Christmas Eve 2012

Steve and Rachel hard at work making some delicious toffee/almond roca.  It was sooo yummy!  And that was just the first batch.

 

The kids all played their Christmas songs for us. 

Christmas Eve Dinner, I love my family!

At Matthew's request, I made Yorkshire Pudding for the first time.  Brings back many memories from my childhood meals.  Now I need to learn how to make my yummy stuffing.
 

 

Sorry about the obscene picture. But Steve was just showing off his Christmas Eve stitches.  He was pushing down the trash to make more room and sliced his finger on a broken jar and then had to spend a few hours in a busy urgent care to get it all stitched up.  But on the bright side, it got him out of working on Christmas Dinner and the rest of us were able to serve him.

 

Our Gingerbread/Graham Cracker houses built to last. Yes, that is a hot glue gun!

 

First Christmas present.  We love our new PJ's!

 

 

Sorry, but can't help but to post so many pictures of this cute little one. 

Thomas the Train is his favorite right now. 

 

Maybe we should take pictures in our pajamas more often.  Everyone smiled on the first try.

 

Love my kids!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Goodnight!

Monarch Palm Adult Christmas Party

Merry Christmas from MONARCH PALM!

 

Our 3rd Annual MP Adult Only Christmas Party was a Party. (Althougth we sure did miss a few people) This year we started with appetizers at the Rodriquez home then our delicious prime rib dinner was hosted by the Dolans. The setting was beautiful and the company, as always, was fantastic. We finished the night back the Rodriquez home with a photo shoot, dessert and white elephant gifts. Steve and I came home with a Justin Bieber music playing toothbrush, an aluminum wallet and $20 bill. 

 

 

We always have to have a GIRLS pic!

 

Amber & Ricardo Rodriquez, Steve & Melissa Spendlove, Tim & Allison Dolan,

Bryan & Allison Battan, Eddie & Dina Bustos

The most interesting animal...

My fricishly werd dog.

(What is your favorite kind of animal?)
A hoarse, a dolfine and cats.
(What does the animal look like?)
He has brown fur and blue or brown eyes.
(Is it friendly toward people?)
It is friendly to everyone but me.
(Can it be a pet?)
Yess it can, it is a dog.
(What does it eat?)
He stells all our food, so thats wate he eats.
(What kind of sound does it make?)
It macks a rrufe, rrufe.
(What does it do that is interesting?)
It doesn't do eneything that is interesting.

written by Lauren

Matthew's SPCA Service Project

Matthew had an assignment in 6th grade to do a service project for the community.  He chose to gather blankets and towels for the SPCA.  We made flyers that he passed out to the neighborhood asking them to set out anything they may have on their porch in a bag with his name on it and he would pick them up on a certain date.  We got a truck full.  Well, at least a minivan full, tons and tons.  I had pictures of him with his loot but they've been deleted.  We were able to deliver so much "stuff".   Here is a letter he recieved from the SPCA thanking Matthew. 

 

Christmas Card 2012

 

 

We/I had attempted three times to get our family pictures.  And trying to get our clothes to just blend a little is extremely difficult.  I really wanted a picture on the beach, but our time in Ventura went fast.  So another weekend in Long Beach for a soccer tournament seemed like a good idea, except it was raining. So now that Christmas was only a couple of weeks away, my good friend Kirsten came to my rescue and took these pictures in our neighbors front yard across the street.  No big deal because they were over seas for a few weeks, so we thought.  They came home while we were using their yard for our backdrop.  But we got a picture and I was able to send out Christmas cards in time.  I love sending cards because I really enjoy receiving them and staying connected with friends and family. 

 

Spendlove Family 2012

(IN A NUTSHELL)

JACOB (2) – Mommy's little buddy, sings and dances, loves Thomas the Train, gives the best hugs and kisses, loves his naps, everyone's favorite little brother.

LAUREN (8) - 3^rd grade, Baptized, Jungle Book theater, Sleeping Beauty ballet, piano, volleyball, our carefree hippie fashionista, loves to laugh.

RACHEL (11) - 6^th grade, volleyball, piano, clarinet, Student Council Treasurer, last year in Achievement Days, Principal's List every time, Oral Language Festival, best little mother's helper around.

MATTHEW (11) - 6^th grade, CCB soccer, piano, percussion, Student Council Activities and Grounds Commissioner, Scout Camp, Honor Roll, gets his jobs done the fastest so he can hang out with his friends.

ETHAN (14) - 9^th grade, EFY, BYU basketball camp, Young Men's camp (Triathlon, & Volkslauf) dog trainer, Cross Fit, basketball, soccer, piano, Honor Roll, High School, Teenager (enough said)...

MELISSA – Girls trip to Las Vegas to see Donny & Marie Osmond, Long Beach Time Out For Women, Young Women's Camp, Young Women's President, started running, loves trying to balance life.

STEVE – Promoted to HR Manager of Vintage Production, out of town business trips, mountain bike rides, Matthew's primary teacher, took up baking bread, bought the family a puppy (Viszla).

FAMILY – Camping at Leo Carrillo Beach State Park for Spring Break, Six Flags Magic Mountain Season Passes, Utah Trip for Uncle Ryan's Wedding and have enjoyed all our visitors and friends and family we have been able to see this year.

But most importantly we do recognize Jesus Christ, Our Savior's hand in all that we have and do. We cherish our testimonies of the true gospel of Jesus Christ and appreciate this time of year when we get to focus on Him just a little bit more. We are so grateful for a blessed family and great friends and neighbors who love us for who we are. We wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Very Healthy and Successful 2013!

The SPENDLOVE'S

Steve, Melissa, Ethan, Matthew, Rachel, Lauren & Jacob

Monarch Palm Kids Christmas Party

Another successful MP Kids Christmas Party. As tradition goes, we decorated Christmas sugar cookies, had hot chocolate, played minute to win Christmas games, this year we had a pot luck and then Santa Claus came to visit. We had about 15 kiddos and their parents.
This is what I remember most: That Jacob loved Santa and that Matthew asked Santa for a Red Farari, a 100,000 square foot house and Selina Gomez tickets.