Ronald Reagan Library

As part of our Christmas visit to G&G "S" we went to visit the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley. This time of year they have a beautiful Christmas tree tour of trees that are decorated to represent all the different countries. It was fun trying to figure out where each tree was from. I still can't find some of my pictures so these are the only two that I have. The whole library was wonderful even without the Christmas trees. It is set up in some beautiful hills and the history was great.

G&G next to one of their favorite trees.

Ethan's Christmas Concert

Cinco Ranch Junior High Christmas Concert with Ethan on the snare drums!

Goin' Back to Cali

I am writing this a little more than 2 years later. I haven't come to accept the fact that I lost the memory card that has all of our farewell pictures. Good-byes to our friends, to our home and our limo and airplane ride to our new home in Bakersfield California.

Weeks prior to our move we had been packing and gradually saying our goodbyes. I was blessed to be able to have lunch with some of my dearest friends that I have missed. Lori Adelman, Emily Jones, Ashley Savoie, Cathy Turner, Carolyn Pack, Amber Brunson, Elsa Berkoski and Jennifer Tuckett. (which I had pictures of)  {sigh} But like everywhere I have lived I have been blessed with good friends and neighbors that have touched my life for good and that I have learned so much from.

The kids were each able to have their going away parties, except for Matthew. Darn it, he lost that privilege by making some wrong choices.

Steve was able to say his good-byes at his surprise 40th birthday party.

And then we all said our good-byes to our home of 5 years, many wonderful memories here and the only home Lauren knows, as we watched the movers pack up all our belongings into a ginormous truck. The movers even gave the kids a ride in the cab of the truck before they took off. There are pictures of this too somewhere. {sad face} We were able to go out to dinner at Fuddruckers with our dear neighbors, the Tucketts, before they dropped us off at our hotel for our last night in Katy, Texas. There were tears shed, especially between Isabel and Rachel who have been best friends since they were about 3 years old, for about 5 years now. I had pictures of this too. {teary eyed}

Steve had a little surprise of his own up his sleeve as he arranged for a limousine to pick us up to take us to the airport. I had some great pictures of them rockin out on the slippery leather seats of this long black and white limo. The airplane flight was also fun. This was Lauren's first time to fly and the twins first time they remember and still no pictures.

Our home in Bakersfield wasn't finished yet so we stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment for almost a month. However, part of that time was Christmas vacation which we spent in Santa Paula, so transition wasn't too bad.

And that is all there is to our big move. One of the biggest moments in our lives and not a single picture to show it.  I should be used to this as I also lost the first 4 months of the twins that we had on video. (we recorded their first Easter over it) Ok, I am moving on now.

Matthew's Farewell

This is the only Farewell party I haven't posted yet, because I have no pictures. And there is a good reason. There was NO party.

It was tough getting ready to move and to leave all our friends and all that Matthew has ever known. I understand that. That is why I gave him a gazillion chances to have this farewell party. But I finally had to stand my ground and really take it away. Due to some wrong choices Matthew made, I had to. I was so sad. He had planned more for his party than any of the other kids. He spent a lot of time online looking for party ideas and printing activities out.

Here is the party plan he made:

to do list
1. pin the horse.
2. coloring page
3. Stavanger hunt
4. Lego animal contest
5. brake (snack)
6. gess that animal.
7. animal bingo.
8. make your own favorite animal and tell why its your favorite.
9. Matthew little card pass out.
10. if there's any presents than will do that

It could have been a great party. But a mother's gotta do, what a mother's gotta do. No matter how hard it hurts her.

Giving

Rachel decided she has outgrown all her Barbies and dress up clothes and wanted to give all to Lauren for Christmas. She found a big box, stuffed it full and wrapped it all by herself. However, since we were moving and spending Christmas at G&G Spendloves, she let Lauren open her present early. They were both excited, one about giving and the other about receiving.

Rachel's Farewell

Rachel is moving to California next week and is really not looking forward to it. She will miss her friends dearly. So she wants to have one last get together with ALL of them.


Please come in your pajamas, bring a pillow & blanket, a snack if you would like and an ORNAMENT wrapped for the gift exchange.


We are also collecting canned goods to donate to Katy Christian Ministries, if you would like to add to our collection, please bring something to donate. THANKS! Hope to see you there!!!

{This is what was on her invitation. And I really wanted to try and focus on the spirit of Christmas by the donations. We got a pretty nice box full of canned goods we collected from all the parties.}

The Girls: Isabelle, Rachel, Hannah, Nathie, Shea, Madison, Erin, Camilla, Lexy, Avery, Amanda, Alivia, Amber, Ashley.

This party was a lot of fun, but I am sooooo glad I don't have ALL girls. Along with all the high pitched screaming, they played hide-n-seek, nerf guns, ornament gift exchange, ate lots of sugar and watched .

This was the coveted ornament. Rachel ended up with it but, since we were packing and just didn't have ANY room and because she was being nice, Isabel went home with it.

Just a cute pose of the party girls.

I think we ended up with about 14 girls. I was trying to get all of them in this picture.

Coming down off their sugar high....or getting ready for sugar high #2.

Ethan's Farewell

What happens when Gingerbread House meets Firecracker?

Find out at Ethan Spendlove's Christmas/Going Away Party

We thought we would share our family tradition with these boys by building gingerbread houses and then totally enjoying blowing them up. It proved to be an awesome BOY party.

See video below.

Guests: Jacob Smith, Blake Smith, Ethan, Brent Fletcher, Ky Klingsic, Drake Allen & Nick Bauer, Josh Shipp & Matthew Lattin

Trampoline Tackle

Football

Movie

Kaboom!


The rest of the firecrackers!

Lauren's Farewell

Lauren was so excited to have all her friends over. We made little Christmas Angels, had a book exchange and decorated cupcakes.

Very Easy Party with Some Very Cute Girls!

Her guests were: Ella Freeman, Abi Johnson, Eliana Berkoski, Abby, Clara Cooper, Kaitlyn Young, Meagan Winterton and Taylor Wright.

Cubs & Snakes

Oh BOY! Was this the best pack meeting ever?

Girl Scouts Singing

Rachel's girl scout troop all dressed up in cute matching shirts and headbands and went to sing at a nursing home. Here are the early birds, practicing? or just being girlie girls?

Snow in Houston?

The last time we had snow was on Christmas Eve '04.

This was the only picture we got of Lauren in the snow. She got too wet and cold and called it quits. She would do well to go to BYU Hawaii and not BYUI or Provo. ;)

Ethan was the first one of the kids home from school that day and therefore had first dibs on the fresh snow. He made his snowman with the snow in the backyard.

The girls keeping each other warm.

The boys doing as much as possible with what little time they have in the snow.

Happy 40th Steve!

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...




Steve's 40th birthday came at a crazy time in our lives, but at a good time of our lives. Steve just got a new job and we were getting ready to move to California and trying to enjoy the Christmas Season.

SURPRISE! SURPRISE! I was able to keep it a SURPRISE! We have some wonderful friends that hosted the party for us (Curtis & Cathy, Thank You) , some that brought some food (Thank you Emily & Cathy), some that brought the best balloons (Thank You Jennifer & Brian), some that helped decorate (Thank You Emily for putting the banner together and the picture board) and some that actually showed up on an evening where the roads were extra icy (Thank you everyone for coming!).

Steve was back in town just for the weekend, about a week and a half before his birthday. He started working in California the beginning of November. So on Friday, December 4th, we "planned" an evening out with a few couples as a farewell dinner. The Jones' were going to pick us up and then we were all going to head to the Turner's to pick them up and go out to eat. Well, the Jones' were running "late". So Steve and I just met them AND everyone else at the Turner's. Even after everyone yelled SURPRISE!, I still don't think Steve really knew what was going on.

But it was a great evening spent with friends celebrating Steve's BIG 40.
Happy Birthday Sweetie. I hope it was good one. And I hope you know how much I love you no matter how old you are. Thanks for being so wonderful.

Chris & Heather Duke (Long time friends from Texas A&M)

Elaine Metcalf & Larry (friends from work)

Chris, Steve & Chris (Elder's Quorum Presidency at one time)Scott & Lori Adelman (Westlake & the BEST basketball coach)

Rob & Suzanne Orton (Wesltake & BYU Married Ward, )
Jennifer & Brian Tuckett (The Best neighbors EVER!!!)

Sarah & Darrell deGraaf (Katy 2nd & Best YW leader)
Randy & Gwen Anderson (Westlake & our Former Bishop)Mike & Amber Brunson (Cousins, Neighbors & Katy 2nd)

Jackie & Chris Hatfield (Katy 2nd & such a fun couple)Richard & Susan Combs (Katy 2nd & what would we do without them)

Chris & Kathy Holt (Katy 2nd & Chainsaw Master)

While Steve was socializing so was I. Here are some pictures of me and some of my good friends that I was sad to leave.

Emily, Cathy & Me

Me, Lori & Suzanne

Me & Jennifer
Amber & Me