Family Christmas

Since hubby had to work Christmas morning, we bumped up our celebration to Christmas Eve. (we had no arguements from the kids on that one...hmm...wonder why?)

We started our night with a wonderful church service at Harvest Church in the Village, back home to warm up with our traditional soup for dinner and then it was time to celebrate!

You definitely know you have teenagers in the house when gifts go from dolls and legos...to electronic items and clothes of all sorts!

It was a new laptop for Nessa this year. This will help with all those nursing classes she's got!

And then a 32" Flatscreen TV for Bubba.

Since she got a new laptop, her old one was "passed down" to bubba!

Santa and Mrs. Clause pooped after all the fun!

Christmas Day

And the celebration contiunued.....
Christmas Day

The boyz huddled in Bubba's room to play XBox


Nana and Papa enjoying their gifts

The grandkids opening up gifts

Spiller-Hamm Grandkids! My my..how they have grown!

Family Rainy Day...

Ever have one of those perfect days? You know the ones...Rainy outside....fire going in the fireplace... laying around watching movies all day...homemade chilli and cornbread for dinner....

That was us yesterday... Everyone was home. And although we didn't do much of anything productive (except maybe changing a lightbulb upstairs)... just being together was FANTASTIC.
After dinner, we did manage to finally get the ornaments on the "big tree", and let me tell you... if I could bottle up the laughter and smiles that were going around I would. I just wanted to stop time! Who thought being silly could be so much FUN!!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE my family!! They rock!!

Can they seriously be this big??

Beauty and her Beast!

Do you think he knows he has Reindeer antlers on his head??

Kinda ironic huh?? the Hunter being hunted???

Hmm... what was in that egg nog?? Not even sure how to explain why they were sticking their tongues on the ornaments they hung... gotta love the humor of these two kids!!

Perfect Weahter....

...For riding your quad around...or at least that's what they (Hubby and Bubba) convinced me into believing!!

Since there was a break in the rain...Bubba got out there, fired up his quad and enjoyed riding around in the light rain! ( I don't exactly see the fun in riding in the rain and mud...so,I stood inside by the warm fire watching!)

That's a sign of fun!

Hmm...I'm thinking he got some mud on it!..

Oh...ugh... now to clean it up before putting it back!

Applebee's Fundraiser

Applebee's Neighborhood Grill so graciously hosted a Pancake Breakfast to help the 8th/9th graders of Coastal Christian School raise money for the upcoming Washington D.C. trip in May 2010. The kids pre sold tickets and then on the day of the event they served customers, bussed the tables and then cleaned up!
On behalf of all the students, a BIG SHOUT OUT! to Applebee's in Arroyo Grande and our manager on duty, Kathy, for a WONDERFUL TIME!! I know the kids had a blast!...plus they made almost $1600.00 for their trip!!

Bubba learns the ropes in the kitchen!

The early boys gear up for customers!

Christmas Parade in the Village

Helping kick off the Holiday Spirit, the City of Arroyo Grande hosts their Christmas Parade the weekend after Thanksgiving through the Village.
It's a cute, quaint, home-town parade full of Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Parading poodles, fire trucks, candy canes and christmas carols galore! Afterwards, our church, Harvest Bible Fellowship (which is located in the heart of the village) hosts the Live Nativity on the lawn in front of our church. This year, because the street remained close, we drew our largest crowd! It's always fun to watch the kids of our church put on a performance! ( several years our own Bubba was in there!...for some reason I couldn't get him to play Joseph again this year....hmmm...wonder why??)

My precious babies.....well...plus one extra!..but she's like a daughter to us!

Mistletoe for sale!

Fundraising for their Washington DC trip in the Spring, the 8th/9th Graders of Coastal Christian school made packets of Mistletoe and set out to sell them at KMart during the Black Friday rush!
They also hit those getting into the Holiday spirit at the Village Christmas Parade in Arroyo Grande!
Here's to some Holiday kissin!

Deck the Halls...

"It's the most wonderful time of the year..."

Taking advantage of some extra time off, we set out the get the house fully decorated right after Thanksgiving so we could enjoy it for awhile! This was followed by the beginning of the christmas movie nights....tonights showing: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!


We enlisted the newest helper in putting up the lights!

Always wanting to race to see who can get their branch done faster!
(ok..you can only appreciate that if you have a fake tree!)

The "perfect" branch

I'll just sit here and look pretty...k?

Alas! The star!

Santa's fearless helpers!!

The Sentimental Tree

For the past 6 years, we've put up our large Christmas tree (fake of course) in our den. We've adorned it with lights, ribbon and beautiful ornaments. A picture straight from Martha Stewart magazine! The first few years we had "the big tree", we would set up a smaller tree (fake of course!) elsewhere in the house (usually upstairs in the game room) and put the "sentimental" ornaments on it. That tradition somehow got lost in the bustle of the season, and soon the kids were putting up tiny trees (fake of course!) in their rooms with their "special ornaments"

Feeling a bit nostalgic I guess, this year I decided it was time to bring "The Sentimental Tree" back. It got set up right in the living room downstairs where we could see it everyday. The kids decorated it with their "special ornaments". It beats the Martha Stewart tree anyday!

Christmas 1995....Hard to believe they were ever that small!

Bubba today....putting his ornaments on

Nessa's very special Gingerbread man....Handmade by her!

And of course...the latest addition to the collection...

Our very own Mariner of the Seas (our cruise ship) ornament!

Black Friday 2009

Armed with a beanie, scarf...blankey...pillow...hot cocoa....cereal...a book...and a chair (thanks mom!) Nessa set out just before 10 pm on Thanksgiving to be one of those crazies that stands in line all night at Best Buy hoping for one of the few $197.00 laptops!
Sometime just before 4 am, they handed out the lucky tickets....well...lucky for some people...but not our beloved Nessa...she just missed the mark. Now she can say she did it! (ps..Mom and Dad were all snuggled in their warm bed...smart ones we are!!)

It's ok sweetie...maybe Santa will bring you one....if you are good!!

Am I seriously doing this??

Yup...I'm set!

Soccer 2009

Soccer season is officially behind us. The AG AYSO Boys U-14 Team Mustangs had a great season. They had some awesome wins....some terrible losses....but over all it was a great season and they took 3rd place in the Finals! Bubba came out every game and gave it his all! (Even with only 2 hrs of sleep for one game!...ya...sleepovers!)

Cruise Pictures are posted!!!

Check out our Spiller Family Cruising Blog (click the underlined title or the link in the right margin) and make your way to the online album!
Enjoy!!!

All Aboard!!!

A Flapper...and A Mariachi dude turned King David....

Miss Nessa and her Co-Worker and new found pal, Chelsea were flappers this Halloween...

Miss Nessa hard at work...and loving her new job!


For Bubs....it was a case of multi personalities this Halloween...
Inspired by his fabulous Sombrero that he purchased in Mazatlan Mexico, a Mariachi dude was created. Mom found a suit (at a thrift store!) and sewed on some "accents"...and wala! Mariachi man. (Keep in mind....mom DOES NOT sew...so..this was PURE love!)
Only to find out that the "theme" of his youth group party was "Bible Characters" .....hmmm...was there ever a Mariachi band in the bible??? Almost was if it wasn't for the help of Harvest Church costume box! What was once a mere Wiseman costume for a live nativity set, soon became....King David!

Mr. Mariachi Dude visits Old Juan!

King David....and all his kinglyness.....

Nessa's New Job

After countless hours of filing out applications and
submitting resumes, Nessa finally landed herself a new job.
It couldn't have come at a better time, we were back from vacation...and well....you can only live off your savings for so long!!

If you are ever in the Ocean area on a Friday or Saturday night, stop on by and Miss Nessa will get you a great seat! (She's the Hostess with the mostest!)

Congrats Nessa!!!

Old Juan's Cantina
649 Pier Ave
Oceano,CA

Brad Stine comes to CCS

For the second year in a row, Comedian Brad Stine came to visit the central coast and perform a show to benefit Coastal Christian School. Last year the boys were gone hunting in Colorado so they missed it...but this year...Brandon was eager to see the man who could make him laugh!

Happy Birthday Bubba!

We celebrated early on the cruise, but one's actual birthday can't go unmissed!!
His favorite meal was cooked.... and his found favorite dessert was made...Brookie....(thanks Karen!) ps..a brookie is half chocolate chip cookie..half brownie...mmmmm yummy!

Happy 14th Birthday Bubba!!

Make a Wish!

Smashed Whipped Cream is what you get when you squirt a bunch in your mouth and your dad walks by!! heehee!!

Even Mr. Garfield wanted some of the delicious brookie!!