Joshua Tree

Monday we went to Joshua Tree. It was mine and Eric's first time there. It is so beautiful. Not the same kind of desert we're used to, that's for sure! Brien & Jody were nice enough to invite us to hang out for a day. Ashley has climbed for a few years. She did a great job.
Troy & Jason have been once before with the scouts. Troy climbed like Spiderman. He took it on like he takes on life. Just go for it big. There were two walls that were set up to climb. The first one looked pretty hard. The second was rated 5.12 out of 5.15 (or something like that). Straight up and nowhere to hold on to. Wall 2 is top two pictures.

Jason only climbed the first wall. He was pretty fast up that, too. It's crazy how animal like these guys are!!

Eric did great for his first time. He had a hard time on the top of wall 1, but he made it. He even tried the second wall, and made it to the middle before it came to one crack to hold.

Notice there are no pictures of me. The guys think I'm a wimp, but that's okay. I am afraid of heights. We did climb the boulders and I got almost to the top of the back side, but it was pretty high up there, and I wasn't going anywhere near an edge.

David didn't climb, either. He really wanted to, but he pulled a muscle in his neck a week ago, and was smart enough not to give it a shot. We enjoyed the time to hang out together and watch our monkeys, though.

Christmas 2009

Our Christmas this year was one of my favorites in awhile. We got to spend time with so many family and friends. Christmas Eve at my mom's house was nice. Those that weren't there were definitely missed! It's been tradition to sing Christmas carols. As the boys are getting older, and they're boys, they don't really enjoy that part. I'm so glad they were good sports for me. They know that's one of my favorite things to do. One of the songs we sing is The 12 Days of Christmas. Everyone gets to sing a "day". Bill, my brother with Cerebral Palsy, always gets "5 Golden Rings". Every time he has to be reminded it's his turn. It's a good thing there are only 12 days, because it gets a little old by the end, but it's pretty funny. Christmas lasted for a few days with friends coming by. The boys were all lined up with something electronic to play. It was funny. At least they've had something to keep them busy!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and I am so glad that with all the technology we have these days, we are able to keep in contact so closely with those we love. Happy Holidays from our house to yours!!

Christmas vacation

This year since we celebrated Christmas two weeks before the actual day (due to Zak leaving on his mission right before) we decided to pack up & celebrate Christmas at a friends vacation house in Northern Arizona. Little did I realize that it is COLD there & covered in snow this time of year. Above is a picture of the "vacation house" we stayed out. Pretty nice house if you ask me!!
On Christmas day we decided to head to the Grand Canyon since we were staying only about a half hour away. On the way to the Grand Canyon is a little tourist place & most of it is about the Flinstones but it also had this jet in front. So of course the boys decided to climb up on it to get a photo opportunity! I'm sure the employees weren't surprised since we had been doing donuts in the parking lot before we decided to take pictures.....
The guy who's house we were staying at is a professional skateboarder & he had a bunch of skate ramps on his property. Of course they were all covered in snow, so the boys decided they wanted to clear it off & skate it. Although they did almost get it all cleared off, they never did get to skate it. It was just way too cold!!
Noah found this awesome icicle out by the ramp (there were actually a lot of icicles but this one was close enough to reach). He looks like he has claws in this picture.
Some beautiful pictures of the Grand Canyon covered in snow. It was pretty crowded there, but I think we were the only Americans visiting it on Christmas day. ha ha ha.



Here are a few more pictures of the Flinstone tourist spot. No one was there & we didn't actually visit it, we just used their parking lot to do donuts in the snow & take funny pictures.
We were missing Zak in our fun family pictures, but we also know he is doing much more important things these days!!
Below is a picture of Jamey & me on one of the ramps outside the house we were staying. There aren't many houses around where we were so we were able to enjoy a peaceful vacation. We did see a few bunnies & a fox outside in the snow.

The boys at the Grand Canyon - I'm just happy no one fell in... there were a few times I got nervous!!

Another Teenage Driver

Today Jason took his driver's test...and passed! I don't know if I can handle two teenage drivers, but Jason is a pretty good kid and really responsible. He's also willing to do pretty much anything I ask, so that's great! He has already ran two errands. For one of the errands, I sent him to get pizza to feed the hungry boys that are over. Congratulations, Jason!! You did a great job.

Water Polo Banquet 2009

Tuesday night was Troy & Jason's water polo banquet. It's always so fun celebrating the team and their accomplishments. This year we did desserts instead of a dinner. It was a way cheaper way to go, and the boys gobbled up lots of yummy treats.
Here's some of the team (and a few extras hidden in there).

Troy & Jason after they received their letter. They're too cool to smile:)

Monte Vista Boys' Varisty Water Polo Team.

James, Troy, Kyle and Kevin got the coach's award. They got minitature water polo balls as their award. They are all the seniors that started water polo their sophomore year. It's also when Coach Newman started coaching. They've come a long way together. Way to go, boys!

Bitter-Sweet!

For those of you who have sons younger than 19 - you won't truly understand this post until one of your sons turns in his mission papers. I am warning you now, prepare yourself for feelings & emotions you never even knew existed. Today we dropped Zak off at the airport to leave for 2 years to serve the Lord. We couldn't be more proud, but at the same moment sad to see him go. In the last 2 years Zak has become not only my son but one of my closest friends. He called me daily at work to see how my day was going, he'd drop by unexpected to take me out to lunch, he'd ask permission to go out & was always thoughtful of my feelings. Never in a million years did I think the kid that threw temper tantrums as a toddler & cried everyday on the way to Kindergarten would grow up to be such a kind, thoughtful young man. It's really too bad that Heavenly Father doesn't want boys to serve missions when they are 15 instead of 19 - It probably wouldn't be so bitter to let him go. I have been comforted by the spirit & know that he will be watched over while he is gone. I know that he is where he needs to be & I also know that as time progresses the missing him part will get easier. I really don't know what I did to deserve a kid like him!! I love you Zak! I am so proud of you, I can't even begin to express how much.
Before Zak left, he was able to help teach & baptize his girlfriend Merissa. It has been such an exciting time to see him grow as a missionary even before he left for his mission.

I just got confirmation that our most prize possession has been delivered to the MTC safely & is now in the hands of the Lord to be molded into the man he is yet to become!!

Prescott Family Christmas Party 2009

Sunday was Zak's farewell. He leaves tomorrow for his mission to Detroit, Michigan. There were many family and friends. All of the Prescott family was there to hear his talk. Our last family photo with everyone for a few years.After church, we all went to Joy & Max's for our family Christmas party. We had a delicious dinner, watched the Chargers beat the Cowboys, and did our gift exchange.

Santa even showed up at the party!! As soon as Santa walked in the door, Wyatt asked if Grandpa was dressed up as Santa. WHAT???? The kid's 3 1/2 years old! How would he have ever gotten that idea? Grandpa assured him later that he heard everything Wyatt said and convinced him otherwise. At first Wyatt was a little scared, so some of the older cousins sat on Santa's lap to reassure him. Poor Santa, I think his lap is really sore:)

It was such a great day with family and friends, but then again, it always is.

Special Day with family & friends...

This last Saturday Zak went to the LDS temple for the first time before he leaves to serve a mission for our church. Here are some pictures from the special event.

A picture of our handsome missionary. Zak's grandma & aunt walked right past him because they didn't recognize him. I guess he should comb his hair & wear a suit more often! Hee hee

Zak with both sets of grandparents. Can you see how proud they all are?

Zak & his brothers & cousins outside the temple. Zak is the oldest Prescott grandson - setting a good example for his brothers & cousins!

Zak with all of his grandma's - Grandma Maxine is adopted since she's babysat the boys since they were born! They were all so proud of him!

Grandma Prescott & the proud mom with Zak. Such a great day!!

Family picture without the most important part of our family. Jamey had to work in Florida this weekend. We missed having him there with us! We felt his love all the way from Florida!

Our missionaries came to the temple to teach Zak's girlfriend while we were all in the temple. Elder Buck has been a great influence on Zak & has helped a lot in getting him ready to serve a mission.
Here's Zak & Merissa (his girlfriend). Zak will be baptizing her this weekend. He's already a missionary!
After the temple a bunch of us headed over to El Torito for some good food & good company. It was a perfect day! Grandma & Grandpa Prescott smiling for the camera.

President Mitchell (aka Bishop Mitchell or Graham) and his wife Angie. Thanks you guys for coming!! We love you (Laura included).
Laura & Simon posing for the camera. Thanks for coming Laura, it wouldn't have been the same without you!

Thanks to all the family & friends who came to the temple with us. It was an awesome day, I look forward to going with Troy & Nate in a little over a year!!
Zak - we are so proud of your decision to serve a mission. We love you & will miss you!
But we also know you will be an AWESOME missionary! Detroit is lucky to have you!!
Good luck son!!

Toilet Papered

We woke up this morning to find this... I knew it had to be done by girls because the way it was tied from candle to candle.
They did knock down some candles, probably tripping over the cords. They stuck one
in the hole upside down, and left the other laying down.

The boys were trying to guess all morning who did it. Then the culprits posted on Facebook that they went TP'ing and door bell ditching at 4am. Not the brightest girls in town:) I was real glad we don't have a tree in the front yard anymore!! It was pretty easy clean up today.

Happy Birthday Simon!

Yesterday was Simon's 15th birthday. Poor kid still hasn't had a birthday party.... I hope he will forgive me for lagging on his birthday celebration. Simon is a great kid, I'm so happy to have him as my son. He is currently showing me his hairy legs... this is what makes him so unique. Ever since he was a little kid he would do things that made us laugh. Nice to know he can still do it today. Sure he's turning 15 but I am counting on him always being the great kid he has always been - even though he is a full fledged teenager. Love you son!