Christmas 2010

Dear Family & Friends,

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone! Time seems to be passing more quickly as we get older and it is hard for us to believe we are now the parents of a teenager. We have been so blessed this past year and are grateful for the memories we have made.

In February we had a mini-family reunion in St. George, Utah with Amy’s family and had a great time. We went to Zion National Park and just enjoyed being together. Carl’s parents were also there for a couple of days which was an added bonus.

We had so much fun in February that we decided to do it again in July. Annaka, Adam, and Ashlyn had a blast playing in the pool and staying in a pirate themed room with their cousin Kimberlee. From St. George we continued on to Salt Lake for more cousin time with the Besaw side of the family. We love our cousins!! When the kids are with their cousins, we never see them, which is nice because it gives us time to spend with our siblings. It is a wonderful arrangement!

Another quick trip to Utah in August for Carl’s twenty year high school reunion and then our annual trip to Utah for Thanksgiving completed our travels for the year. We were unable to be in Utah for Thanksgiving last year since Carl had just started his new job so we were very excited to get the tradition started up again. It was an extra special trip because Carl’s Grandma was visiting from Florida. We really enjoyed spending time with her as we don’t get to see her very often.

Ashlyn (age 2) continues to be a source of joy for our family. She wants to be just like her brother and sister and loves to pretend that she is going to school, soccer, etc. She makes us laugh when she repeats phrases she has heard that are too grown up for her: “I was just checking something online” (after sitting at the computer) or “I need to text my friends” (when trying to convince Annaka to allow her to hold her cell phone). The signs that we are living in an age of technology! She has decided that she doesn’t want to take naps anymore, even though she really still needs them. She even told Amy one day after it was suggested that she take a little nap, “Little naps are for little babies.” What?! Oh my, are we going to have our hands full with this little one!

Adam (age 9) is now in third grade. He started piano and Tae Kwon Do this year and is enjoying these new activities. 2010 was also the first year he played in the competitive age group in AYSO soccer and the first time in several years that he didn’t have his dad as his coach. He continues to be involved with our church sponsored Cub Scout Pack and is now at the Bear rank. He earned his Whittling Chip card, certifying that he has earned the privilege of carrying a pocketknife. He was very excited but we had to make sure he understood that this means we DO NOT take it to school! Adam makes sure there are plenty of boy things (Star Wars, Legos, Nerf guns, etc.) around our house for him and his dad to enjoy. He is a very good student and was voted to be class president by his peers for the first trimester of school. 

Annaka (age 13), our teenager, is in eighth grade, her last year before high school. She is on the flag team and is involved with ASB (Associated Student Body) and other clubs at school. Her other activities include piano and participating in the Young Women program at church. She continues to be in high demand as a babysitter, so mom and dad need to plan ahead when they need her. She makes sure there are plenty of girl things around and recently started making her own scented facial scrubs and other sweet smelling concoctions. She is our “idea machine” and is always coming up with creative ways of doing things. She is very thoughtful and has been saving her own money to be able to purchase Christmas gifts for her family.

Amy continues to stay busy getting the children to their activities and keeping Ashlyn entertained, which is no small task! She is involved in the PTA at both Annaka and Adam’s schools. At church she continues to work in the Nursery and is also helping with the Young Women at the stake level (all the congregations in the greater Pasadena area). This year she had the opportunity to attend youth conference and girl’s camp which was really fun, especially being at girls’ camp with Annaka (although we’re not sure how Annaka felt about it!).

Carl’s time is filled with family, work, and church. He has travelled more with this job than previous positions and misses time with family when he is gone. However, he continues to really enjoy the work he is doing and the people he works with. At church, Carl was called to serve as 2nd counselor in the stake presidency and was released earlier this month as the bishop of our ward. Change is always a constant in the Church! Carl had his first broken bone this year, when he broke his finger while playing with the kids in St. George. Not thinking that it was actually broken, he went about business as usual and after about 3 weeks, when it didn’t seem to be healing he finally went to the doctor. He ended up having to have surgery which required 4 pins to straighten the bone. But thankfully all went well and he is fully recovered.

We are truly grateful for the blessings and trials in our lives. Our knowledge of our Savior’s plan for each of us brings great comfort and peace. May our hearts turn to Him this Christmas season and throughout the New Year as we follow His teachings and example. We send our love and best wishes to each of you for a happy and healthy 2011.

Love,

The Besaws

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?