Grass or Dirt?

I wondered for awhile if we should even put grass in our backyard. The kids had so much fun playing in the dirt and Mom had so much fun trying to keep the dirt out of the house. I know my children's happiness is more important than dirt in the house....so we finally got grass in our backyard....along with a pool. Now mom still has happy kids and just has to try and keep the house dry.

Matthew's a Bear

Matthew is officially a Bear Cub Scout. Although, he did all his hard work and with some assistance from some amazing cub scout leaders in Katy, Texas, he was able to receive his award in Bakersfield with his new pack. Where we were also able to celebrate the 100th birthday of Boy Scouts.

Along with his Wolf Patch, he received a gold arrow and 6 silver arrows. He is still one excited boy when it comes to cub scouts. I hope this enthusiasm continues with him all the way through to his Eagle.

The Proud Parents

Our First Visitors

After our trip to San Diego for Benson's Baby Blessing we brought Grandma & Grandpa Spendlove home with us to spend a few days and to show them around our new home. Like always we enjoy their company. They have been named our 1st Bakersfield Visitors. We took them out to Famous Dave's BBQ, where they served the yummy stuff up on a big tin garbage lid with a nice big role of paper towels. I don't think there was anything left. Then in honor of Grandpa's Birthday, we had dessert.

Our 2nd Honorary visitor was Sarah. We are so thankful she was able to take the time off work and drove out to spend that time with us. The kids were in school and things were a little crazy, but she was also able to visit some other friends while she was here. We even had one over for dinner. Thanks Sarah for being such a wonderful Aunt. I almost didn't get a picture of her here. This was just before she headed out and only Lauren was home and still in her pajamas.

Hope to see you all again soon here and ANYONE else who wants to visit.....you are welcomed!

Look What We Found At The End Of The RAINBOW...

...Our New Home In BAKERSFIELD.

Valentine Parties

I tried to make Valentine's Day as special as I could. It was on a Sunday, so I think that helped. I made Crepes for breakfast, which is a real treat around here. We like to put sugar and lemon juice or whipped cream, pudding and bananas or homemade jam. I also had strawberry milk and chocolate dipped strawberries, neither of which were big hits with this crowd. The beautiful red flower in a tall vase full of red hots and a cute valentine bow wrapped around it was made by me at a fun craft night with some girlfriends I have made here in Bakersfield.



We also have a red mailbox we bring out on Valentine's Day to write sweet notes to each other. Here is what was said:

Ethan is the best brother ever.
You're Cute Lauren.
I love you, Mom.
I love you, Ethan.
I love you, Dad.
Mom, you're an angel.
Dear Mom, I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day.
I love you, Lauren!
I love you, Matthew!
Dad, you're a great cook. Thank You!
Thank you Ethan for helping Matthew with his tie and hair this morning.
Thank you Rachel for letting Rachel wear you necklace.
Thank you Lauren for telling me I was beautiful.
Thank you Matthew for the wonderful Valentine Card and coupons and Ethan for helping.
I love my Family.
To my wife and kids-I love you!

I was able to attend part of Matthew's school party and met some of his new friends. He is fitting in just fine. One of these little boys lives right down the street from us.
I helped in Lauren's class a little. It is just fun to be there with her. I think she is adjusting well. But not after a few tears now and then because she really misses her friends in Katy. This is a picture of one of my new great friends here. Not only does she live around the corner, we go to church together, our kids are all the same age (almost exactly), she is a couponer and tons of fun. We get along great. Her youngest and Lauren are in the same class.

Ghost Town

We took this Saturday to do some exploring and started out heading up the canyon to a Ghost Town we had heard about.

This is it. Silver City Ghost Town. It was actually a disappointment, but we were still able to spend some time there just looking. The kids got cameras for Christmas so I told them to walk around and take pictures of different items that were the shape of letters. I got a lot of pictures that I still have to go through. I want to make a collage with them. {Someday}

The Ghost town pet cats.

The Ghost Town Local Prisoners

Our next stop was the USS Arizona Monument.


Stop #3 was Lake Isabella. It is one of the closest lake that we hope to be able to ski on sometime soon. We watched a float plane land and take off a few times while we were skipping rocks in the water.

Stop #4 was at a park somewhere along the Kern River. Somehow the boys managed to get soaking wet while we were here and so this ended up being our last stop for the day. But it had been a fun filled adventurous day already.

Baby Benson Blessing

Benson Jon Spendlove

Born December 24, 2009

Another advantage to living in California is that we were able to go to San Diego to be there when Uncle Stu blessed our new nephew Benson. We love our family. Apparently, the whole ward loves Stuart and his family, too. Everyone was raving about them while we were there.

The center of attention. Everyone wanted to hold Benson.

The weather was not what we planned on, but we were able to enjoy a delicious luncheon at Stu & Kathy's place, while the kids entertained us. We also had pizza at the church the night before and played a little dodge ball, basketball and watched a musical production put on by the cousins on stage. I'll try to post a video of that later. It is on my video camera, which I am still trying to figure out.

Grandpa is singing his song to Nephi.

Caught the song on video while he was singing to an older Ethan.