Check out a Website

This is the website for Linda's work place. Our Cochlear Implant Center is affiliated with the U of I Child Language Research Center through my boss, J. Bruce Tomblin. If you click on the website you will link to the staff page (I'm last, Dr. T is first). Also if you explore the cite, you will see some of my pubs!!http://www.uiowa.edu/~clrc/html-pages/team.html
http://www.uiowa.edu/~clrc/cochlear/index.html

Connor and crew at the Slumber Party 

Rudy helps Connor celebrate Birthday # 9. 

Another Week, Another Birthday

Our Sweet Connor turned 9 this week. He has grown up so much this past year and has really matured. He struggled with reading last year, but with lots of work and patience from some great teachers, he is near grade level!!!Congrats to you Connor.

Trev got the cast off already and is just in a splint. Kira ran a varsity race on Thursday in Ft. Madison, and she came in 7th overall. Good girl. Her team is tough as nails this year and today the Varsity girls ran in Lawrence, KS and took FIRST. Thier rankings will be high. Take care everyone!

The road is never long if you have a friend.
Connor & Solaire near Pikes Peak, IA

Connor makes a get 

NEW MONTH--NEW CHALLENGES!

September Song. We are hoping that Francis in Florida does not do too much damage, especially to my brother Larry's area! We are sick of hearing Bush junk and are hoping America sees the light. We are putting the little bumps behind us, and we are going to celebrate Birthdays!!!! On September 8, my sweet mama turns 80, and on the 14th our Connor turns 9. Trevor was elected to "Patrol Captain"and we are pround of him, Connor is a soccer maniac, and Kira is trying to recaputre her varsity spot in CC. UP to DATE!

Lady, Lady, or Grandma turns EIGHTY. This is a drawing from a portrait of mom that was taken circa 1944 

Give the Spencers a break! In the span of 5 days, Connor had a bee sting, Kira collapses due to hyperventillating, now Trevor fractures his wrist. We are done!!!!! 

Kira (in blue) before the "boink" Her coach yells to her "Make your move!" 

WEEK IN REVIEW

This was a long week. New routines, bithday party, a Time Trial for Kira AND a large pancake breakfast for both the birthday party boys, and two Cross Country teams...JR. High and High. Kira had a little bit of a heart-ache during her time trial for Cross Country. It was a very hot, humid day, she had a bad cold with swollen glands and a stuffed up nose. She bravely ran the race, and started well. After the 1600 yard mark, she boinked...which means it was tough. She remembers nothing after this point, except that she went "tingley". She finished in a heartbreaking 13th place, and collapsed at the finish line. Luckily a parent-physician was there to advise, and diagnosed it as just hyperventillating...probably not enough oxygen due to the respiratory infection and conditions. "I'll be back" and we believe she will.

Trevor had a great time at the party, with a viewing of the movie "Anaconda" which Nathan reports to be a "really bad film" yet the pre-adolescent crowd called it "tight" whatever that is.

Connor is composing his list for his upcoming party next month, and it gets longer by the day.

Great week...ups and downs but we will take it all.

Presents 

Trevor's favorite question 

birthdayparty 

12 Years ago ...On August 27th Our Trevor entered the world. Kira has been there since the beginning 

Aunt Lois, Grandman Finnegan, Chris (behind grandma) and Suzie, circa 1959 

Flashbacks

This is the reason to Check Frequently. You never know when you may see an "old" friend!

IC West Cross Country Starts with a RANKING

Kira is on the bubble to make Varsity Cross Country. After riding this bubble at the end of the year last year, and ending last season by running in the State Meet at the last minute to fill in for one of her most beloved team-mates, who was injured, she is not relishing this position again. Our sweet Kira always rises to a challenge. See what the pros are saying about her team this year, and you will get an idea of the talent she is up against http://www.dyestat.com/3us/4xc/NTN/5HL/index.htm

Last days slide through our fingers

Well here we are with the last official weekday before school starts. The boys go to thier icecream social tomorrow night and find out who will be in their classrooms and who thier teachers will be. Kira has her schedule and is ready to go. I will have two classes as well and am sad my almost two weeks of vaction is at an end. Great, crisp summer weather means we have been cooking, baking and blending. Lots of salsa, pesto, and pear crumble. Seeing old friends, making new neighborhood ties, rooting for the Olympians...these are some of the best things in life.

Wild Ponies at the Mustang Refuge near Hot Springs, SD