Mother-Daughter Week, Oceanside CA

My mom loves the ocean.  I love BEING AT the ocean -- swimming in a pool is much more pleasurable to me, but the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze... there's nothing like it.  When it's my Mom's turn to plan our weekend together, she chooses the beach.  Every time.  She used some time share points and got us into a lovely condo right on the beach, and since it was for a week, we all wanted to be there for the whole week!  I really loved stretching our weekend together into a week long extravaganza!

Oceanside - OUR beach.

Posing on the pier.  The photographer (a random passer-by) was a little shaky -- not the clearest of all, but one of the only photos of us all together this week!

The weather was beautiful, but the water was cold and no one was in it (except for a few crazy little kids).  I was DARED to go in up to my neck -- my Mom offered $20, and Carrie threw in $1.  Worth it to me!  I totally went in!

This picture was taken just outside our condo -- we were right on the beach.  Wonderful.

Carrie and my Mom and I got to do a session at the San Diego temple -- the same temple that Daniel and I were married for Time and All Eternity (in 1994).  It was lovely to return there -- too bad Daniel couldn't be with me! 

Eating is always a big part of our weekends together, and this year was no exception.  I think we tried three or four different Mexican Restaurants.  We went here twice.  Drool.

I loved being with my sisters and Mom.  Once a year we can get together and catch up on each other's lives -- learn about each other all over again, and tell each other the little and big things from our day-to-day activities.  Usually we are doing a lot of reading and board games, but this year there was a lot of iPad activity!  I love our weekends together -- especially when they are stretched out to a week!  Can't wait for next year.

Eagle Scout Court of Honor

We were so proud to see Gabe get his Eagle Scout Award recently!  Of course it's been a long road of scouting to get to this point, with much help from leaders and friends.  On March 17, 2013 (St Patrick's Day), his Court of Honor was held, and along with four other scouts from his Troop, Gabe was awarded the Eagle Scout Award.

It was wonderful to participate in the Court of Honor with other awardees because all the Mom's got together to provide wonderful refreshments (we are LDS after all -- it wouldn't be a complete get-together if refreshments weren't served!).  Lisa Renda provided a delicious punch, Marne McEachern brought the cakes, and Melody Lundquist made a veggie tray and Cowboy Caviar with chips.  I provided some meatballs and Apple Nachos, and Julene Nhem's egg rolls were a hot commodity that night (they ran out before I could snag one).

Gabe, Spencer, James, Jonathan, Weston

We sent announcements/invitations to most of our family, Gabe's current and previous Scout Leaders, as well as to some notable people such as:
Mickey and Minnie Mouse
President and Mrs Obama
Governor of Washington
President Thomas S Monson

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It was so cool to receive congratulatory responses from the "notables" as well as the responses from family and friends.  They all went in Gabe's Eagle Scout binder, and I'm sure someday he'll look back through all the documents and have a fond memory of it.

Proud Martinez Family

Gabe's "Eagle Response" was wonderful as he expressed how much he learned in Boy Scouts, and how proud he is of his accomplishment.  I was surprised at how well he did speaking in front of the group!  (I guess he didn't inherit his mother's public speaking anxiety.)  Ed DelToro was named as Gabe's scouting mentor, and I think that was an appropriate choice.  Gabe has had many leaders during his course of scouting, but Ed was the most consistent and long-standing.  We appreciate all the work and encouragement provided by Ed during the past 5 years! CONGRATULATIONS GABE!