Updates

For those that might not know or might not be up to date with things, the Spencer Clan is made up of Chris, Heidi, Alex, Alysse and Chloe. We currently live in Orem, Utah where we have been a total of 4 years although Chris had visa issues getting to the US and therefore has only been here 3 years. We bought our own house about 2 years ago which is a source of many projects. We don't have any pets to add to the family (the 4 frogs that we were given by some friends don't count, especially because all they contribute to the family is an unwillingness to die and be disposed of. We appreciate their toughness but that is about it)
To start things off for the Spencer Family blog, maybe a little family update might be in order.

Lets begin with the kids. Alex, is now 12 1/2 and in junior high school in grade 7 (or 7th grade depending where you are from). He is a fairly quiet kid who seems to be enjoying where he is at. He has had a very eventful year. He miraculously survived a car/pedestrian accident and has bounced back very well. He is playing soccer and hopes to give football a try this year. He continues to grow like a weed and both his parents are pretty much resigned that he will be taller than us both in the not too distant future. He is in Scouts (with Dad as one of his leaders) and has been able to go on a few campouts this past year. He likes to read and also to play video games. But he will get involved in most things that he is asked. He jumps at the chance to serve at church and hasn't hesitated once when asked to visit homebounds or things like that. He is the family babysitter although how much he enjoys that is debatable.



Alysse (AKA Peanut to many of us still) is now 11 and in grade 5. She continues to be very interested in art and drawing. She loves music and has a knack for memorizing the lyrics to songs from movies or ones that she listens to. She is a good student and seems to enjoy school. She also likes to try and cook whenever given the opportunity. She got back into soccer this past season which was great for her and she seemed to enjoy it. She might give softball a try this year but we will see. She loves her cousins and is constantly trying to carry them around. She is a typical (so her dad is told) pre-teen which presents its own challenges.

Chloe (AKA Mo) is 7 and in grade 1. She loves school and is really coming along with her reading and other skills. She continues to love animals and when she is not begging her Mom and Dad for a pet, she is carting any number of stuffed animals around, each with its own name and personality traits. She has lost a lot of teeth this year and many are slow in growing back so the gaps in the front of her mouth have been there so long that they seem to always have been there. She plays soccer and just loves to be around others. She still loves to cuddle with Mom and Dad which probably won't last forever but for now, we'll take it.



Heidi is a busy lady. She works full time for Intel Micron Flash Technologies where she loves her job. She has been there about 3 years. When she is not working, she is the glue that holds the family together. She tries to scrapbook and craft but it always depends on what else is going on. She is a primary teacher at church for 3 year olds which she loves. She recently switched to that after working with cub scouts for the last year and a half. She is just generally a great person that does alot more for us than we do for her.
Chris is into a few things. He has changed positions at work a few times the past few months. He is now a Project Supervisor in the Document Preservation Services department at Ancestry.com. It is a new challenge and has been interesting. Most of all he enjoys going to work because of the job and the people he works with. He misses coaching football but hopes that he can get back into it again, starting with a trip back up to Canada to coach in Can Am Bowl XIV this summer. His church calling is in Scouts which is interesting and allows him to do some things with Alex which is nice. Otherwise, he is mostly the soccer mom and occasional cook of the family. He has been playing softball for the past couple years which is fun. He has been starting lots of projects around the house and the yard and hopes to finish them all some day. :)
All in all, the Spencers are mildly interesting and about as busy as any other family. We have great friends and family that love and supports us. We don't always see everyone as much as we want but we hope to change that or at least keep in touch more.