Christmas 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

It looks like updates to our blog have become an annual event, so here are the 2009 highlights for our family:

The year started out a little bit rough with Carl still out of work and no real job prospects. We weren’t sure what was in store for us, but it is with grateful hearts we report that Carl has a wonderful job with Southern California Edison. He is a project manager with an emerging markets and technology group and is really enjoying his work. His commute is only 10 to 15 minutes, a far cry from the hour minimum he spent driving when he worked in Beverly Hills. He continues to stay busy with his church responsibilities and once again coached Adam’s soccer team (although probably for the last year since next year Adam will move into competitive play). When he gets a free moment, he loves spending time with Amy and the children.

Annaka has really grown up a lot this year. In June she celebrated her 12th birthday and was very surprised to receive the gift she had been asking for – a cell phone. Mom and Dad finally let her get her ears pierced and she has enjoyed participating in the Young Women program at church. Annaka also started Junior High School and has adjusted well to this change. She made the flag team as part of auxiliaries and is also involved with ASB (Associated Student Body) where she helps plan school activities. She is a good student, but has some late nights working on homework. She is still taking piano lessons and is in high demand as a babysitter (which allows her to pay for her cell phone each month). Adam and Ashlyn love their big sister and she is a great helper with them.

Adam also celebrated an important birthday this year. He turned 8 in September and was baptized the following month. It is always so nice to have family come visit for special events like this. He is now involved with Cub Scouts through church and looks so cute in his uniform. In January, Adam was selected as a prince on the royal court of a community parade and festival. He got to ride on a float in the parade, was treated like royalty at the carnival, and has participated in many other events throughout the year. Adam is now in 2nd grade and is a good student. He also had a great soccer season, scoring at least one goal in almost every game. He is a good brother and Ashlyn adores him.

Ashlyn is now 1 and ½ years old and has been such a joy to our family. She is walking all around and we love it when she talks to us even though we don’t always know what she is saying. She loves to "read" books, play the piano with Annaka, wrestle with Adam, and talk on the phone with family. She is a good sleeper, but we need to work on her eating habits. She definitely has a sweet tooth! Our family enjoys watching her discover and learn new things and we love it when she gives us hugs and kisses.

Amy is adjusting to not having Carl at home, children attending two different schools, and a little shadow following her around. She is still very involved with PTA (now at two schools) and stays busy being a wife and mother with all the things that go along with it. At church, Amy is no longer working with the Young Women, but gets to spend time with Ashlyn and the other little ones in the Nursery.

Our family had the chance to go on a couple of fun trips this past year. In April we took a quick trip to see the Easter pageant at the Mesa Arizona temple. Then in July, we spent time with Carl’s family in Utah and Amy’s family in Idaho. We also were able to go to Yellowstone National Park and see some of nature’s wonders found there.

Our family and friends have been a great source of strength and support over this past year. We truly have a lot to be thankful for and hope we all will take time out of our busy lives to remember the source of our blessings as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

With Love,

The Besaws

To see some of our pictures from the past year, click on the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/besawfamilyca/2009Highlights#

Christmas 2008

Dear Family and Friends,

The highlight of 2008 for our family was the birth of Ashlyn Mary Besaw on July 21st. She has been such a joy to us! Ashlyn is now 5 months old and just starting on solid foods. She is so very sweet, smiles a lot, loves to know what is going on around her, and sleeps through the night! Her big sister and brother are wonderful helpers and love her so much. We feel very blessed to have her as our baby girl.

Adam, age 7, started 1st grade in September and is a very good student. He enjoyed playing soccer again and having dad as his coach. Adam loves Star Wars, Legos, playing on the computer, and has achieved "professional" bowler status on the Wii. He is becoming a good little reader and is a great helper around the house.

Annaka, age 11, is growing up too fast. She is in her last year of elementary school where she is a captain of the drill team and plays the cello in the orchestra. Annaka is still taking piano lessons, enjoys reading, and loves creating craft projects. She thinks she is Ashlyn's second mom and we are looking forward to having her as our official babysitter when she turns 12 in June.

Amy continues to keep busy taking care of the children, volunteering with PTA, babysitting a few days a week, and working with the young women at church. She has recently discovered Facebook and has found that it is great way to keep in touch with family and friends. With the two older kids at school all day, Amy has also enjoyed having a lot of time to spend with Ashlyn.

Carl fell victim to the downturn in the economy and joined the ranks of the unemployed in September. He has several good prospects where he recently interviewed and is hopeful that one of these will work out in the new year. Amy has enjoyed having him home and is in for a rude awakening when he returns to work. Carl also had more time for coaching Adam's soccer team and fulfilling his responsibilities as Bishop at church.

As we look back on 2008, we are grateful for our trials and our blessings. We are thankful for the love and support of our family and friends which has meant so much to us. At this time of year, may we all take time to reflect on the birth of the Savior of the world as we strive to better follow his teachings and example.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

All our love,

The Besaw Family

Long Lost Besaws

I'm sure everyone thinks we've disappeared off the face of the earth, but we are still alive and well, just staying busy with life. Unfortunately, Carl was laid off last month and has been looking for a new job. Ashlyn is getting so big and time is going by too fast. We are blessed to have so much love and support from family and friends. Instead of creating a huge blog with tons of pictures catching up on the last few months, we have posted them in an album. You can view them at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/besawfamilyca/Besawfamily2008#

Ashlyn

Here are some more pictures of Ashlyn's first few days...

Big Sister and Big Brother love her so much

Daddy helping Adam get the hang of things

Coming home from the hospital

Proud Daddy

Proud big sister

I like my passy

Just lounging

Our New Addition

Ashlyn Mary Besaw was born on July 21st, 2008 at 10:28pm. She weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces and is 20 and 1/2 inches long.

We are so happy to have her as a member of our family and that mother and baby are both doing well.

Bountiful Harvest

Just thought we would post a picture of all the veggies we have been picking from Mom and Dad's garden while they are away. But what in the world are we going to do with all of these cucumbers?

Chubby Feet

The countdown has begun! 22 days left till my due date and my feet reflect that! Thought we would post a picture for posterity. My feet were pretty swollen when I was pregnant with Annaka but we never got a picture, so this is one for the books. They look pretty gross and I can't wait for them to be back to normal again!