Wide Awake

The eyes are blue. You don't see them often. But they are blue.

Christmas for Sophie

A toybox FULL of dress-ups. A kitchen. A desk with all kinds of "colors". Plastic animals. And...a basketball hoop from Daddy just to make sure visions of sugar-hoops danced in my head.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...and the Morning After

Christmas Eve

Firsts....

Here's me in my first barrette. (I'm sorry if the spelling of 'barrette' isn't right. Daddy hasn't had girls before.)

Hilari-Tea

Steffy gave me a tea set. My first order of business was to serve my Daddy tea.

Sisters

The Grand Dames

In Which I Want to be Lucy

I saw Lucy in one of these. I couldn't help myself and spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how I could fit myself in. I need to talk to someone about making one of these for me in a larger size.

St. Lucia Day, December 13th, 2005

Lucia Gwen Olivia Spencer. 6lbs, 15ounces. 19" long. 4:06pm, Tuesday. Mom and baby are sleeping and doing very, very well.

I do...Oma says.

Grandma says I look just like my Daddy. It's so cool.

My First Foray into Snow...it's Num Num

Quite frankly, all I cared about was the fact that this stick got the snow to my mouth.

Halloween

I was a cat, and was really only concerned with reading.

Fall Pictures

Catch Up!!

Life happened. Our life over the past month has been, to say the least, Providentially Nuts. Here's some pictures of our Sweet Girl over the past few months.

Squirrel Hunting

Dear Grandpa Spencer,

Daddy took me squirrel hunting today. I told him I wanted to make sure you knew that I had learned the right thing about how we treat squirrels, so he took these pictures for you to see. As you can see, pink is the color of choice for squirrel hunting apparel. I wore my pink polka-dotted galoshes in case any of the rascals got squirrely around my ankles.

It sure is hard to catch squirrels. My technique got a bit better as the evening wore on. I found it best to ask Daddy to carry me within 15 feet of the quarry, then I'd lunge forward to run after them on my own. If I'd forgotten, Daddy would remind me to get my ammunition. . .acorns! Then I'd stare up at the tree, like this....and throw my acorns to try to knock the squirrels out of the tree. (One acorn came down and bonked me on the head, but it didn't hurt.)

I want you to know, Grandpa, that I tried for 2 hours to catch a squirrel for you. I marched Daddy around the yard, and we tried all kinds of tactics (like the one you see on the right). But after so long, I got hungry and Mommy called me into dinner. Anyway, next time I visit I'll bring my pink galoshes and my hat so we can rid your garden of the nasty vermin.

Love,

Sophie Mae

Labor Day

What to do on Labor Day? Sandy and I have long hoped to find a place near our home to spend a lot of inexpensive time outside. This would be a place we could enjoy God's creation as a family. A place Sophie would enjoy, and we could enjoy being with her in her element. The swimming pools run by the local park districts (actually they're more like water parks) would cost us over $20.00 per swim. I have a very hard time spending money to be in the water, particularly having grown up swimming in the many gorgeous lakes and rivers of the Northwest. Most of the lakes and rivers here in Illinois are not swimmable due to their stagnant nature and muddy bottoms. There are many, many Forest Preserves and parks around us at which Sophie has the opportunity to meet new friends and ride slides. But with the heat and pregnancy, Sandy can only take so much chasing Sophie up and down the slides (and I do mean up, because Sophie's favorite park game is to climb UP the slides).

A couple of weeks ago we found that we could pay $12.00 to park at the Lincoln Park Zoo and walk across Lake Shore Drive to the beach at Lake Michigan. The beach there is beautiful and ideal for swimming. But the drive is 30-45 minutes, and with the price of gas. So this weekend I decided to research beaches on Lake Michigan. The first beach that looked promising was in the city of Glencoe. However, it too required payment, not for parking, but for entrance to the water. To make a long story short, we ended up finding a gem. Rosewood Beach in Highland Park. 20 minutes from our home, free, and beautiful.

Sophie continues to amaze her parents and those she meets with her fearlessness. Belly laughs were common today as she ran, yes ran, headlong into the waves. She would get splashed or bowled over, get up, and run back to the beach giggling all the way. She certainly became a sandy mess. She loved her feet buried. At the close of the hours we spent there today, I took her a little further out into the waves. As each one rolled closer, her eyes got wider along with her grin; she would lean INTO them to get soaked, giggle, and look out for the next one. When I handed her to Sandy so I could swim out and get the sand off in preparation to go home, it was all Sandy could do to keep Sophie in her arms.

In any event, we found our "spot". Without a lake house, a motor boat (or even a canoe), we'll take our little free beach and enjoy it MULTIPLE times a week until the leaves change color and the water becomes too brisk for Sophie to enjoy the waves.

Cougs and Shoes

Sophie has discovered Mommy's shoes. You can almost guarantee that if a pair of Mommy's shoes are a lonely pair without a closet; Sophie will befriend them for QUITE some time. Here, Sophie pairs her love of shoes with her love of Daddy's office chair. Daddy's office chair means "Paint". Yes, she loves to use the "mowse" and help Daddy fill in the colors of various Winnie's in Re-Poohs or Disney Villainesses. We are so proud of her.

Despite her love of shoes, Sophie has also been baptized into Crimson and Gray. She says, quite audibly, "Go Cougs". When asked, "Where are the Cougs?" she unfailingly identifies whatever article of WSU clothing is in the room. And furthermore, she also recognizes any football game on TV as a Cougar game. Her first Cougar baptism was tonight, as she was allowed to stay up 20 minutes past her bedtime to hear the melodious voice of Bob Robertson over the radio. And on the 8th day God gave man the ability to invent satellite radio, and it was good.

In other XM news, Jacob is also listening to the Cougars this evening in Virginia as courtesy of my (yes, my) XM Radio. Since another wonderful invention is the ability to pay nothing extra for cell phone minutes after 9pm. Jacob's cell phone is connected to my cell phone, which is sitting an inch away from the speaker transporting Bob Robertson to Lexington, Virginia by way of Chicago.

Ribs and Gardens

This post doesn't have to be spectacularly long to explain what's going on here.. The bottom line is that Sophie LOVES ribs (or gnawing on the bone) and she LOVES to water plants. I'm not sure I even need to say who's fault both of the above items is. Ribs were this past Sunday. Sophie was helping the downstairs neighbor water his plants. The unfortunate part of this was that I missed Sophie watering herself with the hose. Enjoy.

NJ/PA/NY Part II

Friday, August 19th

Most of the NJ family thought I was a bit crazy for driving all the way to central NY and back to Mullica Hill in one day. Most of the West Coast family did too, but they're used to these sort of endeavors from me. 4:30am came and when the day dawned I was greeted with a BEAUTIFUL drive. Central PA and NY are beautiful areas of the country. I heard from more than one NY native that so few people realize how beautiful Central NY is, and they prefer it that way. I would love to drive up I-476 and I-81 again in the fall when the leaf colors are exploding.


On the way back from Baldwinsville, NY, I stopped at the Steamtown National Historic site in Scranton, PA (also the home of Arlen Specter, whose office I saw) to see the steam engines used in Pennsylvania's coal and passenger industry. Frankly, it rated nowhere near as high as a battlefield would have, but I took the opportunity to work on my photography. Scranton-Wilkes Barre are two neat cities nestled in the deciduous mountains of PA.

A wrong turn near Philadelphia took me near the Brandywine Battlefield. Dad mentioned that Revolutionary battlefields are somewhat forgotten in comparison to Civil War fields due to the length of conflict, size of battlefields, and the encroachment of modernity. I agree.

Friday night's dinner was Uncle Butch's WONDERFUL sausage and marinara dish. We have
a similar item native to Chicago, prepared a bit differently. But I thoroughly enjoyed his creation. Also, the Weilands and Edelmans came over to visit. I was struck by the similarity of the Butch Kingett and Janet Campbell families as we sat around the table laughing, looking at old pictures, telling jokes (especially Jack).It felt like "home".


Saturday August, 20th

Saturday morning Uncle Butch was kind enough to drive me to the old haunts: Clementon, Lindenwold, etc. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Albert's Condo, Grandma and Uncle Butch's HS and home, the site of the family slaughter house. As a matter of fact, the view of Philadelphia in the picture in the previous post was from the ground that my great-grandfather owned. He had plans to build a house on this site, with THAT view. Imagine that with a sunset mixed in.

Next we got to see cousin Jessica's horsevaulting practice. She's a little pistol. A sport like horsevaulting is perfect for a beautiful little girl of her disposition. I am quite convinced that although the animals upon which she "vaults" are so huge; they'd never be able to get the best of her. The Weilands were a blessing to meet. They're people you'd want to live closer to.

After a relaxing afternoon and a second round of stromboli and Uncle Butch's marinara sausage; we visited some more (mostly about Beagles and their strange habits) and
then it was off to Independence Mall. Now THIS was a beautiful part of Philadelphia. Although I didn't have time to go through 9/11 security and see the Liberty Bell or walk on the same side of the street as Independence Hall; I got close enough to these things to almost see, touch, and hear the freedom our forefather's knew. Their time was not an easy or quick one, and they had much at stake. Yet here we all are. I also
enjoyed seeing Bookbinders. This restaurant has some family significance in that the Kingett family would attend UPenn football games on Saturdays and then go to Bookbinders in suit and tie for the post-game meal. And I'm quite convinced now that we should reinstitute the tradition of wearing suits and ties to football games. It could qualify as church if the Cougars are winning.

All in all, the trip to Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey was a great memory.

NJ/PA/NY

For the first time in my professional career, I flew for work. Big work. Not only was I excited about the opportunity to test my "travelling" skills, but also the opportunity presented itself to see family that I had not seen in 18 years. (I must also admit that this trip helped serve a selfish goal of at least matching, if not surpassing, the number of significant historical sites that my younger brothers have seen. I think at this point the main only serious piece of history that I have seen that they haven't is the childhood home of Ronald Reagan.)

Wednesday, August 17th

My initial impressions of Philadelphia were not good. The only redeeming edifice I saw between Philadelphia International and Mullica Hill, NJ was Citizen's Bank Park. Inspired to experience Americana, I flipped on the radio broadcast of Phils and the Nats. Alternatively, refineries do not make for spectacular scenery. Although I must admit that the refinery stacks amid the carpet of decidous green looked strangely sci-fi, however ugly. Once I entered the Garden State, the scenery improved drastically. The windows came down, the speed increased, and the prospect of cheese steaks got closer. Reaching Aunt Pat and Uncle Butch's was quite honestly, like coming home. It was a home filled with familiar laughter, overt shades of Grandma, and cheese steaks (although Uncle Butch certainly was not impressed with Jim's Pizza steaks for they were a bit dry).

Thursday August 18th

Philadelphia traffic isn't all that bad. . . at 6AM. Once through Philadelphia proper I was very pleased with the scenery on the way to BPC-East in E. Greenville, PA. The actual details of the visit to this potential client are quite boring in print. However, here in the middle of nowhere PA, right next to BPC-East was the Blommer Chocolate Company. The Blommer Chocolate Company [www.blommer.com] in PA is a subsidiary of the same company downtown Chicago (the factory is located just off the Metra on Canal). Interestingly enough they manufacture bulk chocolate, either shipped in tanker trucks or huge frozen blocks to companies like Hershey, Mars, etc. In any event, the remainder of my afternoon was spent in the shadow of the Revolutionary War. I was thoroughly pleased with the feel and history of Valley Forge, PA. I'm happy to send additional pictures if anyone would like to see them. The picture I've included here probably made the most impression on me during my visit. Enscribed with the purpose, "To the Mothers of The Nation", this statue's significance hit me in the sweet spot. In the cause of liberty, sons began giving their lives for our country at Valley Forge. In the cause of libery, sons continue giving their lives for our country in Iraq and elsewhere. Nuff said.

The Aubrey Experiment

For Sophie's birthday this last spring, we decided it might be a "wise" idea to purchase a baby-sister for Sophie. Well, actually the thought didn't occur to us until we were already in the aisles of our Rockford Toys R US searching for Sophie's birthday present and the ghost of Mason Rudy haunted us into the decision. So that evening, Aubrey Chloe Spencer was born. I know for a fact she (meaning Aubrey) has a real birthday recorded on a real Cabbage Patch birth certificate, but for our purposes she was born on May 31st.



The decision to purchase a baby-sister for Sophie was born of the perceived need to teach her the basics of big-sisterhood; you know, how to hug, kiss, care for, change the diapers of, her new little sibling. And all of this was because we had recently discovered God had seen fit to add number 4 to the 3 Chicago Spencers. If the pictures included here from this evening indicate any foreshadowing of how Sophie will react to Lucie's (spelling as yet undecided) presence, Sandy and I will have a "big-sister" who makes sure little sister never wears socks or shoes; makes sure little sister prefers to go without clothes; and in this particular case prefers not to wear a diaper. (Funny the state in which you see Aubrey here is just the state that Sophie would most often prefer to be in herself. She does not like to have her diaper put back on, and the only time she gets excited about any article of clothing its to bring you her shoes --apple doesn't fall far, I know--to be put on with a big 'oh wow' and a large toothy grin.)

However, these pictures indicate little of Sophie's growing understanding that a little one is on the way. For anyone that will listen, Sophie will do a wonderful job of pointing out that they too have a 'baby' as she lifts up their shirt and points to their belly button. It is a good sign, though, that she only points to 'mommy's' bump in response to the question, "Where is Lucie?" She does carry Aubrey around the house in a prone position repeating 'baby' over and over. Although most times I'm sure that if Aubrey were living, her eyes would be bloodshot and her face red as prone quickly turns into upside-down.



By December, I hope Aubrey will have served her purpose well and can continue life as a normal little girls' doll should, naked on the floor; while Sophie will have learned that a little sister is to love and care for.

Enjoy.

GP