Bakersfield Baseball

We were able to go the Blaze Baseball game at the Sam Lynn BallPark. Thanks to Oxy for the tickets and dinner.  It just so happened that it fell on Lauren's birthday.  Just what she wanted to do. No worries thought, she got an extended birthday........

 

So it's the end of May in Bakersfield and we were wearing jackets and still cold.   Kind of a freaky day! 

Matthew had to have his picture taken with Blaze!

 

No picture of Ethan, but he was with us.  He hung around the military booth were they were giving away goodies for those fine young men and women who could do so many pull ups.  He did pretty good actually and got a poster and a key chain.

Fashionista

I know it is just a shoe. But sometimes, I really have a super hard time liking my sweet Lauren's taste in clothing or sense of style. It's just not me. And I realize that she is not me. But it is HARD! That's why she got those splatter painted high tops for her birthday!  The ones she had to have or else.......

Mother's Day 2012

I Love Love Love my family. My husband is wonderful and I truly do love how each one of my children are so different and unique and bring so many different kinds of joy into my life. And they are each so beautiful inside and out! Thanks for a Happy Mother's Day!

 

We were able to celebrate with my Grandma and Grandpa Spendlove and Aunt Sarah and Rebecca. Rebecca surprised her mom for mother's day and both Aunts made us all dinner. We had enchiladas and salad, which was really good. But really they could have made PB&J sandwiches and it would have been great for me, just not having to make dinner was wonferful.
Thank you Thank you, Sarah and Rebecca!!!!!

And of course we had to bring our new little puppy with us for the ride and to meet Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Grandma and Lauren always know how to party!  Just doing a little zumba for us in their zumba skirts.

Spring Select - Patriots

This is Matthew's last season with AYSO before he headed off to the big leagues-CCB. It was a fun team to watch. They got 3rd place at the Kern County Oil Tournament.  Way to Go Patriots! 

CCB 2012

One of our first games with CCB was down in LA somewhere on  this football field.  They won and I enjoyed watching the game from the bleachers. 

On our way home we stopped by and visited with Great Grandma Rachel. 

School Open House & Field Trip

Rachel is so proudly displays her Utah State Float.  She is such a perfectionist.  She always does a great job on everything she does, except maybe cleaning her room. 

 

These are couple pictures taken of Matthew on his school field trip to Riley's Farm.

Matthew and Track 2012

This was Matthews first time experiencing a track meet.  He did great.  I didn't know he had it in him to run 3 miles.  He did the three mile run, the 100 yard hurdles, 100 yard dash and the long jump.  For his first time he did great and was able to go to the final track meet for his long run.  I am thinking this won't be the last time we see him on a track.

 

IMG 0152 from Melissa on Vimeo.

IMG 0153 from Melissa on Vimeo.

 

Time Out For Women 2012

Such a fun girls weekend. I love going to Time Out for Women. And it is even better when you can go with such amazing women. Love Love Love these ladies. Cheryl and Kirsten are my counselors in Young Womens and we had a fabulous time together. And what a better way to start our weekend then a visit to the Los Angeles Temple.

The Time Out for Women speakers were all wonderful.  Thoroughly enjoyed being uplifted, encouraged, rejuvenated and motivated.  And I love feeling the spirit testifying to me of the truthfulness of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.  I took lots of notes and can't wait to go again next year.

Here is the line up for our session of Time Out For Women. 

FRIDAYPROGRAM

Macy Robison

Musical Dance Theatre, BYU; creator and performer, Children Will Listen: Reflections on Mothering

Music Artist
Enjoy a unique “cabaret-style” performance featuring music and musings with Macy Robison celebrating the women and mothers in our lives—daughters, stepdaughters, sisters, friends, teachers, wives, stepmothers, daughters-in-law, and mothers. We’ll bring Macy. You bring the tissues.

Laurel Christensen

V.P. Product Development, Deseret Book Company; author, He Loves Us and We Love Him

What Are You Waiting For?
Do you ever feel like you're waiting for a new opportunity or a new week (or a new year)? And while you're waiting, it seems that life is on hold? Although the scriptures invite us to “wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 40:1), nowhere do they tell us to sit while we’re waiting. There are things life can’t wait for you to do and that you aren’t expected to wait for—even while you might have to wait on the Lord for a time.

Brad Wilcox

Associate professor, BYU; former mission president; author, The Continuous Atonement

No Other Name
In Third Nephi Jesus said that His people will know His name. As we learn more about each of the names and titles of the Savior, we can begin to see more clearly all that He has to offer us. There is no other name that can do all the good for us that His name can and will do.

SATURDAYPROGRAM

Hilary Weeks

Top-selling female LDS artist; singer; songwriter; author; albums include If I Only Had Today and Every Step

Music Artist
You said you can't imagine TOFW without her; happily, you don't have to. Hilary is not just a great songwriter and incredible performer; she is first and foremost a woman—a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a sister. Her humor and her testimony make every event perfect.

Chris Williams

Executive, IBM; author, soon to be released, Let It Go

Letting Go
After the car Chris and his family were driving in was hit by a drunk driver, the first thing he remembers hearing were the words, “Let it go.” That invitation was key to a road of forgiveness and recovery as Chris dealt with the loss of his wife and two children. And he has learned that in “letting go,” you can prepare to be open to receive all the Lord has to offer.

DeAnne Flynn

Author, The Time-Starved Family and A Mother’s Mite

What Mothers Forget to Remember
Mental meltdowns, brain cramps, “momnesia" moments—most of us are all too familiar with frequent forgetfulness. And we sometimes even fail to remember what is truly essential for our families, and for us. But by re-memorizing a few simple principles, by heart, we can (and will) realize greater joy and success as we seek the good in motherhood.

John Hilton III

Religious instructor; co-author, WHY? and HOW?

543 Questions
Did you know there are 543 questions asked in the Book of Mormon? What do these questions mean and why are they relevant to us? John will focus on just a few of the key questions and help us learn how to apply these and other questions to our lives today.

Julie de Azevedo Hanks

Clinical Director, Utah's Wasatch Family Therapy; author; songwriter

Your Most Authentic Self
We women have a tendency to get busy and forget ourselves. It’s our strength but can also be our weakness. There are some key ingredients to making sure you have all of yourself to give while still protecting the parts of you that make you…you! Learn how to have a healthier sense of self, prioritize your own personal development, and better understand the role of healthy emotional management.

Emily Watts

Senior editor, Deseret Book Company; author, I Hate It When Exercise Is the Answer

Saving the Princess
Many popular video games feature a quest to “save the princess.” The more you know about the game (some people even publish books of “hints’), the better your chance of finding all the treasures along the way that will make your quest successful. Emily Watts takes us on a quest of our own, offering hints around every corner that can help the good prevail. The princess you save might just be you!

18 Months Old

No way!  He can't be 18 months already.  Oh, but isn't he adorable.  We love our Baby Jacob!!!

Just Plain Cuteness!

Brimhall Young Womens April 2012

This month started off with a special Silent Easter Lesson by Sister Nilsson.  I, however, wasn't there, but heard it was fabulous.  And a great way to feel the true spirit of Easter.

These are the only pictures I have of Youth Conference and they are from the dance.  I didn't have any pictures of the talent show (by the way, our ward rocked the talent show with our glow in the dark stick man dance), the dinner, the wonderful speakers and the SERVICE project.

Our Joint Activity for this month was the Amazing Race!  My wonderful counselor Cheryl did a great job making this happen.  It looks like we had fun!!

Also this month the Laurels took milkshakes to Sister Whilhite and Sister Wheeler who were in a nursing home.  What a great Opportunity!

and

Our combined YW activity was "Feed My Soul."  We watched the video of Mariama Kallon "Delivered By Hope"

Raised in a country ravaged by civil war, Mariama Kallon narrowly escaped torture by murderous rebel forces. After losing her entire family and everything she owned, she was guided to safety as she found refuge with a Latter-day Saint family in her native Sierra Leone. Touched by the teachings of the Restoration, and full of gratitude for all the Lord had done for her, Mariama wanted to wear her own missionary nametag. With barely a single change of clothes and a Church-sent hygiene kit as her only worldly possessions, she made the trek to the United States and began a full-time mission on Temple Square.Delivered By Hope tells the true story of Mariama Kallon's remarkable journey, as she was led by the Lord from war-torn West Africa to a new life in a new land.

What a great message and then sweet Sister Castillo shared some thoughts and we all partook of the delicious recipes each of the young women brought to share. 

Happy April!!

Our 17th Anniversary in Santa Monica

Steve and I spent our 17th Anniversary here at the Channel Road Inn in Santa Monica. 

 

Here are the cute yellow chairs in our room, it was very bright, cottage-like bed and breakfast.  We really loved the breakfast and aftenoon snacks.  All homemade and super delicious! The cook even gave us a cookbook.

 

An anniversary trip wouldn't be complete without a trip to the temple. 

This is were we were married 17 years ago.

 

These pictures are in no particular order but just a run down of the restaurants we tried and the shopping we did:

 

Steve at the Inn.

The beach was too cold and windy, so we did some shopping.

 

This place was on a list of restaurants that a co-worker sent to Steve. It was a total hole in the wall but one of those places that you would go back to for sure. We even saw an actor and his family, just can't remember his name.  Steve recognized him. 

Our first dinner was at Baby Blue's BBQ which was a DDD recomendation.  It was GOOD!

Santa Monica Pier and my fortune said:

 You've been trying to figure out the best time to travel.  You're wondering if a business trip or a vacation would be good.  You may be wondering if to travel is a better thin than to arrive.  It is not fit that everyone should travel.  You change your sky, not your mind, when you cross the sea or land.   A busy idleness possesses you; you seek a happy life, with ships, cars, and planes; the object of your search is present within you.  If you travel for your holiday remember a good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are more vague than your own. 

Thanks for that bit of whatever...

I have been here a couple of times now and there is always a line out the door.  It is an ice cream and cookie place.  You get to pick out to cookies and a flavor or ice cream to make your own ice cream sandwich.  So cheap and delicious!!!!  It is just down the street from UCLA hospital.

Just a little insight to the bed and breakfast that we stayed in. It is a historic 14 bedroom mansion that was built in 1910 and moved to its current place in Santa Monica Canyon in 1977 where it was restored and turned into a bed and breakfast.

 The massive oak front door of the Channel Road Inn.

 

 

Steve liked the shape of this board so I got to hold it for the picture.