Lauren's Christmas List 2012

OXY Christmas Dinner

I actually enjoy going to Steve's Work Christmas Parties.  It is fun to get all dressed up and we always get our token PROM picture.  This year it was held at the Doubletree Hotel. We had dinner with the Luthi's and the Smith's from our ward.   And with Steve's new job as HR Manager, we made sure to say hello to lots of people. ( It has also been nice to go out and not have to find a babysitter.)

Live Nativity in Burbank

For my birthday weekend we started out at the Temple.  The kids were "willing" to hang out in the visiter center and walk the temple grounds to see all the sparkling Christmas lights while Steve and I were able to do a session.   It worked out great. 

We took them to them to Diddy Riese Cookies.  They are famous for their cheap cookies that they stuff with your choice of ice cream.  There is always a line out the door when we go.  It is just down the street from the UCLA hospital where Aunt Sarah works.  But we weren't able to see her this time.  

The night was still young and so off to Long Beach we went intending to go to one of Matthew's CCB soccer games.  However, when we were almost there we found out it was cancelled due to the weather.  So what do we do? We stilled stayed the night and thought we would be able to enjoy some part of Southern California and the beach, but the weather was a little yucky!  After a few attempts or stops along the beach we ended up in downtown LA at one of the Triple D's - Nikel Diner.  Of course there was a line, but we had some fun people watching time.  I don't know how we could be so picky, but the food really wasn't that good or maybe it was just that it was expensive. 

Anyway, our tummies were full and we were now headed to Burbank to visit Great Grandma and to see the Burbank Nativity Festival at The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.  This is the building that my dad grew up in.  It used to be an old country club with a big wine cellar in the basement.  I remember as a child, before they remodeled the building, going down in the cellar and playing hide-n-go-seek.   The live nativity was very well done.  Jacob zoomed right in on the live goats.  And baby Jesus was great.  Then the whole cultural hall was filled with 1000's of nativities.  We were given a sheet of paper with a list of several different nativities we were to seek out as we circled the room admiring all the unique and special nativities that were on display.  It was a great way to make this a little more entertaining for the kids.  My Uncle Dave and Aunt Emily came too.  We always enjoy visiting with them. 

On our way to the church, we stopped and visited Great Grandma in her nursing home.  We brought her a chocolate shake, chatted for a little bit, took some pictures and then left. 

We love Great Grandma!

 

ps-just have to add here that while in downtown la, steve got a ticket from a motorcycle cop for using his map on his phone.  gosh darn it!  just one of those moments that makes us all happy.

and then to top it all off, my birthday weekend of pictures were all lost, due to a computer malfunction.....

Jacob got a REAL haircut!

So this is MY hairdresser and my super awesome next door neighbor.  She was so kind to bring her salon home to our garage so all the boys could get a real haircut.  The best part about it was how still Jacob sat and there was no bribing involved.  Last time I tried to give this boy a haircut we started out in the bathtub, then moved the highchair and then to his bed while he was sleeping and it still was a really bad haircut.  Thank you so much Amber. 

 

Volleyball with Lauren

This is Lauren's first try at Volleyball and she likes it.  WooHoo!  It was great seeing the progress she made the beginning of the season to the end.  I hired one of my young women, Julia M., to come and give a few lessons to Lauren and to Rachel and I think that totally helped both of them and their confidence.  I even learned a few things.   Which is a good thing, because I don't think I can stand to sit through another season of NOR coaching. (college students who have never played volleyball before) It is so bad that well, I think I might have to volunteer next year.  That's all I'm going to say.   Here is Lauren throughout her season.  She had one game she served 5 points in a row, that's all she needed.

 

Priesthood Preview

 

There were a few boys not here tonight, but these are the boys from both Stockdale and Brimhall Ward who will be turning 12 in 2013.  Which means they will be recieving the Aaronic Priesthood. You can find out more about the priesthood here.   Each of the boys were introduced by a parent and Steve focused a lot on what Matthew focuses a lot on and that is soccer.  Matthew is a great leader everywhere he goes.

Bishop Hawley from Stockdale ward conducted the meeting.

Brother Morris, Brimhall YM President shared his testimony of the priesthood and his excitement to share some special experiences with these young men. 

Bishop Henderson gave a nice message encouraging these young men to be there best.  The bar has just been raised again as missionaries can now serve when they are 18.  A lot is expected of these young men.  And the part that brought me to tears is when he talked about making your mom's proud and happy.  In less than 2 months we will have 3 mutual age children.  Time is flying by too fast and I feel like I am not able to do and teach all that I want to teach my children. 

It was a special evening and Matthew did great as he participated and shared his thoughts.

Disney On Ice

Steve was able to get Disney On Ice tickets at the Rabobank Arena from OXY in their suite.  We decided to take the two younger kids.  I honestly didn't think that Jacob would sit through it but he loved it and so did Lauren.  Us girls loved watching all the Disney princesses skate with their princes.  However, Lauren said her favorite part was getting a snow cone in a Mickey Mouse cup.  Thanks Dad for the great date night.

 

Check out Jacob's video at the bottom.

 

IMG 0184 from Melissa on Vimeo.

Election Day!

 It started out to be a great day. I took Matthew and Rachel with me as I went to vote. They asked lots of questions and all the volunteers were so helpful and went out of their way to make sure they knew exactly what was going on. It was pretty exciting for them. They got their "I voted" sticker and then we went out to lunch before I took them back to school.

 

Not the outcome we were hoping for.  But we will continue to pray for the President of the United States and all those striving to make this great nation even better. 

 

Election Results

Candidate	Popular vote	Percentage	Electoral votes (270 to win)
Barack Obama	62610717	51%	332
Mitt Romney	59136717	48%	206

Control of House 218 Balance of power
195		233
Control of Senate 50 Balance of power
53		45

 

Don't be Alarmed!

Matthew always wants me to take a picture of him when he is at the doctor.  I even have one of him at the wart doctor.  For a few years now, maybe about once or twice a year he complains about his heart hurting.  He says it gets really tight and he has to stop for just a few seconds for it to go away and for him to catch his breath and then that is it.  He said the first time he felt it he was giving his grandma a hug.  So it's not from exerting himself physically or something like that.  They obviously took a few tests and concluded that it was unspecified chest pains.

Jacob's 2nd BIRTHDAY

Our Sweet Baby Boy is two years old already.  Not only is he the sweetest baby boy but he is the cutest and happiest and smartest and enthusiastic and tenderhearted baby boy too.  We love this baby so much.  He has brought so much joy into our ever so busy household.  He helps us all stop and smell the roses.  He has all wrapped around his little finger.  How would it be to only be 2 and have so much control. 

Happy Happy Birthday Jacob Dear!!!

 

 We were able to celebrate his birthday at Grandma and Grandpa Spendloves along with Aunt Lisa, Aunt Sarah and Aunt Rebecca who were there visiting for Grandma's birthday trip to Disneyland.  This is going to be tradition for Jacob.  His first year birthday we got to celebrate with Grandpa while he stayed with us when Grandma and her girls went to Disneyland.  When Jacob was born, they all came to visit us as this Disneyland birthday trip fell on the same weekend.  We love our family!

 Jacob has discovered Choo Choo Trains and this was the perfect gift.  {Almost a month later and he is still in love with this birthday gift}

Volleyball 2012- Rachel

Rachel is a blast to watch play volleyball.  She hits the ball so effortlessly.  There were a couple of games she played were they only had 4 players show up and they WON.  She missed out on soccer this season because she played volleyball.  We will see what she really wants to play next year.

GO RACHEL!