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!

Merry Christmas

It was just as difficult as usual to get the family together for our annual Christmas photo, and my first attempt was met with grumbles.  In our first photo session we all sat on our bed.  It did not help with the posture, but we did get one photo that worked.

Because it's a tradition to take a picture in front of the Christmas tree, I gathered the family together again right after church when we were still dressed in our "best". I was met with more grumbling, but since we've done this every year, they acquiesced!  I like having these pictures, and there are family members that look forward to getting our annual photo Christmas cards -- you know, there are still people who don't have a computer, or Facebook... like Great-Grandma Vogt!  We've got it down to a minimum number of poses - 4.  With 4 poses, we are bound to get ONE picture that is good enough of all five of us.  As soon as that 4th pose is taken, the kids and Daniel scatter!  The number of photo cards mailed gets less and less every year as I send more electronic greetings.  Maybe one day, we won't have to print any photo cards.  But, I will still demand that family photo.  It's tradition after all, and someday I'll look back on all these photos, reminiscing of the joy of the season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Halloween

The kids are getting too old for Trick-or-Treating (sigh).  But, luckily they still like to hand out candy to the little ones, and our tradition is to do it at our church Trunk or Treat event -- hundreds (it seems!) of kids going from car to car, gathering tons of candy in a short period of time.

There were very numerous, costumed creatures, and Gabe handed out the candy from our "trunk".  Sam roamed the parking lot checking out all the costumes, and Carly (with her group of girlfriends) did go Trick-or-Treating.  They each did their own costumes, and I can't tell you who Sam and Gabe dressed as -- I'm pretty sure they are video game or Anime characters.  Carly took it easy and dressed like a little girl in her pj's.

After the candy frenzy in the parking lot, our ward's youth (along with two other wards) had a Halloween Celebration including games (board games, donut bobbing, smoke shooting), karoake, and treats (nachos and cupcakes).  It was a lot of fun for them to have something to do on Halloween night.

I feel a little nostalgic this year, and remember when my three were just little kids excited for Halloween-- planning out costume ideas months in advance, ordering their Buzz Lightyear or Piglet costumes from the Disney Store.  Soon, those cute Disney characters changed to Pokemon like Charizard and Pikachu! 

Fall used to include visits to the Pumpkin Patch, pumpkin carving, and school Halloween parties.  All things of the past, it seems.

I miss when the wonder of Halloween sparkled like magic in their eyes, and they still had Halloween candy when Easter came rolling around!

It seems I'm ultra-aware lately at the ever-shrinking time I have left with my kids at home -- soon they'll have little dressed-up Treaters of their own!

TRICK OR TREAT!

PAX 2012

PAX (Penny Arcade Expo) 2012!

Gabe was ready to purchase his ticket the minute it went on sale, months before the event.  He got Sam excited about it, and they both brought a sort-of reluctant Dad with them.  After spending all day in Seattle at this gaming event Daniel was very excited about the whole thing, and is already planning to purchase a 3-day pass next year!  Maybe next time he'll stand in the long line to meet Will Wheaton.