Busy Week!!!

 Mom's 60th Birthday was Monday. We sent her a video and some pictures and cards. Love you Mom and Grandma!!!!  I love that you can see my Dad in the mirror. :)

 So Joe decided we should really make a fourth bedroom and he went to work. I moved the toy wall and he rewired and moved the Entertainment center. We moved the computer downstairs to office/art room. So much going on here this week.

 Mary's reflection pieces.  We entered Lucy's swan painting.

 NEW CLOSET!!! YES!!!

 Mary's art hanging in the hall at school.

 Lucy's last musical at Dodd Elementary. She got the role of Deputy Bobbi. Her and Jackson the other Deputy were hilarious and darling. All the kids did a great job!

 Jackson, Lucy and Simone right behind her.

 Hannah Messer far left, Tatum I think? and Lucy.

 Lucy, Jackson and Ms. G

 Marjorie playing with my old baby. Cute!

 Heber's really wanted to be in on the action. Ugh....

 Today was the Primary program at church. The girls did a great job. Marjorie didn't have a part yet but the other 3 did a fantastic job!!!

So much going on but we are so blessed. They found Zoe Hastings murderer, arrested for capitol murder, bail set at 1 million. So glad they found him. We've had a few crazy scares close to home lately, so grateful for the gospel and each other!!!  Heber is 11 months old today!  Still only 2 bottom teeth, cruising along furniture, climbing stairs, saying mama and dada, hi and all sorts of sounds. Determined, cute, loves balls and tools. :)  Spencer danced with 8 different girls at the Plano Stake dance last night. He loves those dances.

Here is the Sprehn's finished kitchen, Joe helped build the cabinets, Mike did awesome finishing and installing! Great work guys.

Spencer's talk from a few weeks ago

Hello everybody, for those who don’t know me my name is Spencer Evans and today I will be giving a talk on the Young men’s program and boy scouts of America. I would like to start off by saying that this topic really means a lot to me from the effect it has put on me already. I have seen my brother and members of my troop grow as well due to the activities and responsibility we have in the both programs.

One of the best things about boy scouts of America is that we have a key to where ever we want to go in the whole country, from veterinary practices to automobile manufacturers. What this all me means is that you get to learn just a little bit about every job and lots of hobbies as well, and the best part of it all is that, provided the uniform, you can just waltz on in and give the tour guide the requirements for the merit badge and a lot of the time that’s all it takes to get a merit badge. I have often seen in numerous occasions that young men don’t think they have enough time for scouts when really they are doing it every day.  I was talking to one scout just the other day and he listed to me some of the activities he does outside of school, and the majority of these things could gain him like five merit badges.

Boy scouts of America is all about learning, gaining experience with different jobs, and developing skills that would not be developed outside of the program. Alma 37:35 says, “O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.” This proves the importance of the Boy Scouts program in the church. Recently I have been ordained to the office of teacher, so I have been given the opportunity to do some behind the scenes work as well as home teaching. Home teaching is very important to me because I have only done it a few times but I have gained confidence that I did not have before (by the way I teach every time). Teaching has given me the opportunity to grow and develop my ability to teach. This is why I strongly encourage adult companions to be a compass for the youth but let the youth do the teaching.

One of the coolest things about being an Eagle Scout is I am now more appealing to selective universities. For those of you who don’t know Eagle Scout is the highest ranking in the Boy Scouts of America Program. Ironically after the service I did to gain my Eagle Scout award, my Eagle Scout gave me the opportunity to do more service. Joshua 24:15 says “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

I know that the effect of both programs together can be huge, overwhelming even. (In a good way) and I know that our heavenly father approves of these programs because they are based on his doctrine and can be integrated into our lives. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

New fence/softball

 We got a couple notices on our fence missing slats so we replaced the whole side. Joe and I did it all, the kids helped a little but since we did most while they were at school they didn't get to help too much.

 He was hilarious entertaining himself with this balloon that he was holding the end of with his 2 bottom teeth.

 Had a few toads around lately.

 Lucy had a softball tournament in Allen this past weekend. Her team didn't do so hot on Saturday and went into Sunday with a loss. (Double elimination tournament) But to our surprise they fought back from the loser bracket and took 2nd place on Sunday without Lucy.  We don't play on Sunday. They ended up playing 5 games on Sunday. I sure wish there were Friday/Saturday tournaments around here (and Saturday Marathons for that matter). But we are glad her coach still wants her to participate on Saturday, we had a great time with the Blaze Family! They are all so nice and we had a fun potluck in between games and the kids had a blast playing!  Heber was/is adored by all and was so good to be passed around all day. They seriously stood in line to hold him. :)

 And Brigham is pretty lucky to have a whole team of girls just a bit younger than him to hang out with and entertain!

 Top to bottom, left to right: Tom, Kevin Messer, Sam Dominguez, Michael Doggett
Presleigh, Kloah, Sevy--sub for Lucy for Sunday, Emily, Victoria
Lucy, Hannah, Abby (shortie sitting), Raina, Mia, Grace, and Rachel

 Getting ready to sing to Grandma for her 60th Birthday yesterday.

 The girls saw these outfits at Walmart and HAD to have them, they were adorable so I caved.

 Heber wanting to lift like the rest of us, look at those muscles! ;)

It's been a pretty interesting couple of weeks. One of Joe's new institute students, Zoe Hastings was slain and left in her wrecked car near the church where she was headed on Sunday for mission prep. She was 18 and super nice. The investigation is still going, no one is arrested yet. So sad. So thankful for the gospel. Everyday. Every hour. Every minute.