The Spencer Gazette

 Probably the best way to begin an update about Spencer is to show you what goes on with him and his iPod.  His iPod was removed from use for the first half of the term, but he raised his grades again so he's back to accompanying everything he does with a continual loop of his favorite songs and texting with friends with these ever-so-important messages.

Spencer and his friends have a running joke about linking everything to illuminati. I wouldn't ask him about it unless you've got some time to kill.

Favorite game.  So favorite that we've downloaded the techno music that it plays.

And here are some friends having fun with his iPod as well.

Spencer has found some fulfillment in cooking.  The dish below is called Hawaiian Haystacks.  I have never made these before, but they were tasty and Spencer was proud.

He will often come home for lunch and create some sort of fruit salad and routinely makes over-easy eggs for himself.  He discovered today the importance of choosing the right pan for the job as the eggs ended up more scrambled than over-easy.

 Pancakes with attitude.

Spencer's very big news is the removal of his braces.

He now wears a clear retainer and except for one scare today, has kept track of it quite well. He received numerous packs of gum and chewy candy after the removal.

Spencer still loves to create.  He has never moved out of the phase of "the box is more fun than the toy," and will still ask, after someone has opened a box of something, if he can have that box to make something else.  The above mask happens to be made out of a baseball hat, a milk jug, duct tape and permanent marker.

Spencer's lego creations during General Conference.

Unicorn Spencer. (at Barb and Dave Parkinson's house)

After a scout camp, Spencer and troop started making up names for themselves, but Spencer couldn't just keep it at that.  He came home and developed a game based on the names and, of course, involved his brothers in the process.

Spencer came home from the Spring Camporee very proud indeed. He hit the target six times in a row, which was the next close to the record of 11.  One of the camp leaders was so impressed he gave Spencer a knife.  I would've preferred a compass or a boondoggle kit, but Spencer thinks he's pretty cool with a knife.   Side note: the boys are looking over my shoulder and asked what boondoggle is. I looked up the definition: work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value. True.