Christmas

Since our family doesn't get to all be together often during the year, I had in mind that this moment would be our Christmas card to our friends and family.  Yep, I totally lagged this year and didn't do a thing.  No baking or cards, and I LOVE Christmas cards!  Every time a Christmas card would come in the mail I would get so excited, then think of how lame I was being.  Maybe recipients of cards don't feel the same way I do about them, but that's ok.

 

This year has definitely had its ups and downs.  But I am thankful that above all, I've had some serious time to reflect and realize that life is what we make it.  We can serve others and become more Christlike in the meantime. And these 4 guys in the picture above are my world.  We are so close and have such a great relationship with each other.  They all make me so proud and are each extraordinary in their own way.

 

We were able to speak with Elder Prescott for quite awhile and he is truly happy.  He has had an exciting week with Elder Groberg - (Kolipoki) that the movie "The Other Side of Heaven" is about  -  coming to visit them.  He spoke to them, then shook their hands and visited with all of the elders.  The missionaries got to meet his wife, children and grandchildren.  That was a highlight of his whole mission. 

Troy also spoke about how we in America take things for granted.  They go to meals at members' homes and their dinner is often noodles made outside on a pot over the fire because there is not electricity or running water.  Some of the members are so poor, and then try to help the missionaries by giving them money.  The thing is that these people would gladly give all, when they have nothing themselves.  And they are happy people, not feeling a bit sad for what they don't have, but rejoicing in what they do.

 

Three months from today our elder will come home.  I will be forever grateful that we have had the opportunity to share just a tiny bit of Troy's mission.  That boy has grown into a fine young man.  He has a great head on his shoulders and his testimony has been strengthened.  And he is grateful.  Grateful for what he has learned, the experiences he has had, the friendships he has made, and the increased love that he has for his Savior.  Best present ever!

 

Merry Christmas!

50 Years

We recently had a 50th Wedding Annivesary party for David's parents. It was a lot of fun to put together and we girls, with the help of David's cousin and aunt pulled it off.

The most beautiful cake/cupcakes I have ever seen. It was a gorgeous display, and very delicious.  Our friend Crystal did a great job.  I highly recommend her! 

Here are some of the family pix from that day.  The boys will eat almost anything, even those meatballs!  (Next time I'll go with Kathryn's idea and use spaghetti sauce.)

 The Prescott girls.  We make a good team.  And we sure married some amazing men!

 Three of the Prescott "boys". 

 

Here they are with their dad a few years ago :) 
Front to back - left to right -

Kevin, Brien, Jamey, David, Max.  Aren't they so cute?  We put together a slideshow of their pictures through the years, and it was so fun to watch.  It's hard to imagine some of those clothes were ever in style.  What amazed me more is how much Jason looked like Brien as little boys, and Brien looks just like Max did back then.  And my cute hubby grew into those ears!  They turned out to be some fine men and fathers. 

Joy and Max sure did good (although some may have wondered during those teenage years).  And we girls couldn't have done better with picking boys with great parents for our in-laws.

 

Happy 50 years together!  We love you!!



Temple Lights

 If you haven't had the opportunity to get to the temple yet this month, I'd say you need to plan a time to get there before they take down the Christmas lights & displays. Not only do they have these beautiful things to SEE but they also have music playing that adds to the wonderful atmosphere. I've heard that they also have people there singing, I haven't witnessed this myself but my son's have & they said it was great. If you aren't able to go inside the temple, this is a wonderful way to get a feel of the spirit that is inside.

It really is beautiful.... These pictures really don't do it justice though.

Young Women Activities

David made this several years ago when he was in the Bishopric and attended Young Women. It's one of my favorite things, although when he was working on it, he drove me crazy!  He's such a perfectionist and it had to be just so.  Lovely picture, right??!!

This is his latest YW Creation. 

 

He has more patience than I do, for sure!  Somebody enjoys Young Women just a liiiiitttle too much. 

A letter to the birthday boy

Dear Simon,
Yesterday was your 18th birthday & I can't believe you are already that old. It seems like I blinked & you are now grown. You were by far the easiest baby of all my boys which was such a relief to me as I went from having 2 sons to 3. I did worry about that transition but you made it so much easier with your happy, easy going disposition - even as a baby. As a small child you were such a comedian & always wanted to make us laugh. You found great joy in making us happy. I can still remember the funny faces & silly words you'd do & say, they bring a smile to my face even now.

I know being the third son in a family of 4 boys can not always be easy. But you have handled it as always, with your usual self assurance & ease. You really do have the best of both worlds as you are a younger & older brother. I'm so thankful that you & your brothers all finally get along. I love to watch you all interact, joke & hang out together. It has made us so proud to watch you all develop your different talents & thankful that you all enjoy doing them together (skateboarding, music, church, etc). You may not realize how lucky you are to have the bond that you have with your brothers but you are! I only hope that as you all grow older you all stay close and cherish & nurture those relationships.

I look forward to your future - as anything is possible if you put your mind & energy into it. You are a hard worker especially when you are doing something you love. Thank you for all the times you help your dad with projects around the house. He knows that if there is a job to be done, he can count on you to follow through. We both appreciate that! Your dad & I only want the best for you & hope that you continue to make good choices - as your choices now will really shape the kind of life you have as an adult.

It will be fun to sit back when we are old (I know you think we are old now! But I mean really old, like great grandma & grandpa old) & reflect on all the accomplishments of your life. I know you are capable of great things, I can't wait to see it all unfold. I love you son, thanks for picking me to be your mom. I'm thankful for the young man you are growing up to be. I am thankful that you are loving & caring, thoughtful & kind. Keep it up!

Our Thanksgiving

We usually head out to the desert for a day during the Thanksgiving weekend, but several months ago we started asking our friends with desert toys who wanted to go and camp out there for a couple days.  The Sotos and clan were the only takers this year.  They have an awesome RV and we were able to crash it whenever we needed.  Their son, Georgie and his family came out, too.  Mark showed up with his cousin Mitch for awhile, so we had a great Thanksgiving Day and weekend with friends and family.  This was one of our best Thanksgivings we have had in a long time.  A great long weekend with not too much rushing around.  I didn't even mind tent camping, although we look like total losers amongst those huge toyhaulers and Kenworths!

 Thank goodness our friends use cameras.  I always take mine and then never take pictures!  The top picture is the only one of the 4 of us.  I thought about using it for Christmas cards because we won't be back again together until the week before Christmas, but I'm not too sure about it.  Some of my relatives may think we are in Iraq! 

 

There is a bombing range near where we camp.  They had all kinds of tanks and army trucks out there this time.  It is fun to go searching for bombs and bullets, and climb on the tanks.  (Only once in all the years we went there they were actually bombing, and I can tell you that you've never seen anybody run so fast in all their life!)

 

Lillian wasn't able to come home for the holiday, so Jason found a new girlfriend to keep him company.  She is such a cutie!!  But we did miss Lillian.

 

We are already planning on more trips out to the desert for the season.  I can't wait!

Favorite Things

Eric has a few loves in life.  His guitar, his xbox, and recording music onto his laptop.  One would think if they didn't know any better that to take all those things in one day would crush the kid.  The kid has been crushed :(  Tuesday we were robbed, and all of those things were taken.  A few other things as well, including the gold & diamond "MOM" necklace that the boys bought me for Mother's Day several years ago.

Just last week Eric entered a contest for his favorite band and uploaded a video to youtube.  This may be the only picture of his guitar we even have.  He didn't win the contest, and he will have to wait for new toys, but life goes on.  He's been a super good sport.  He always is. 

Among the disappointments, there was also a real high.  He received his Patriarchal Blessing.  During Conference weekend, he asked his Bishop for an appointment.  Yes, there is a distinction between Dad and Bishop in our house!!  Funny story - last week he had an appointment, fasted all day long, and at 7pm went to Patriarch's house.  Patriarch had forgot!  So he asked Eric to return this week.  He fasted again all day Thursday and returned again.  I'm pretty sure he feels that it was worth it.  I always knew he was extra special. 

Today he is out surfing with SSC (Sweetwater Surf Club).  I'm glad he loves to surf and act, too.  It may help with the sting of an empty wall, desk and tv cabinet :)  He's not super good at surfing yet, but he's a BOSS at acting. 

We're sure lucky he's our kid!!

Twenty Five

I love this time of year, not just because of the cooler tempatures, Santa Ana winds, or the shorter days (more snuggle time) but actually I love this time of year because it reminds me of the most important decision that I've made so far in life - oh so long ago. It reminds me to reflect on my life & appreciate all that I have, all the changes I've been through and how far I have come (and sometimes how far I still have to go!).
Twenty five years ago today I married my high school sweetheart, my best friend, my love and I have never looked back. Can I say the last 25 years has been easy? No certainly not but nothing worth while ever is... I guess I would have to thank the people out there who took bets on our wedding day that we wouldn't last six months.... even though at the time it really hurt my feelings. But looking back, I think knowing that some people didn't think our marriage would work out, made us try harder. Jamey & I were night & day different. He the bad boy, me the good girl - but we've had an incredible spark from the moment we first met that has not died & never will. We've been through a lot together and I am thankful for the good & the bad because they have made us better people. I am thankful for his love & companionship - it gets me up in the morning & keeps me going during the day.

I'm thankful for the father he is to our boys & the example he sets for them on how to treat a wife.  I'm glad that he hasn't grown tired of me & that we still like to have fun together. He is my strength & the person I turn to in all things. He puts up with my weird quirks & still makes me feel beautiful, even more so as I age. I'm grateful for the changes he made in his life so that he can be my eternal companion. I hope that the next 25 years are even better than the first!

First Annual Ward Campout

I have always said that we need to have a ward campout, so one of the first things I said after David was called as Bishop is exactly that.  His response, "Then you're in charge".  That'll teach me!!  A few months ago we drove ALL over trying to find the best place for our ward to camp.  We found Thousand Trails in Descanso, and fell in love.  It was so much nicer than the others we went to, and there is so much to do there!  Who wants to be in charge of an activity and have everyone bored to tears?! 

 

There was mini golf, an RC track (kinda small, but what do ya want??), bocce ball, horseshoes, swimming, and the list goes on and on and on.  I am definitely not one that likes to be in charge, so needless to say, I have had stress for months about all the details.  Most were pointless worries.  People signed up like crazy for this new adventure and we had such a great turn out. 

 

Mini golfing with friends was first thing Friday.

 

Eric has worked for weeks trying to get his RC car running.   It did run - for about 10 minutes before it died and the pull started pulled all the way out.  It was too hot outside for his dad to want to put it back together.

 Next stop, swimming pool!  David got nice and cooled off, and had fun with his friends:) 

We heard a lot of great feedback, so I'm pretty sure it's our First Annual instead of our One and Only Campout. So many people pitched in and helped, and made this a great activity. You Rock, SW1!

Missing My Boy

It's not very often I post about Elder Prescott on this blog, but thought I'd switch it up.  His letters are always put on his own blog, but technically, this isn't a letter from Troy :)

 

There is an e-mail group for the missionary moms.  The missions are then separated into their own groups.  Troy's is the Pacific Islands, which consist of Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Marshall Island Missions. The moms can e-mail with questions, concerns, vent, or anything else and get answers and support from others.  That is how I met my friend, Martha.  Her son is Elder Jacob Michael.   They live in Downey.  Troy and Jacob got their mission calls on the same day (or just a week apart).  Jacob went out in January of 2011, Troy in March.   I don't know if it's all missions, but this is a tough one because we may not hear from our missionaries for weeks or even months at a time.  Martha and I have helped each other get thru this time.  We even met face to face a few months back.  I sure hope we'll be friends forever!

The boys know that their moms are friends, so whenever they have the chance to meet up, they take pictures for us.  I'm sure that's Jacob's idea!!!  Jacob is the AP in the office in Nuku'alofa now.  He seems like he is such a great young man, and such a hard worker.  He has survived even the hardest of areas, the island of Nuia.  There is no electricity, little food, and so remote.  I REALLY hope Troy gets sent there before his mission is over.  Can you imagine having to catch your own fish to eat, learn which plants and berries are safe, read by kerosene lanters, and get to e-mail only when the generators are working?  (which isn't often)

 

Jacob had to travel to Troy's island for a meeting last week.  It was an 8 min flight!  After the meeting, they all went to another part of Eua (Troy's island), and stood at cliffs.  It is so windy there that if you throw something off, it blows back.  So they all threw ties and flip flops off.  Here they are standing in front of a massive land bridge there.  It sure is beautiful!

 So this week as I wait to hear from my own missionary, who has pretty much decided it's too much trouble to walk 3 minutes to the airport to e-mail his mother, I will enjoy reading Jacob's letters to his mom.  There's another missionary who writes wonderful, detailed messages to his family.  But he's in Nuia right now, so letters have slowed down tremendously.  I'm just happy that some of these boys don't mind writing!  We'll give Elder Prescott the benefit of the doubt and just say that he's super busy doing the Lord's work :)

 

I am so thankful for the opportunity that Troy has to serve his mission.  My friend came to me crying a couple weeks ago after Troy's "I'm hungry letter", and said she was so impressed with how much he's grown, and that the church has this program for the young men and women of the church.  Troy is definitely learning and growing from these experiences, and he will be the one that learns the most from his mission.  This picture makes me smile, but then makes me miss him more.  He is definitely NOT starving, and I think his eye looks infected.  But hopefully it's just because he's squinting from the bright sunshine in the Garden of Eden. 

6. more. months. 



They're Back!!

Our senior missionaries have returned!

Wow, the big day is here.  We were so excited to meet Joy & Max at the airport.  You know, you picture in your mind them coming down the escalator, the huge crowd gathers with a sign, and all the girls just cry, while everyone tries to get their hugs in...

 

As we all checked online to make sure the flight status was up to date, we noticed the plane was going to be an hour late.  Joy's cousin that works at the airport even checked and kept in touch saying, "yes, it's late".  Well, just a few minutes after their scheduled arrival time, Joy called and asked, "where is everyone?"  The phones started ringing and we all rushed to the airport to find them standing on the curb with their bags.  (Apparently the airline computers were incorrect)  Grandpa was so anxious to get his bags in the car and get home that he could hardly stand still for a group picture.  Kevin was out looking for Aunt Bobbie, making sure she wasn't lost.  It was kinda hectic and crazy, and not such the excitement we plan in our heads.  (Lillian even spent about 2 hours making the sign!!)  Their welcome home BBQ went about the same, as they arrived as we were leaving.  But we all have them for the rest of forever, so we'll get lots of time to catch up.  Welcome home, Max & Joy.  We're super proud of you and the 4 missions you have served.  Job well done!

Little Things....

That make me smile today -

 Last week we went to the zoo for the first time in YEARS. When the boys were little we went often because we usually had annual passes & every time we went they wanted a picture with this gorilla. It was fun to do it again, but the boys are much bigger now.

 Recently we all went to the temple to do baptisms. It's so fun to go as a family... as I was walking up to the temple I looked behind me & this is what I saw (them all holding hands). Of course they all struck a pose for the camera. You can tell the only girl with us does not belong to me - she's the only normal one of the group! Ha.

 Found this picture when I was going through old pictures... it's actually not too old (maybe a year?). It just makes me smile every time I see it.... these boys dressed up like this all by themselves & took a picture. Really? Hope you get a kick out of it too.

24 Hours

 I always thought we were a pretty busy family, especially David.  He works 50+ hours a week at his job, then was the YM President, Varsity Scout Leader, and on the board for San Diego Varsity Scouts.  How could it ever get any busier than that?  The answer is to be released from those callings and positions and get called as Bishop.  Not that I'm complaining, but his 2-3 days of extra responsibilities has turned into 4-6.  Add a teenager who's about to get his license, a house full of hungry teens 24/7, and a wife/mother who is a teensy bit hormonal, and it becomes an extra tense setting. 

We celebrated our 24th anniversary last month, and decided we had to get away to do something - anything!  With Jason home from college, this was the perfect weekend - so Eric wouldn't feel like he'd been ditched.  With some help from a few friends, I got an internet skill or two and booked a room in the beautiful city of San Diego for one whole night!  (With girls' camp and a few extra days off here and there, it didn't work out that we could really take any more time away.)  It didn't matter where we went, just that we went.  We really didn't want to spend a lot of time driving, and this was the perfect solution. 

This is the view from our hotel room at the Marriott Gaslamp.  Too bad there wasn't a Padre game going on! 

This is another view from the room.  Later on there was a firework show that I watched from the window. 

 

David being so nice just waiting for me to take pictures and get ready to go out.  Of course, we had to have a slurpee to take with us :) 

 

First things first, David took a much needed nap.  He hasn't gotten much sleep in the last couple weeks and was exhausted!  That was part of my gift to him.  I downloaded the next book for the book club and was excited to get started on it.  We walked all around The Gaslamp District, had a great dinner at Fred's Mexican Food (yeah, Fred???) went up to the rooftop bar, worked out in the gym (I do count one whole lap on the treadmill working out), and just chatting and remembering why we like each other. 

 

The next day we went to the Convention Center to the Home Show, and walked around Gaslamp some more.  There's a bridge downtown that his company helped build.  He was We were very interested in the architecture and craftsmanship of it.

 

Then we were off to Santee Lakes.  Hey, there's another bridge that David actually did help build.  I had to get a picture since it seemed to be a theme.  Photographer I am not! But it was pretty too.

 

We paddle boated and ate dippin dots.

 

Also, checked out the campground and picnic areas.  Although it's a really nice campground, it's not for tent camping.  But we did find a nice place for a spring ward picnic!

 

We did end off the night by going to the temple and doing sealings.  Pretty coincidental that Patriarch Bramwell was the sealer, because he married us!   

 

It was a much needed getaway "weekend" (is it sad that 24 hours is counted as a weekend?) and the next one is already scheduled on my phone. I can't wait!!!

 

I remember why I said "I do". 

Family vacation

We recently went on our first family vacation. Of course we've been a lot of places as a family, although this was the first time we went somewhere together to just relax.... and oh did we relax! It was wonderful. Thanks to our great friend for inviting us to join her family & a few others on a houseboat at Lake Havasu Nevada. 

We headed out early one morning on our long drive...

 So early we were up before the sun & were able to watch it rise (at least those of us that were awake).

 I love seeing the sand dunes in our desert. Just wish more of it looked like this!

 This was the temperature when we got to the lake, although it did get hotter as the week went on.

 Once we found a nice private place to beach the boat, this was our view. It was heaven.

 Of course with 4 families the inside of the boat sometimes got a little crazy, but that was half the fun!

 This is pretty much what we did while we were there. Did I say relaxing?

 Some of the little boys fished almost the whole time we were there, I lost count how many fish they caught that week. Although they did catch a snapping turtle too - it was not happy about being caught either. Here is Elam trying to get the hook out of it's mouth... it took some time but they finally did get it out & back in the water.

 Chillin' on the top of the boat.

 This was what it looked like during an afternoon movie.

 We had some fun on some sea dews (or are they called jet ski's still?)

 This was the cliff that some of the crew jumped off of. Personally I stayed clear of this!

 Captain Noah came along to make sure we stayed on course! Ha ha

 Some inside madness - I think this was at breakfast time. The table got lots of use, between food & games it was a good time for all!!

 There was A LOT of goofing off going on. This was just one of the many pictures captured!

 Couldn't leave without a family photo!

Thanks again Laura for inviting us along! I think this just might become an annual vacation for all of us. Good times with good friends making great memories!!