Quite Possibly the Most Beautiful Pregnancy Ever...

Miss Courtney Lu Had a Baby Shower!

We gave Courtney a little baby shower to welcome this new little blessing into the family!

Lindsay and Reesey!

Lauren and McKenna

Mari, Lindsay and Ashley went all out on the decorations...

And the flowers...

And I went all out on the food!

Janelle and Shelby Dahl

Court with Tiff...

and Amanda, who is having a boy a couple of months after Courtney has her girl!

Mari, Lindsay, Taylor, Grandma Judy, Courtney, Linda, Aunt Pamcakes

The besties...

It was a fun night. The yard looked beautiful, the food was yummy, the decorations and flowers fabulous, but best of all were the people that came to celebrate!

Sundance... Oh and Mayhem at Stadium of Fire!

We spent a beautiful week in Sundance. The skies were amazingly blue, the mountains were spectacularly green, and the climate temperate! Loved it. The boys fished, the girls shopped, did yoga on the deck next to the creek, we all ate well and played games and just relaxed. But the purpose of our trip was to go to The Stadium of Fire! We have never been. It was an all around great experience except for about 60 horrifying seconds! For those unfamiliar, Stadium of Fire is a pretty big deal. It is a huge fireworks display in Utah. It is usually preceded by a concert with big names. Quite the spectacular! Steve got us amazing seats on the field about 20 rows from the stage. As the warm up acts came in, we realized they were seated right next to us. The 5 Browns opened. They are a family of five piano playing siblings that all went to Juilliard. They range in age from 30 to 22. They were awesome. Then a violinist named Jenny Oaks Baker performed with four other female violinists. I didn't know her name before but she is a quite accomplished violinist and she happened to be wearing a pretty blue dress that I coveted. These ladies were amazing (see video). The Osmonds Second Generation performed and like their fathers, they are very talented. Then finally Carrie Underwood took the stage. She was fantastic and I didn't ever consider myself a fan, but now I am. As each act performed they would come off the stage and take their seats next to us. They all had spouses and children including many toddlers and babies sitting with them. You could tell they were very excited to be playing that venue. They chatted and took pictures together. They had their children pose with other performers. Several of them were taking video. After Carrie Underwood finished up, the fireworks began. Unbelievable show! About halfway thru we realized a tower right next to us was a firework launch pad. Up until then I just thought it was for camera equipment. The first explosion from that tower scared the heck out of us and I turned to Steve and said "Well now we know why they made the announcement 'it may become necessary to evacuate the stadium' at the beginning of the evening". I was half joking... but little did I know what was about to unfold. A few minutes later that same tower shot another firework that was again supposed to shoot skyward but it didn't. It shot right into the 5 Brown siblings seated across from us. People scrambled and panicked and tried to grab kids but then there was another explosion and this time the fireworks shot into the Osmond clan and the violinists. By now people were screaming and running and grabbing babies. The violinist in the pretty blue dress laid on top of her baby and the back of her dress caught fire. Steve ran over and smothered it with his hands. I made eye contact with her and I don't think she even knew she was on fire yet. She just had an expression like "Can you believe this is happening???" At that moment another violinist with a long white skirt ran past me. Her skirt was on fire and I was yelling at her to stop and roll but she was frantic and trying to stomp the flames. She finally grabbed her skirt and yanked it off. Luckily she had a slip on. There was a cute couple that had been sitting in front of us the through out the entire show but had moved to lay on the grass during the fireworks and the young man had his hair catch fire and was burned on the back of his neck. This all took place in literally 60 seconds. The fireworks were still going on and Courtney was panicked that more might be coming our way so we hightailed it. We didn't want the baby mama going into early labor! Needless to say it was a little terrifying. Our good friend Scott Jackson stayed behind till the EMT's got there. He said that besides the young man with the burnt neck, it was mostly clothing that burned and none of those many toddlers and babies were hurt! Thank goodness. Needless to say, most memorable Fourth of July ever!!!! In this video you can see the woman Steve helped and the lady who lost her skirt!

30 years!?

How is it possible that we have been married 30 years? Although in one way it seems like 30 years, we have had six children, lived in 3 apartments, bought 3 houses have watched our children go from babies to missions, college, careers, and now becoming parents themselves! But on the other hand it seems like yesterday we got married and started a life together. We leave for Sundance tomorrow so tonight we had my favorite "Salmon Dolce Caldo" at Sisley!! I could eat it everyday! Then we had cheesecake! I forgot how good refined sugar tasted... I have been off refined carbs for over a month after all... one slip couldn't hurt... right???

WRONG!!!!!

Mothers day and sac taps... the way things go in our weird family.

Mothers day and my birthday sort of got lost in the 'getting Patrick off on a two year mission to Argentina' hubbub. But we did do a little photo documentation despite the craziness. Courtney was in Salt Lake and Lindsay was in Mexico BUT Chris spent the night (Mari was in Utah) so I had all my boys together!

Our photo shoot started as all things do when it's just me and the kids... calmly, quietly, just me and Patrick.

Then Luke joined in. Again a nice family moment, pictures with mom on Mothers day...

Ah, my oldest Chris joins the party. Mellow, relaxed, everyone looking good...

Dad says "I want a picture" Notice the change in energy immediately???

Then he sac taps Luke... Photo shoot over. Notice how happy Mr. Spiker is with himself. This is my life... in a nutshell.

Adios Elder Spiker! We will miss you!

Well, it's over. The long anticipated drop off is a thing of the past. On monday the 10th Steve, Patrick and I left for Utah. We stayed at the cabin, playing, eating good food (which Patrick appreciated after 9 months of cafeteria food) and taking care of a few last minute details before... dun, dun, dun... dropping Patrick off curbside at the MTC. So this is how the final moments played out. We got ready in the morning, packed Patrick up, and then Steve gave Patrick a fathers blessing during which Courtney and I were weepy.

Patrick's first missionary care package.

Patrick and his first mission companion Elder Dwight Shrute.

Then we went to lunch at an amazing little bistro in Provo called the Communal. Patrick was showing his first signs of nervousness during the meal. Up until then he was cool as a cucumber! After lunch we drove to the MTC. We were greeted by an elderly man who told us to go to station 17 to drop Pat off. He then asked "Is everybody happy is this car?" I had been, but as soon as he asked the tears started. As we drove to station 17 we passed all these missionaries lining the curb. They were waving and smiling and helping the new drop offs. One mischievous missionary made eye contact with me, put his fists up to his eyes and then twisted them imitating crying... little jerk. Actually it gave us all a good laugh and kind of broke the tension. We pulled up to station 17 and two young men (who are now in Chile) helped us with Patrick 's bags and reassured us all was well. They were so sweet and helpful, except they are not allowed to touch our cameras which is why we don't have a full family shot... boo!

Patrick getting his bags.

Last pic with the parental units...

And with Courtney.

We then kissed, cried and off he went with his new friends. Kind of like dropping him off at summer camp if summer camp lasted two years and was in Argentina. We know he is ready, we know he is doing well in the MTC, we know he will come safe and better than before BUT we also know we will miss him very, very, much. Adios Patrick we love you.

Patrick's Big Adios!

Patrick spoke in church on Sunday the 25th. He did an amazing job. He spoke on the blessings of the restoration of the gospel. I was so amazed at how mature he seemed. And I got teary a few times as I watched, thinking about how I would not see him for two years. He has grown up so much since leaving for university. And I know those changes will pale in comparison to the changes he will make in the 24 months he will serve in the mission field. We had a big family dinner and then a dessert for everyone! The house and yard were packed! But it was so good to see all the people who have helped him become who he is in one place at one time! Lots of hugs and tears.... to be repeated... when he comes home in two years!!!

Hatchlings

The first hatchlings of the year are out and about! We look forward to the baby ducks and geese every year... and unfortunately the years are passing faster and faster! Now is the time to bring your kids by the lake, in a few weeks these tiny, cute, little ducklings are awkward ugly teenagers! Now that we can hear the ducklings peeping, it feels like spring!

Happy Birthday to Courtney and Chris!

Yep march is a double birthday month for the Spiker's! Court turned 24 and Chris turned 28!I really don't understand how this happened since they were just born... They are two of the best kids anyone could hope for! Both funny, smart, feisty, opinionated (no, what???) hard workers, good people, willing to help others, responsible, good spouses, good children, siblings and grandchildren! We sure love them both and appreciate all they contribute to our little family!

Grand Baby News

So I think I am going to need to buy these. Notice they are pink...

Afternoon walk around the lake

This is what you can expect to see on an afternoon walk behind my house. Click to enlarge.

Check out these two white birds. They just sit waiting for fish to swim between the rocks and then .... Bam! They eat them. Notice the baby turtle basking on the rock!

Yeah... so you can call me Grandma!

Courtney and Josh are expecting a baby! We are all so excited! They had their first doctor appointment today. The heartbeat was strong and the baby was flipping and moving it's arms and legs! Baby Alvord is due September 21, 2010 and the timing couldn't be more perfect since we will be empty nesters shortly thereafter! What a great distraction for me! Congrats to Court and Josh but mostly congratulations to Grandma Linda and Grandpa Steve and Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Sam... cause it's all about the grandparents! Yay us!