Caden's year: soccer, scouts, school, and friends!

Caden continues to be a bright light in our family! He is a happy kid and is active and engaged in so many things. 

Here he is as a new Bear last fall, waiting for his awards...and (at right) happy he received some.

Caden is definitely following in his big brothers' footsteps with his passion for soccer! As a biased mom, I think I can safely say he is one of the best players on his soccer team, the Dragons.




I actually managed to catch him scoring a goal, below!! These pics are from last fall, but he just recently started into another season with the Dragons.

Coach Corey, Coach Chris, and the Dragons.

End of season party at McDonalds last fall.

Caden and his best buddy Ryan. Ryan plays baseball, while
Caden plays soccer, but coincidentally they both
wear the same jersey number! 

Go 6!!!

I got to attend a field trip to Elm Fork with Caden, Ryan, and their class. It was so much fun (although they look a little glazed over in the above pic!). I just had to capture this moment because 3rd grade was really a "golden" year for Caden. He had the absolutely amazing and incredible Mrs. Littleton, and to top it off, his class was just packed with friends--with number 1 on the list being Ryan. They have been best buddies their whole lives, but hadn't been in class together since pre-school, so this was an extra-special treat. Sadly, Ryan moved to Pennsylvania over the summer and we really feel his absence--4th grade just can't seem to hold a candle to 3rd grade and Ryan being gone is definitely a big part of that. 

(This picture was taken on the field trip and is here to represent that,
as well as the great friendship of Caden and Ryan...
but mostly it's in here for my Dad and he'll know why. Go Jack!)

Caden at his Winter Party (heaven forbid we call it a Christmas Party!).

More scouting! This time the Pinewood Derby! Caden's car did great!!! He got second in most every heat he was in. 

Caden and Ryan went fishing at the pond behind Ryan's house for
Cub Scouts. They hadn't had any luck and the rest of their den
had left. I agreed they could try one more time...and hooray!!

Caden caught himself a fish!!!!!

 Still more scouting! The last pack meeting of the year is always held at the lake. So fun!

And more soccer! Caden plays spring season with the Dragons.

And more fun with friends! Ryan, Zach, and Caden.

This was Caden's last time to play with Ryan prior to our vacation
this summer and Ryan's move while we were gone. I think this is how he
feels about Ryan moving. I have to wholeheartedly agree.

It was really so delightful all year having Caden run in from school to tell me all about his wonderful day learning in Mrs. Littleton's class with all his friends. He will long have memories about this happy year!!! His scouting and soccer rounded out his year. He also plays piano...maybe I should take a picture of that sometime too. :-) We love Caden!!!!

Tim Turns 50

Tim's 50th birthday was on Memorial Day! What better way to kick off the day than for him to go to the gym with two of his sons?  Meanwhile, Caden and I were home cooking up a storm--the happy coincidence that Tim's birthday fell on a national holiday meant no school. We seized the day and had a brunch with the Ridings to celebrate Tim!

I was on the last day of my vegan kickstart and I was not going to blow it, so I could eat only the fruit salad out of everything I made. The greatest temptation for me was the homemade cinnamon rolls, but I made it. I heard they were great! :-)

By official group picture time, both Amy and Gavin had needed to go--Gavin had the last game of a soccer tournament, and we headed there to cheer him on soon after our brunch concluded.  Birthday boy! Fit at 50 for sure, even without the personal triathlon to prove it! Another Fit at 50 guy. See this video for details. So glad we live close and can celebrate these b-days together! Meanwhile, the Celebration Station had been decked to the hilt all day long, but we hadn't even had a moment to dive in. It wasn't until after Gavin's soccer game and dinner at Anamia's with Tristan (who then had to go to work) that Tim was finally able to open his gifts. Tim's "walk-through-time" birthday basket, filled with lots of treats and more importantly, lots of memories. Tim's timeline made by Caden (and noted on the timeline as Tim's favorite son!). A flashback of prices back in the 1960's when Tim was born, made by Gavin. Tim takes it all in.  Note the striped gift next to the basket on the Celebration Station above. That was Tim's Memory Book I compiled from more than 50 people who care about Tim. After all the hoopla had settled down and evening had come, Tim and I took a quiet moment to sit down on the patio sofa and read through the heartfelt messages. It was a perfect finish to a wonderful day! We truly do love Tim!!!

Just a few 2014 celebrations, Spencer-style!

It seems life is constantly offering us something to celebrate...and we are happy to do so in our family! I have to confess we don't seem to have a consistent "Celebration Station" yet in our new home...we keep switching it up, based on the holiday. I really loved that for Valentine's Day, Tristan had us all come in to his bedroom, where he had created his own "Celebration Station" on his dresser for the rest of us. I am confident his future wife will be thrilled that he's got this celebrating thing all figured out!

Valentine's Day:

You just have to love the decorative quality of V-day MnM's!

Tim has lately started selecting flowers separately and making his own creative floral arrangements for me. I just love it!  

Tristan's own Celebration Station for the rest of us!  

Tim's V-day basket full of surprises from me! 

Easter:

The Easter Bunny made his typical early arrival the Saturday before Easter. Always a sly one, that Easter Bunny, coming early to our house. 

Caden was not going to let us skip coloring eggs this year! We had a great time!

We enjoyed Easter dinner (feast, really) with the Ridings.  Yum!

Mother's Day:

Mother's Day always arrives when I feel like my birthday has barely passed. Tim and the boys succeeded in creating a lovely celebration all the same! There was a yoga/workout theme with a new yoga mat, workout watch, and a gift certificate I still need to redeem for some new yoga clothes. :-)

Best of all were the homemade gifts and Caden, true to form, had made several that I cherish. 

Tim made sure to serve me lovingly prepared and delightfully presented vegan food, which nourished me in multiple ways.

The Ridings and Iris came to dinner, and we had a Mexican feast, complete with absolutely amazing grilled pineapple! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! 

Father's Day:
(I had included Tim's birthday--prior to Father's Day--in this post as well, but I just cut that out. His 50th birthday celebration deserves its own post!!)

Of course, we celebrated with the Ridings, so here is a shot of
both fathers present at our party: Gary and Tim

Along with Father's Day, we sneaked in a little celebrating for the new 2014 Marcus High School graduate Chris, too.
He left to begin his first term at BYU just a couple days later. Tristan especially will miss him!

The kitchen staff, Amy and Melissa, with results below! 

The other essential (albeit blurry) members of our party!
Mark, Caden, Matt, Kate, and Gavin

Well, that's just a little flavor of how we like to celebrate around here. Apparently with a lot of food, it turns out! I've decided if I don't try to squeeze so many events into these posts, maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed at the thought of blogging. :-) I've lots to catch up on in order to keep my "two-a-month" commitment, but don't give up on me! Now, to look forward to the next celebration... After all, fall equinox is coming up!