Our Digital Camera

The one technology product we could not live without would be our digital camera!
We did not get a digital camera for a long time because of the cost. One birthday my sister and brother-in-law surprised us and got us one. It truly has been the best thing we have ever had. I can not imagine what we would do without it.

I have always been a picture taker especially with my family. I would go through rolls and rolls of film. When I first got my digital camera I was still taking pictures cautiously. Once I figured out that you could delete anything you didn't want and did not have to develop everything I really went to town. We now document everything. We actually really enjoy sitting and posing for pictures, because we know only the good ones will ever see the light of day.

I think of our camera as our journal now. We look back and realize this is how we are preserving our family memories. If you asked Natalie what her favorite device would be, she would say her MP3 player...understandable for a tween. If you asked Dylan what his favorite device would be, he would say his video games. If you asked Devin he would say the computer...he loves playing games on the Internet...thank you Nick Jr.

By far our favorite is our camera. I would love to show a picture of us using it, but that would be a little difficult since I need it to do that. Instead I will show a picture of those responsible for getting it to us. I guess a picture really is worth a thousand words. In our case, our camera and pictures are priceless.

Family Connection

One product that has brought us closer as a family, or made better use of our time collectively is our PlayStation. We had always wanted a gaming system, but had a hard time justifying spending hundreds of dollars on one, when dollars were a little scare. We knew we would always get one someday since many of our found memories have to do with an old Atari system. Who didn't grow up on Pac Man and Asteroids?
A PlayStation kind of fell into our lap. Dan's parents had a PlayStation for all of the grand kids and great grand kids to play when they came to visit. When they had to move into an assisted living home they gave the system to us. It was wonderful. I did not think we would use it as much as we do. It really is magnet for bringing us together. You really can't just walk through the room without noticing what is going on and wishing it was your turn. I find myself on the couch for hours just WATCHING the people play.

It is amazing how news for these kind of products really do just spread like wildfire by word of mouth. My kids had been talking about guitar hero for awhile. Before I knew it, everyone had one or knew someone who did. It's funny because you really don't see a lot of commercials for these things, but kids just know. Once we did get a gaming system I started to ask those who had one (everyone else) what some of their favorite games were and what they thought about guitar hero. It was really fun hearing their response.

All in all I think this has been a great product to use to bring the family together. Hand eye coordination is being used as well as memory. I could think of many more practical purposes for it, but when it comes down to it......it is just plain fun.

It is funny that a gaming system would utilize our TV, because that is where we really do congregate as a family. I sadly admit we love TV. We try very had to monitor what kind of television programming we watch. It is never hard with Devin ...it is preschool TV 24/7. Dylan would prefer cartoons and Natalie would live in front of the Disney channel if we let her. Disney is usually a happy medium for all three at one time, and we feel good about what is on. As for the whole family... reality TV seems to win for ALL of us. It has been fun to watch Survivor, American Idol, Amazing Race, or Dancing with the Stars. We can cheer on for our favorites together even if we are on opposite sides of the couch. We have had fun predicting who would win and then see who gets closest.

Half of the reality shows we watch have to do with music or dance in someway. American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and So You Think You Can Dance. It is just part of us. I grew up with music being a HUGE factor in my life. My father plays the piano magnificently and my sister also plays well. My mother plays the violin and I played the piano for a little while and the flute. There was always music in my home whether it was someone singing, playing the piano or listening to the record player.

Because music was a large part of my life, so was dancing. My parents love to dance. Dan's parents met in a dance class in college. Dan and I met on a dance team in college. We love dance and music and have passed that on to our kids. Whenever there is music playing there is dancing. At Christmastime there always seems to be a mini dance concert going on with carols playing in the background.

As a kid growing up, my parents would take us to revival theaters so show us the classic musicals, because there were not VCR's (I know, I am dating myself). When VCR's finally did come around we saw even more musicals. My parents still watch them all of the time. This past Christmas my parents saw the movie Hairspray, and wanted everyone to see it too. We all piled into the room and watched two hours of toe tapping fun.

When the movie ended and the closing credits came on and my Dad jumped up and started dancing. Soon everyone else joined along. We had such fun dancing for hours. Fifties music is great to dance to, so is country music and Irish music. I guess what I am saying if it has a good beat and quick tempo, you can't go wrong to boogy on the dance floor.

I know I am lucky...,we really can provide our own entertainment. All we need is some good music. The rest just falls (or dances) into place.

Dylan's Birthday Party

One of the things we are most proud of in our home is our backyard. It was a huge selling point for us when we bought it. It was a large undertaking in trying to landscape and design it since we started out with just dirt and a fence. We have tried very hard to make our yard an environment where our kids want to be. It is very child friendly.

We have two large shade trees in either corner of our backyard which have come in very handy for summer birthday parties. Dylan had a "backyard beach" party this year and our yard proved to be the perfect venue.

Another great aspect of our yard is our swing set. It has become one of the best purchases we have ever made. The kids use it year round to swing, play on the monkey bars and climbing wall, and to go up into their "fort". It also has become the perfect spot for a pinata.

We purposely put the play equipment in the corner so that we could utilize the rest of the yard for a large grassy area for kids to run around. Besides games of duck, duck goose, the kids have enjoyed soccer, volleyball, croquet and large games of tag. Ideal for any occasion unless you have to mow the lawn.

The yard is large enough to accommodate many people at one time. We have had socials, and BBQ's where several families have been over at once and you never feel crowed. Dylan invited his entire class over this year for his birthday party.

One of the first things we did on our backyard is put in a stamped concrete patio. It covers the back of the house. We put many comfy outdoor chairs and a couch on the patio. It has become the gathering spot for all of the adults. We have also been quite fortunate to have shade on that side of the house for much of the day.

Of all the perks of the backyard we like our sidewalk that runs along the perimeter of the yard the best. The kids call it the "race track". The concrete sidewalk is three feet wide and runs a complete circle in the yard. The kids have been able to ride bikes, roller skate, and scooter. It has also helped to boarder the yard and can give kids a good boundary of where to play. We love it.

To have the perfect beach party I had to hunt all over town for as many beach ball items that I could find. Each party store provided me with a different kind of ball. We had a beach ball cake (3D), a beach ball pinata, beach balls (already blown up) for party favors, and a gigantic (four foot) beach ball to play volleyball. The kids thought it was great, especially the giant one that had to go back into the trampoline enclose to ensure it's and the kids safety for the rest of the party.

The biggest hit by far for the party were the slip and slides. Those just never seem to get old. We set them up in one corner of the yard and them folded them over on themselves to make more room to run around until we were ready to use them. We were a little worried about the grass after an entire classroom full of kids had a hay day on the slides, but it all worked out okay.

Last but not least we ended our party with a great game of water balloon catch (with towels). Of course it turned into a giant water balloon fight. We filled about 200 balloons the night before and had them in a cooler ready to go. They went faster, then we could take them out of the container. Thank goodness for our backyard. Fun was had by all and I must say it was a happy wet day.

Family Outings

In a previous blog we talked about doing things together as a family. We love doing things together, however, sadly we often are running in several different directions at once and do not have the TIME to be together. The summertime seems to allow a little more together time. Maybe it is the daylight savings time or all the "Mom I do not know what to do" time since there is no school. That is when we seem to slip in a few "it's our choice" (parents) activities. One year we decided to go to Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. We had talked about going before, but never seemed to be able to fit it in when we would head to Colorado Springs (the North Pole always seems to win out).


We told the kids we would be seeing some water falls. They seemed
mildly excited. They just wanted to know how LONG we would be there.
There is something to be said for going somewhere for the first time, because we can honestly say "I don't know".

Colorado Springs is always a favorite. The landscape is gorgeous and you
truly feel like you are in the middle of the mountains at all times. Driving to Seven Falls was no different. Breath talking! When we pulled up the
kids were excited to get out of the car, and explore. We had to walk quite a ways to get to the bottom of the water falls. It really was beautiful and
the kids thought it was very cool. We asked them if they wanted to walk
up the stairs to see more of the falls. Everyone said yes and we began our
journey up.


Needless to say there were MANY stairs leading up to the the several
(actually seven) falls. It didn't seem so bad at first. It never does when you are starting out, however by about the hundredth stair you were really feeling it. Dylan (who was about five at the time) had decided he
was done with the parent's choice for the day. Unfortunately he decided
this at the top of the stairs and we had quite a bit of a struggle getting him back down wet slippery stairs. We took the approach of sitting down
each stair along the way. It was a safe and slow approach, but it worked
for us.


We stayed for a quite a bit of time (I am sure much longer then was first
thought). The sky was starting to get dark and we had the opportunity to
see the Falls lit up at night. Now even tired kids could appreciate that.
Over all I think they would have to agree that Mom and Dad might actually have a few cool ideas after all.




Each year we take a trip to Utah in the summer. For the past few
years we have had the opportunity to be there over the Fourth of
July. In Provo Utah they have an event called Stadium of Fire.
They always get at least one large name act to appear. It is always
a BIG event. The first year we went to it we saw Brooks and Dunn
perform. The kids didn't really know who the were but loved the
live dancers and the fireworks (one of the largest in the nation for
the holiday).


The next year we were not sure if we would go until the act was
announced MILEY CYRUS. Since Hannah Montana was the
biggest thing since sliced bread, of course we had to go. Tickets
were being sold at five o'clock on a particular day and since we live
in an entirely different state, we had to buy them over the Internet. We were ready for a wait, but not quite prepared of the
ticket buying frenzy that took place at five o'clock. Within 45
minutes almost all of the 60 thousand seats had been sold out. We
were the lucky owners of five seats. We went and of course had a
fabulous time.


This past year we decided since tickets were NOT cheap we would forgo Stadium of Fire. They had not announced the performing act and we thought surely no one would be able to top Miley Cyrus in
our kids eyes. Boy were we wrong. The JONAS BROTHERS were
announced. The ONE act that could actually beat Miley.
Of course the kids won out. We couldn't bear to be the parents that
denied their child the opportunity to see the Jonas Brothers live. I have to admit I went into the evening with my doubts. Tweens everywhere were screaming their lungs out. However, by the end of the evening, even my voice was hoarse. It was a great night. Maybe there are events that EVERYONE can love.

Some Friends

We would like to introduce you to some of our good friends. First, Margaret Eastman and her family.


We met Margaret about 5 years ago because Natalie and Erin (she is the one on the far left) were in the same kindergarten class. We decided to carpool with Margaret to and from school, and have continued until now.

Over the past few years, Margaret has become one of Diane's closest friends. They talk daily on the phone and then cover more topics as they drop kids home from school.




Margaret has also been a huge help to our family in times of need. When Diane went into premature labor with Devin, Margaret took care of our kids while we rushed to the hospital.

Her daughter Erin has become Natalie's best friend as well. They spend whatever time together that they can.




Erin is a great kid and we love having her in our home.








Another great friend to our family is Valerie Peterson (in the middle below).



We met Valerie 10 years ago through church. Her and her husband moved into the area about 2 weeks after we did, and our little girls were both about 11 months old - so we instantly had things in common.
Diane and Valerie taught a home preschool together with several other families.




About 4 years ago, Valerie's husband was transfered to Virginia, so the family moved away. However, Diane and Valerie remain close and talk daily on the phone. (When does Diane have time?) She has become like a sister to Diane.

Our kids have remained close as well and renew their friendships on the Peterson's annual visit to Colorado. Since our kids are similar in age, everyone seems to have a friend.





It seems like most of the interaction with have with other families is through our kids. We tend to gravitate to families we have things in common with, and that means kids. For example, Dylan made a great friend in school during kindergarten, and we have interacted with his family through school functions ever since. They even invited us to go cut down a Christmas tree with them over Thanksgiving break.

The times we get together with other families because of the adults are usually because of church activities or we want to see some old college friends. We love interacting with other adults and have a great time, but it gets hard because the kids get bored and want to go home.

Our Family

Here is a quick introduction to the Prestwich family.

Dan - husband, father, bread winner, strong and silent type outside the family, prankster inside the family, always up for an adventure.

Diane - wife, mother, home maker, shopoholic, fun loving, cheerleader to the family, attached to the phone, tends to stress just a tad.

Natalie - oldest child and takes the role seriously, wants to be involved in everything, quiet and shy in public, good at anything she tries, active and athletic - but a true princess.

Dylan - the sensitive soul of the family, tender hearted, very social - but also likes some alone time, good imagination, creative, absorbed in whatever he is doing, very boy.

Devin - youngest and adored by all (in other words spoiled), playing catch up from premie birth, stubborn, has a contagious giggle, constantly asking why, completely loveable.

We are basically a pretty normal family. Our time is absorbed quickly by all kinds of activities - work, school, sports, church, etc. so it seems rare lately that we can all sit down and eat dinner together. But I think we all love what family time we do have. We love being together. Part of that, I believe, comes because we moved to Denver (and away from any other family members) shortly after getting married. Our kids have never been able to walk down the street to Grandma's house or have cousins come to a soccer game. Because of that, we have truly had to rely on one another. It has made us closer and stronger as a family.

One thing we emphasize a lot in our family are holiday traditions. Because we are on our own for many holidays, we try to create traditions and memories for our kids. From the "You are Special" plate for birthday celebrations to annual trips to the pumpkin patch and decorating cookie trains for Christmas, we always try to make our holidays festive and memorable.

Another thing we find ourselves doing quite often as a family is watching reality TV shows. The kids can usually name the major players in our favorites - Survivor, Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol.

If we were part of a reality TV show, I think it would be something like The Modern Cleavers. We have pretty traditional family values, and I think many people view us like the Cleavers from Leave it to Beaver. I think it would be interesting to bring back some of the situations and dilemmas from that show and see how modern families would react in the same situations.