The Mister ...intense at the net

This is that clay court and look at how pretty the suroundings are.

TENNIS, anyone?

Nathan found a wonderful group here in Geneseo. There are several families in this town where the anscesters still live on "estates". One man, whose alter-ego is named "Biff" actually built a clay court on his property and runs the Geneseo Volley Tennis club, of which the Spencers are now members. This is such a fun group. I played mixed-doubles last Saturday and had a blast. See my partner? He was a riot! Syd. He rode up on his bike, hopped off and kept us all laughing for the better part of an hour. Patricia and Shelley...guess what? Syd has read the STARBRIDGE series! The only person in the WORLD I have ever found who has read them without coersion from myself. Hmmmm. Geneseo is quite a place. Turns out Syd is one of the "estate" folks, and he is a democrat (I think his grandfater or someone was Senator Symington). No wonder we played well together!

Rockers

After soccer, a bit of ROCK BAND! Connor's birthday present was a "hit!"

Trevor kicks!

I love this shot because: 1. My handsome son is in it 2. He is actually kicking the ball 3. See the Genesee Valley in the distance? When I am homesick for my Black Hills I can pretend that this is the view right outside of Mom's place on Sheridan Lake drive.

Trev had a "physical" week. He now has a black eye and is recovering from a high ankle sprain. No soccer for YOU Trev until you can first WALK again. He is actually doing a bit better.

Where is this boy from?

Connor dons his new uniform! At the end of the week the BLUE DEVILS have won 2 and lost 1. Connor has taken several to the stomach (about right where that soccer ball is on his shirt) this week but he is holding firm.

September Sad Song

The leaves of September begin their journey into the flaming reds, the pumpkin oranges and the amber hues of sunny days gone. This September the transition hurts like never before, symbolizing the beginning of the end of a season that began with excitement, hope and no certain knowledge of the end of my mother’s life. I have an urge to run up to those leaves and yell “Halt!” Perhaps if they do not change and do not fall away, dry and crackling, the supple textures will linger for just a few more months and I will not have to face the permanency of the loss. Perhaps I can pretend that I can run back to my Black Hills and she will be there as always, with her arms open and her gentle wit as sharp as ever, ready for a new day.

And they're ny cousins!

One of the BEST things about moving to western New York. Some of my three most favorite and beautiful ladies EVER are right around the corner! Jackie, Mary and Kathy. I LOVE these three and guess what? I get to see them now whenever I want.

FLASH Dancers

This one says it all. ABBA! Unbridled enthusiasm from Dale and Neil.
The one below this is my cousin JR who really let it go as well. He was so funny. JR would make the funniest faces, do the moves, then as quick as that, he'd be done and exit the dance floor. Needless to say with all these three engaging men, the ladies were begging for more!

Even More

More Wedding Pictures

Wedding and Dance

Neil and Ginny Nathan bonds with my cousin Rich

My Godparents, Judy and Jack and my Uncle Neil
Trying to keep up with Dale

A really cool thing about being here is that we are close to family. I have been missing my mother so very much and there are still times when I'll rush to the phone to tell her something and then I'll just burst into tears.That happend a bit this last weekend when we went to the wedding of my cousin's son. My cousin Virginia or Ginny was named after my mother and her son Donny was married to Char his girl. Read this cute story of thier match. http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/437063.html We had such a wonderful time with all my mom's kin and it somehow seemed to bring her back and I do know she wold have loved this event. Picts will be forthcoming!

CONNOR TURNS INTO A TEENAGER!

Right before our eyes, Connor turned 13! It seems just like yesterday that I was walking the halls of UIHC, trying to induce contractions, going to visit my office-mate Shelley and suddenly hitting the dreaded "transistion" and grabbing her arm saying "I don't know what the f I'm doing here! Well C-man it has been quite a ride and we wouldn't change a thing. We love you, man!

HUSBANDUS DOMESTICUS

On Fridays I try to work from home. I do a little bit of writing up research, or given that I am prepping (consantly for loooong lectures), I prepare teaching sessions. THIS Friday I looked out the window and spotted this rare bird in my backyard, and it appears he was engaging in nesting behavior. Note the symmetry in the completed project. Wow what a species, and quite a rare bird at that!

Obama Mama

So I am really peeved at the negativity displayed this week by the Elephants. All I can say is YUCK. Give me Hope, Help me cope, Give me Love, Give me Peace on Earth!

(but not the sarcastic crap of that R-party)

The Oak Tree 5K

First race ever! I finished in 30 min 16 seconds (ave of 10 min miles). I know, kids age 10 finished way ahead of me, but I am happy that I finished, didn't puke and kept it under 10 min miles. That was my goal. Next year, the goal is to get done in less than 28 minutes and perhaps to place in my age group. (If I was in the 30's age group, I would have placed third this year...hmmmm.) Nathan says its b/c women that age are having babies and can't train. By the 40's they have more time and I am of the generation from the late 1970's early 80's where there was a running boom (sic Prefontaine). Okay here we are. Nathan I will say finished in 23:22 and was 36th overall. A really fun race1

Morgan presents Peyton

Oh my ! Can't you just see it at Grandpa and Grandma Lenz's house in a year or so? Morgan, Amelia and now Peyton will be taking over. I cannot wait.

Peyton Lenz Arrives

The newest member of the family. My sister Sue's son Christopher, his wife Tammy and their now (oldest daughter) Morgan welcome Peyton. She was just over 6 lbs and born midday today. Christopher reports that she has curly blonde hair and you can see she is beautiful. Morgan is just about the same age Kira was when Trevor was born. The cycle continues. Yay! Congrats to you. Now I have three great nieces that I will know. and a total of 5 that I'll probably never see, but who are also very cute I am sure.

AND TREVOR TURNS 16!

During a week that made political history (Trevor yawns about it) he turns sweet 16. We celebrated by going to Rochester so Trevor could pick out his present (a new air-soft rifle, what else?) and then on the 27th we went to dinner with our new friends, the Lynch family. My how time flies. It seems as if Trevor was just a huge "lump" or bullet in me! Here is Trevor with his new buddy Michael and Connor looks on.

Don't the Spencer's have an older son?

YES! His name is Trevor, but he is elusive and hard to "capture." He is a very handsome lad, however and he is doing very well. His days are filled with soccer practice, and he doesn't even "throw" any more during the conditioning part of practice. Since the arrival of Nathan on Tuesday night, Trevor also spends a great of time helping his dad with acclimating to Geneseo. "No Dad, we recycle that." "Yes dad mom only makes me mow the front lawn and she mows the back for exercise." "Dad, mom is not going to be happy that you lost part of her prized vacuum cleaner, you better give her back a massage tonight or you will be in the dog house." Anyway did I mention how much we love this kid and how proud we are of him? He has made so many very good friends and has adjusted so well to this move in a mature and positive manner. Plus he was an absolute life saving blessing to me all summer long as I attempted to be a "single" mom. Trevor was always there with a calm word, or encouragement or even a funny story. Thank you so much Trev.

Marlea made my day!

So it has been a very good and productive, albeit emotional week. I have been in classes the last two days learining SUNY G's online course management system "MyCourses" and it has been cool. I had a very crass post on this blog yesterday by a disturbed individual, and my sister and I were quite rattled and hurt to the core by it. (now that feature is disabled, we've gained perspective thus problem solved). I got home from work tonight to find a box between my screen door and storm door. It said "Live, Cut Flowers." Well I had ordered some bulbs, etc to plant in the "tree circle" of previous post, an I was thinking, "Oh no, why did the company cut my flowers...or "uh oh" I thought I was ordering bulbs for lillies and such, maybe I checked the wrong box." To my utter suprise, I opened the box and the most beautiful summer boquet met me. How breathtaking. I read the card and it was from a very special lady, Marlea O'Brien from my Iowa job. I burst into tears. I have regained my composure, but if you look carefully in this photo, you can see the "ptosis" on my right eyelid as a result of the crying jag! Ooops!