the sand, mess, etc. Sorry! But it does make for good pictures and of course the kids love it. It was a too cool 70 degrees for me on the beach! I was freezing and begged for the shirt off Merl's back! The kids enjoyed it for a few hours but then were happy to be done.....so we left the crowd for a relaxing evening at my aunt and uncle's. Just enough beach for me and leaving the kids wanting more......ha!

We haven't been to the park in awhile....

Nice pose....

I just love the fact they are all in this picture enjoying one another....

Madison on our borrowed snow/"surf" board...

Handsome and strong!

Wave jumping.....

Another handsome boy....

the frozen mummy....

toes....

Cool crab!

Here's to a great day!

the 5K fiasco.....

Last night I was in bed pleading that the Lord would give me some clarity on whether I should join my men for their 5K in the early AM. I was wishing I had told the kids we were all going and feeling conflicted about leaving them with Madison. At 4:30 am I was awake and had decided to stay home....there would be no pictures this time.....I dislike missing out on all the fun.....but I rationalized that it would be easier to get to church on time this way - and if Ryan won a medal they could stay to claim it.

After saying goodbye at 5:30.... I decided I could not go back to sleep so made my coffee and settled with my book, bible, and pen on the couch. It hadn't been too long and Allie appeared. "Go back to bed, silly - it's 6am!" I said to her....not believing she was up. 15 minutes had not gone by and the phone rang. Cell phone number I didn't recognize......I answered and there is Merl on the other end. "Hey! Race is about to start but wanted to let you know I locked the keys in the car!" Heaven help me - this is usually my line.....So I hung up the phone and did some quick thinking. Could leave the kids and go..... but not wise with Allie the only one awake (or so I thought). Upon investigation I found Madison awake too. "Quick - get dressed lets see if we can get to South Mountain before the end of the race so I can get the guys' picture!" So we dragged poor Jonathan out of bed, threw his clothes on and were off.

As we entered the park I could tell by the pace of the runners that we might not have missed Ryan and Merl's finish. We ran up the road after parking the van and about the time we got to the runners I saw 2 of the little boys in Ryan's age bracket. This was a conflict. I prayed Ryan had already passed (knowing they had both run faster than him last time) - but on the other hand was bummed I might have missed a photo opp. But before long I could see his strong gait running along. My heart was happy to see him but a little disappointed knowing that he was behind his competitors. He was glad to see us and be near the finish. I had no way of knowing how far behind the boys he was since they start the runners in a stagger.

Two minutes later came daddy - he looked quite a bit more uncomfortable than his agile son - but was still looking good! I snapped his picture and enjoyed the view for a few minutes and then off we went to meet up with them.

I was feeling joyful and couldn't believe I still got pictures.....then it hit me. In our rush to leave and my urgency to not miss the end of the race - I had just grabbed the van keys and not Merl's car keys. We still had no keys to get into the car! Oh brother - my brain. The kids enjoyed the end of race snacks that Ryan shared with them.

Ryan cut 1 minute off his time (on a much more difficult course) - and missed 3rd place by only 30 seconds! And we enjoyed an unexpected/unplanned family outing. We still made it to church on time.....though had to go BACK to South Mountain after to claim the car! Time for a nap.....

The good sports.....but by 8am it was getting hot....

school days......"the first day"

The first day of school was a little unusual.....the kids got to pick breakfast.....I was surprised they didn't go for the doughnuts this year. After breakfast we have been traditionally doing pictures. Each year we try and come up with something original. The kids wanted photos in the new treehouse so that was fun! Ryan wanted to dress up for his individual picture too.

We were hardly finished with pictures and bible and it was time to leave for swimming lessons.... After lunch we did orientation for all our subjects......and then it was time for the older kids to go to swim practice! Ha! That is a typical "Arizona" day! Sort of an atypical day for school but we liked it....

Breakfast of champions.....

Our traditional "self portrait"...

The four students

Jonathan - 4

Allison - 6

Ryan - 10

Madison 12 & Aslan

school days......"the preparation"

We are finishing up our second week of school! It works well for us to start Aug. 1 because then we have the ability to be off when the weather is cooler around here. We seemed to only have a moment for preparation! Life was crazy and before we knew it it was time! I begged the kids the day before we began for one more week of planning.....but they totally vetoed the idea. All four couldn't wait so I found myself scrambling - but then gave in and flew by the seat of my pants.

This year we tried to use the majority of the school supplies we'd bought on sale last year and had left over. The kids did a great job spicing up the older notebooks and such! We did buy a few new things.....I have passed on my addiction to writing utensils so.......ya know.

Madison has got some creative juices.....

Don't you want her to decorate your stuff?

All lined up and ready to go...

I love Ryan's simplicity and willingness to use whatever was in storage -

Love the "Cars" touch....

This is my table the day before we started.... I was winging it this year.....will have to do more prep as we go.

Spence celebration (Day 3) BBQ

On the last day all of the Spence family gathered, we opted for a kick back day at one of the rental houses. It was a day of swimming, visiting, telling stories, looking at pictures, and more laughing. It is wonderful that all my cousin's kids and ours enjoy one another so much. In fact, at the end of the day they didn't want it to be over. Too bad we are all spread out so far across the country. I am thankful they all made the effort to come to New Mexico though - I know it is hard work to travel like that and is a sacrifice. It was a tribute to Grandma and Grandpa's legacy and love of family gatherings. Thanks for the good times! I love you all!

I love how my parent's families mix - even my mom's brother and wife came and spent the day with all the Spences - such a blessing. Uncle Tom (mom's brother), Uncle Gary, and my dad try to get the grill going.......

Elise and Reanna enjoying the water!

Brody eyeing his food....

Uncle Ken, Aunt Linda, and Aunt Marlene: more laughing......

We were attempting to get a picture of all the great grandchildren and great grandchild. I chose too small a space!

Naptime

If it is Friday or Sunday.....and there are Spences.....there WILL be popcorn....guaranteed. Here is my mom and Aunt Nancy supervising the next generation!

Adult naptime......

Spence celebration (Day 2): Evening fun

After our time of sharing our group divided up since we all had different ideas of how we'd like to finish out the day. Debi and I decided we needed to have our picture taken in front of Valle Grande.....a place Grandpa once drove us after a scuffle the two of us had during one of Granny's bridge parties! I can't remember how old we were but I was the innocent victim....boy that was one long car ride of much silence as well as "instruction" from Grandpa. After this stop it was on to Santa Fe for more mexican food and visiting......a full day.

I am sure she could still take me down....but thought I'd get a jump on it....

This is the calm side of me after deciding to love and not take revenge.....

The drive into Santa Fe.....right toward a raging forest fire!

Yummy fajitas!

The kids got such a kick out of this "ice cream" potato!

After dinner races.....

Sunset on the plaza.....

I think Archer was tired of me sticking a camera in front of his face!

If he'd just stop being so cute!

Spence celebration (Day 2)

Day 2 of our time with the Spences was to take place mainly up in the Jemez Mountains, where grandma and grandpa had enjoyed taking hikes and picnics. There were childhood memories there for all of us down through the generations. My parents remembered going there as kids - and then many of us cousins recalled picnics there with each other when we were young. Our families would drive up from Los Alamos when visiting. Now, since becoming an adult, I have enjoyed going to the Jemez primarily with Merl's family and our children look forward to it.

The plan was to picnic in the morning and gather for a "service" in the afternoon so these are some pictures from our morning adventures....Of course the main attraction was the water!

Big sister helping little brother across after his "crash".

My brother Steve and his son Archer play with Brodie (G & G's only great, great grandchild)

Sweet Elise!

Peter and Ryan navigating the stream

Deb's 3 : Mark, Danica, and Alex playing "ladderball"

Archer enjoyed his own version of ladderball....

Here is the Spence clan - a neice and nephew of G & G....all their children, 7 of the 8 grandchildren, 16 of the 19 great grand children and 1 great, great grandchild! Oh - and all the outlaws! : )