Tender Mercies Tuesday: Once Again

I am once again reminded how AWESOME it is that I have the opportunity to work for such a wonderful company.

The office manager Sheila asked me 2 weeks ago if Matt was going to school this Fall. I said "yes, of course." She said, "I need his grades from last semester so Garbett can help pay for his tuition again this Fall."

I completely forgot about that since they do it for Fall and Spring not Summer. I gave Sheila a big grin and then got everything she needed. The check was in the mail to the U the next day... WOW! I love it when we don't count on things, try to plan on doing it one way and the Lord prepares a different way that will help you so much more. Hallelujah for my job and that I get to work with such kind generous people. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year

When Football season begins I get the chills literally, and I actually almost cry a little bit right before kick off... Yes, I am THAT big of a fan I get so anxious, nervous, excited that it all bubbles over... what kick off also means in another few short months Basketball season begins too, then that pretty much carries me through 'til next summer.


Yep I almost shed a baby tear just watching this video, AND I'll have butterflies in my stomach ALL week getting ready for BYU's Home Opener against Washington this Saturday. Ohhh how I love it! Go Cougs!  Matt and I will be with you ALLLLL season.

Breaking News Update

Ty is walking everywhere now, it's nice but at the same time when I am in a hurry and I have to pick him up he get upset because he can walk!

This video was about 5 days ago I forgot I had his one,

So I took this video when Ty first woke up this morning. I couldn't decide which one to post, so I thought "Heck, why not both!" They are both about the same...

Yeah, he fake falls all the time too and hams it up. He thinks his is so funny.

Oh and random addition to the post,

Saturday Morning I got out of bed to find this...

Ty was hitting a ball back and forth with Matt under the blankets.The first of many forts built in the living room I assume.

She left a hole in my heart

Yep, you guessed it... oh wait no you probably didn"t...

Matt and I FINALLY decided it was time to sell the Jeep. Either that or Matt was ready to drive it out to Tooele and Shoot it up haha. Oh how I loved her but she kept failing me and we decided it was time to start saving to buy a new car (well new to us), instead of spending money fixing the Jeep. We're hoping to have the money in a few months but for now were down to being a one car family... 

I actually almost started crying when the kid drove her away. I've had that Jeep for 6 years. It was my first car and I have a ton of good memories with it. BUT when it wont start every 4 months or so for no reason that was getting annoying.  I was very honest with the kid that bought it and he said he had a buddy that had an 89 Jeep too. He told me I was selling it for a killer price.

I put her on KSL (a popular local classified website) for $1,200, blue book was $1,550, but that was for fair condition. She was in better condition then fair I would say. I said O.B.O and she sold 2 and a half hours later for $1,000. I had four calls and hind sight says I should have told the kid that I had more people coming to look at it so I would consider the offer but hold off for now. I could have gotten more out of her I guess. But we were hoping to only get $1,000 so I guess that is good. He seemed to be pretty mechanically minded. 

    

I took her to the car wash and vacuumed her out, that's all I did in preparation. Here are the parting pictures I posted on KSL.

Side Shot

Front Shot

Back Seat

Front Seats

Back shot... 

Last thing I said to the kid was "Take good care of her!" He said he would.... sniff sniff I'll miss that hunk of metal leaking oil on our drive way... really I will!

P.S. I did this all while Matt wasn't home, he still doesn't know she's sold! He'll find out tonight and be so happy I bet.

Cougar Kick Off

This years Cougar Kick Off was great! We got all the stuff we wanted and all the stuff my parents wanted us to get for them too... We went with the Wu's and the Readings.

Ty liked to walk around holding Matt's hand. Bad lighting but it was so cute! 

Preston and Suzanne

Matt and I

Freshman Phenom Jake Heaps, #1 QB recruit in the nation out of high school fighting for the starting spot on the team...

Last years authentic Jersey's signed by the players and my signed t-shirt.

Pretty much the cutest Cougar fan ever...

Tahoe 3

This was a frequent occurrence. We went to the beach all morning and Ty would be pooped after lunch. He would crash just about anywhere.

The kids loved to play with the pool balls and the ping pong balls. Ty was just chasing them all everywhere.

They had to learn to share... it was rough for the first few days... until Kristin and Will just got everyone their own ball complete with their initial on it. Sierra would always say " S S ssss S is for Sigh-ya" Yeah she hasn't quite mastered saying her own name yet.

Say Chhhheeeese!

Ha good one Baylee.

Ty was so happy then he tried to crawl on the coffee table and whacked his head...

Suzanne and I thought it was hilarious.

HAHA Still makes me laugh.

We did a ton of this sort of thing with the kids to after lunch.

Almost every morning we went to the beach. We did Paddle boats, Jet-skis, boating with Tubes and Wake boards and so on. I didnt take my camera every time so I missed some picture opportunities...

Hey Dad look I found a Rock!

Sisters, Sisters...(From White Christmas)

Nice Smile there Zan...

What was this called again? I cant remember... Paddle surfing? There weren't any waves but it was a good arm work out. I think this is H.D., Colton, Will with Jason and Preston.

Matt and Ty waited their turn to go out.

Will and Jason coming back to shore.

I went out too!

Me, Colton and Matt heading on out.

Matt came back and got Ty.

Of course I sat with him... he almost fell asleep! He was so comfy just lying there on me.

The next day we drove over to Squaw Valley and took the Tram. It was really high up... (coming from someone terrified of heights) I didn't enjoy the Tram much but Matt and Ty did.

Looking down on the plaza.

Quick Family Picture at the top... Colton I think has a  better one of us on Facebook.

Sheer cliff... Sign that says "Cliff Area" why not go hands free on the pole huh? He's crazy I wouldn't get close enough so Colton took the picture.

Mom and Ty at the top by the Restaurant.

We were gone from Friday night to the Next Sunday afternoon. When we finally got home. I popped in a movie for Ty while I started the Laundry... poor Matt was a bit pooped. Oh and that is our mail scattered there, Ty likes to look at the adds. I pull out all the important stuff first.

That concludes out Tahoe family trip pictures! It was a fun and memorable vacation!

Tahoe 2 (Finally)

Yeah I was putting it off, and I know why... It took me 2 hours to load just these few videos! I don't know why it takes so long these days...

Anyways so here are the videos... first off "minute to win it" games. We had a pedometer on the headband. The goal was to get 125 uhh head shakes....(Oh and don't mind my giggling and yelling GO GO GO GO the whole time...)

Britany went first...

Then Colton...

I dont even know if I could call this an attempt from my mom....

Matt gave it a valiant effort...

I don't know why I didn't get video of  Suzanne, Will and Kristin. Will really tried hard bracing himself on the timber framing and everything. In the end Preston's mini head shake won it.

A few more pictures from the games can be seen on Kristins blog definitely worth a look! Super fun doing the games for your next family gathering, you can easily find something for everyone to try.

I think the next night we went to the tennis court to race the remote control cars. It was my Dads activity but he didn't like racing as much as watching and listening to everyone. It was a blast....

All the guys getting their cars ready....

My mom and dad passed out little dart guns to the kids to shoot the cars with when they drove by.

Pretty sure these boys could have done this alllll night.

Ty chased them all night too, he LOVED them.

I do have videos from the family Olympics, but my darling Grandmother took the videos and I know she would be horrified if I posted them because she is talking the whole time saying "Hurry up I am taking video!" 

I believe you can check Kristins blog again for pictures on that too :)

Tender Mercies Tuesday: the big plan

Sometimes I forget that God knows the big picture. He knows what I need now and what I need ten years from now.

In the last few weeks my eyes have been opened to things that he has been planning for years that Matt and I won't even benefit from until next year. So mind blowing to me, we haven't even made the decision yet then all the sudden I realize that the decision has pretty much all ready been made because it only makes sense to choose that and God has everything ready for us to make that desicion. I dont know if that makes sense, but it make sense to me.  

There are numerous things going that way these days.

Sorry for the slack in posts, things are crazy here in the Spence house. We finally got everything cleaned and put away from our numerous adventures. I am ALMOST caught up on the endless laundry piles and with the new semester starting up for Matt I'm back to being a single mom for 3 of the 7 days of the week. Whew life is good, but its crazy. Lets hope I can keep up :)

Breaking News

We've got ourselves a walker... well sometimes.


He started doing this...

Then after about 30 minutes he was getting tired and silly so Matt got him laughing

We put him to bed shortly after :)

Oh and this is just a bonus video of Ty trying to work out with Matt earlier in the day.

Tahoe 1

I think I'll try and do this trip in 3 posts.

First Day at the beach

Colton with his new camera

Jason holding Seirras flip flop

Ty didnt know what to make of the sand at first.

Matt and I

 

Everyone testing the water (it was cold)

Ty decided he liked the sand 

The boys checking it all out

Jason, getting into it.

Sierra was even digging it!

Laycee was always taking off towards the water

So was Baylee

Ty is upset because he kept trying to drink the stagnant lake water that was in little puddles and Matt wouldnt let him.

See that Parachute wayyyyy up there? Yeah that is Matt and Preston. Matt said is was SO MUCH FUN!

They were super high in the air. I think I would have peed my pants being that high, not to mention puke. I dont do heights like that. (see facebook for more photos of everyone parasailing)

The kids played so well on the beach! Sierra was on the slides or I bet should would have been right in the action.

Next we went to a near by Disc Golf park.

It was pretty close so those with Mountain bikes rode down.

Random but adorable picture of Ty.

It was one steep hill down, and worse riding back up! 

The only wild life I really saw, Jason named every Chipmunk Dale... All though the day we got their the neighbor warned us to sleep with the windows closed because a bear got into their place the day before and ate half the stuff in their fridge. He lounged around for about an hour before the sheriff finaly got it to leave. Yikes!

Such a pretty place!

Too bad their are so many shadows or this would have been a good family picture location!

Matt checking out the next hole...

Stay tuned for our family "Minute to win it" games and Family "Olympic" pictures :)