Picture of the Month
Hannah CannonMonday, March 31, 2008
March 2008 - Executive Office of Kenneth Woodward
Dear Family,
First I need to put to rest that ridiculous theory that Torrie advanced last month that there may be a conspiracy between me and the collator of this newswire by which I see an advance copy, thereby benefiting from receiving the family news ahead of the rest of you. There is not one thread of truth to that theory. I see the newswire the same moment that the rest of you do. I’m just blessed with an ability to anticipate the future. And along that line, I would not be a bit surprised if Torrie had some special news to report this month.
February was a glorious month for we who live on the Avenue. We were even blessed with that additional day being this year is leap year. And the school district graciously granted Zack and Josh, along with their peers, a full-week vacation to honor presidents George Washington, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. With that time at home, together with the boys being excused from school on account of illness, actually or perceived, you can see I’ve not suffered from the want of company.
The arrangement with Sister Elliott, our 3-day a week housekeeper, tutor, cook, medical advisor, financial consultant, and whatever other needs may arise at the moment, is working out well. Zack and Josh seem to look forward to her arrival, although I don’t know why. She imposes much more discipline on them than I’m capable of doing.
There seemed to have been a paucity of contributions to our last month’s Newswire. Nothing from Aaron which has caused me much lost sleep, and has anyone seen or heard from Kristy this past month? Maybe with the impending change to daylight savings time, and the improvement of weather in Colorado Springs, things will improve.
Love, Dad
First I need to put to rest that ridiculous theory that Torrie advanced last month that there may be a conspiracy between me and the collator of this newswire by which I see an advance copy, thereby benefiting from receiving the family news ahead of the rest of you. There is not one thread of truth to that theory. I see the newswire the same moment that the rest of you do. I’m just blessed with an ability to anticipate the future. And along that line, I would not be a bit surprised if Torrie had some special news to report this month.
February was a glorious month for we who live on the Avenue. We were even blessed with that additional day being this year is leap year. And the school district graciously granted Zack and Josh, along with their peers, a full-week vacation to honor presidents George Washington, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. With that time at home, together with the boys being excused from school on account of illness, actually or perceived, you can see I’ve not suffered from the want of company.
The arrangement with Sister Elliott, our 3-day a week housekeeper, tutor, cook, medical advisor, financial consultant, and whatever other needs may arise at the moment, is working out well. Zack and Josh seem to look forward to her arrival, although I don’t know why. She imposes much more discipline on them than I’m capable of doing.
There seemed to have been a paucity of contributions to our last month’s Newswire. Nothing from Aaron which has caused me much lost sleep, and has anyone seen or heard from Kristy this past month? Maybe with the impending change to daylight savings time, and the improvement of weather in Colorado Springs, things will improve.
Love, Dad
March 2008
Dear Family,
This month Ryan and I have found out that married life plus school plus work equals a binary experience. This month has been very difficult for us, but at the same time, we are having so much fun with life. Ryan and I are both attending school in the motherland at good ole BYU; he is studying Civil Engineering and I am now studying Illustration and minoring in English.
I currently have a job at a Group Home for a company called Chrysalis; the individuals living in the home are the sweetest, most loving individuals I've ever had the opportunity to meet. I could certainly picture Christ hanging out with these guys first when He comes again. Ryan has found work with our brother-in-law, Fred Pena, painting and maintaining homes, so he comes home late at night covered in paint, poor guy.
We also had a bit of trouble selling our contracts before the Christmas vacation; well, I had trouble at least, so for a while we were paying rent for two apartments! I couldn't compete with the five other girls in my apartment complex who were trying to sell their contracts because they too were getting married during the Christmas vacation.
To address the other side of the binary let me add that Ryan has a wonderful time with his Men's Choir concerts. They just recently finished a concert where they sang love songs in the theme of a date. They started with "Tonight at 8" from She Loves Me, something I'm unfamiliar with, then they sang "they say love" from Annie get your Gun, then "Tonight" from West-side story; then "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid (they used TicTacs as part of the percussion); then they sang "Mamselle" another one that I was unfamiliar with, then "Goodnight Sweetheart". These men had all of the girls going nuts in the audience. It was a very enjoyable experience.
I am currently taking Latin dance classes at BYU; I highly recommend them. We just recently had a dance competition where we performed the Rhumba, and we have another competition coming up in March where we will be performing the Samba, I really look forward to these classes.
Well, I hope that you enjoyed reading this letter almost as much as I enjoyed living these experiences. We send our love and gratitude to all of you for your support and warm wishes concerning our wedding. We love you all!
The Besseys
This month Ryan and I have found out that married life plus school plus work equals a binary experience. This month has been very difficult for us, but at the same time, we are having so much fun with life. Ryan and I are both attending school in the motherland at good ole BYU; he is studying Civil Engineering and I am now studying Illustration and minoring in English.
I currently have a job at a Group Home for a company called Chrysalis; the individuals living in the home are the sweetest, most loving individuals I've ever had the opportunity to meet. I could certainly picture Christ hanging out with these guys first when He comes again. Ryan has found work with our brother-in-law, Fred Pena, painting and maintaining homes, so he comes home late at night covered in paint, poor guy.
We also had a bit of trouble selling our contracts before the Christmas vacation; well, I had trouble at least, so for a while we were paying rent for two apartments! I couldn't compete with the five other girls in my apartment complex who were trying to sell their contracts because they too were getting married during the Christmas vacation.
To address the other side of the binary let me add that Ryan has a wonderful time with his Men's Choir concerts. They just recently finished a concert where they sang love songs in the theme of a date. They started with "Tonight at 8" from She Loves Me, something I'm unfamiliar with, then they sang "they say love" from Annie get your Gun, then "Tonight" from West-side story; then "Kiss the Girl" from Little Mermaid (they used TicTacs as part of the percussion); then they sang "Mamselle" another one that I was unfamiliar with, then "Goodnight Sweetheart". These men had all of the girls going nuts in the audience. It was a very enjoyable experience.
I am currently taking Latin dance classes at BYU; I highly recommend them. We just recently had a dance competition where we performed the Rhumba, and we have another competition coming up in March where we will be performing the Samba, I really look forward to these classes.
Well, I hope that you enjoyed reading this letter almost as much as I enjoyed living these experiences. We send our love and gratitude to all of you for your support and warm wishes concerning our wedding. We love you all!
The Besseys
March 2008
Hello Family
Well first I must apologize for our absence from the WFN for the past several months. I had assigned Hannah the responsibility of making sure that our contributions were timely and accurate. Well imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only were they neither timely nor accurate, they didn't even exist! It's like she completely ignored me. I expect that from my spouse, and it's becoming more prevalent in the boy....but the baby? Really? She's been alive long enough to know she can safely ignore me? Not a good sign my friends.
Speaking of baby's, we recently had one (the aforementioned newsletter non-writer). She is now 3 mos old which means.....nothing really if you think about it. I did however receive some excellent advice from a good friend of mine at church. "Remember!" he said to me "Children cannot roll off the floor!" Yup, that sounds about right.
I continue to work in a facility that can only be accurately described using swear words. Inasmuch as Grandpa is JUST LOOKING for reasons to get after me I will not provide him with one so easily. (I always knew he had it in for me.....sometimes the paranoid really are being followed.)
To give you good people a sense of my interactions with these fine upstanding paragons of society I offer the following description of an interaction I had yesterday:
Inmate A was recently placed in "The Hole" aka solitary confinement aka administrative segregation for assaulting an officer. Bad idea...and not just because they have the weapons, the battons and the pepper spray. In any event, during the course of my interview with this individual he indicated to me that he wanted to make himself not be alive anymore. The following is an accurate account of our conversation:
Me: "Can you tell me why you are feeling like committing suicide?"
Convicted Felon: "Because the cops keep trying to poison me."
Me: "OK, can you tell me how you plan on committing suicide?"
Conficted Felon: "Well, I really can't because I gots nothing in here to do it with."
Me: "Well, why not just eat the food?"
He actually had an answer for that, but it's not fit for print here, or anywhere else for that matter.
We are also currently in the process of buying a home. Who would have thought? Well, if you spend over half your life in apartments at some point you become apartmentalized...that's me. My family however is not, and they want out of the shoebox. I am trying to accomodate that request. I might even let them move in with me.
Until next month when hopefully Hannah will have repented, apologized, and accepted her assignment as our representative the the WFN.
Hej Då
Hannah, Jakob, Mindy and Aaron
Well first I must apologize for our absence from the WFN for the past several months. I had assigned Hannah the responsibility of making sure that our contributions were timely and accurate. Well imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only were they neither timely nor accurate, they didn't even exist! It's like she completely ignored me. I expect that from my spouse, and it's becoming more prevalent in the boy....but the baby? Really? She's been alive long enough to know she can safely ignore me? Not a good sign my friends.
Speaking of baby's, we recently had one (the aforementioned newsletter non-writer). She is now 3 mos old which means.....nothing really if you think about it. I did however receive some excellent advice from a good friend of mine at church. "Remember!" he said to me "Children cannot roll off the floor!" Yup, that sounds about right.
I continue to work in a facility that can only be accurately described using swear words. Inasmuch as Grandpa is JUST LOOKING for reasons to get after me I will not provide him with one so easily. (I always knew he had it in for me.....sometimes the paranoid really are being followed.)To give you good people a sense of my interactions with these fine upstanding paragons of society I offer the following description of an interaction I had yesterday:
Inmate A was recently placed in "The Hole" aka solitary confinement aka administrative segregation for assaulting an officer. Bad idea...and not just because they have the weapons, the battons and the pepper spray. In any event, during the course of my interview with this individual he indicated to me that he wanted to make himself not be alive anymore. The following is an accurate account of our conversation:
Me: "Can you tell me why you are feeling like committing suicide?"
Convicted Felon: "Because the cops keep trying to poison me."
Me: "OK, can you tell me how you plan on committing suicide?"
Conficted Felon: "Well, I really can't because I gots nothing in here to do it with."
Me: "Well, why not just eat the food?"
He actually had an answer for that, but it's not fit for print here, or anywhere else for that matter.
We are also currently in the process of buying a home. Who would have thought? Well, if you spend over half your life in apartments at some point you become apartmentalized...that's me. My family however is not, and they want out of the shoebox. I am trying to accomodate that request. I might even let them move in with me.
Until next month when hopefully Hannah will have repented, apologized, and accepted her assignment as our representative the the WFN.
Hej Då
Hannah, Jakob, Mindy and Aaron
March 2008
The Cannon, Adam Family.
(Not the Aadams Family)
February is a great month because you get paid a couple of days sooner then you normally would. Besides that wonderful fact, I feel we have nothing more noteworthy to add concerning our achievements for this past month. We should find out if we are having a BOY! or another girl next week. I would like to put it down for the record....I will be HAPPY with a boy or a girl. But, just like when you go to the store to buy a new toy, you don't pick a toy you already have. Not that my kids are toys, but they are fun to play with. With that said, I will say nothing more except this: A boy would be much more willing to help me set up booby traps in the back yard to catch hoodlums and hooligans then a girl would, unless we are talking about Maja, and she would love to set up booby traps in the back yard, if she could wear her pink princess dress while we execute the operation.
We are all well and healthy and happy.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, and Fetus.
(Not the Aadams Family)
February is a great month because you get paid a couple of days sooner then you normally would. Besides that wonderful fact, I feel we have nothing more noteworthy to add concerning our achievements for this past month. We should find out if we are having a BOY! or another girl next week. I would like to put it down for the record....I will be HAPPY with a boy or a girl. But, just like when you go to the store to buy a new toy, you don't pick a toy you already have. Not that my kids are toys, but they are fun to play with. With that said, I will say nothing more except this: A boy would be much more willing to help me set up booby traps in the back yard to catch hoodlums and hooligans then a girl would, unless we are talking about Maja, and she would love to set up booby traps in the back yard, if she could wear her pink princess dress while we execute the operation.
We are all well and healthy and happy.
Adam, Erica, Maja, Annika, and Fetus.
March 2008
Hello Family,
I remembered to write this just before the final deadline, which is something I usually remember to do AFTER the deadline. I wanted Dad to know that I was still living in Sacramento, Citrus Heights to be exact, and that a full force manhunt was not necessary.
We have been exceptionally busy these last few months, as most of us are. Being busy is a blessing, because not having anything productive to do looses its fun after about one week. So if I am busy, I am happy. Another piece of happy news: Todd and Sarah are expecting a new little one sometime in September. It is too soon to know the exact date and gender, but the doctor is going to answer those questions in the next few visits. Both Todd and Sarah are still attending school, and Todd is working full time. Sarah is taking a full college load as she toughs out Morning Sickness (more accurately said, All Day Sickness.) However, both of them are very happy and excited. Of course, I am thrilled about having another grandchild. So, all is, obviously, well with us.
I am well into my new job; Consulting Teacher in the BTSA/PAR program for San Juan USD. I miss the classroom, working with the students, but I do not miss the 7:30 start time, getting up at 5:30 and getting home after 6:00. I love being able to make my own schedule, and having more flexibility in my day. I also enjoy the wonderful new teachers that I support (12 teachers in all.) I know more about the California Professional Teaching Standards that I ever wanted to know, and can cite them by Standard and Element (this is almost a "geeky" thing to admit to.) However, since our mandate is to help these teachers Clear their Professional Credentials, I guess we had better know what those standards and requirements are (don't you think?)
The weather is beginning to get warmer, the days a little longer, and time is growing a bit closer to Spring Break. Contrary to Dad's opinion of vacations, I am looking forward to Easter Vacation. Then it is the "long haul" to the end of the year. Carol appreciates and knows exactly what I mean.
Have a wonderful Easter Season, and love to all of you.
Kristy, Todd and Sarah
I remembered to write this just before the final deadline, which is something I usually remember to do AFTER the deadline. I wanted Dad to know that I was still living in Sacramento, Citrus Heights to be exact, and that a full force manhunt was not necessary.
We have been exceptionally busy these last few months, as most of us are. Being busy is a blessing, because not having anything productive to do looses its fun after about one week. So if I am busy, I am happy. Another piece of happy news: Todd and Sarah are expecting a new little one sometime in September. It is too soon to know the exact date and gender, but the doctor is going to answer those questions in the next few visits. Both Todd and Sarah are still attending school, and Todd is working full time. Sarah is taking a full college load as she toughs out Morning Sickness (more accurately said, All Day Sickness.) However, both of them are very happy and excited. Of course, I am thrilled about having another grandchild. So, all is, obviously, well with us.
I am well into my new job; Consulting Teacher in the BTSA/PAR program for San Juan USD. I miss the classroom, working with the students, but I do not miss the 7:30 start time, getting up at 5:30 and getting home after 6:00. I love being able to make my own schedule, and having more flexibility in my day. I also enjoy the wonderful new teachers that I support (12 teachers in all.) I know more about the California Professional Teaching Standards that I ever wanted to know, and can cite them by Standard and Element (this is almost a "geeky" thing to admit to.) However, since our mandate is to help these teachers Clear their Professional Credentials, I guess we had better know what those standards and requirements are (don't you think?)
The weather is beginning to get warmer, the days a little longer, and time is growing a bit closer to Spring Break. Contrary to Dad's opinion of vacations, I am looking forward to Easter Vacation. Then it is the "long haul" to the end of the year. Carol appreciates and knows exactly what I mean.
Have a wonderful Easter Season, and love to all of you.
Kristy, Todd and Sarah
March 2008
Dearest Family,
It has been nearly a year since I last wrote a contribution to our family's newsletter, and a lot has happened. I'm sure many of you have heard from others about our welfare, but for those who have not, allow me to do an abridged version. We lost our court case last May - Goodyear was found negligent but the jury did not award us a cent. That was very devastating. But it also triggered some other events that currently I'm not sure how to view them - blessings, trials, necessary hardships or just some dumb thing I need to go through.
Through my new medical insurance, I have been trying to catch up on medical care that I should have received from Kaiser years ago. I have been diagnosed as a mild agoraphobic with extreme anxiety, depression, OCD; I was given Clomipramine today to help with my eyelash pulling and I sure hope it works.
I have at least 3 kidney stones and a mass on my left kidney that needs to be biopsied to see if it is benign or a solid neoplasm. Basically, I have been sick as usual except now I feel as if I am headed the right direction, finally.
Stephanie turned 3 last September and was potty-trained within 2 wks. HOORAY! No more diapers! She also says a very nice prayer at mealtime and bedtime. She had an audiology exam Friday and has normal hearing, but somehow I got her an appt with the very pediatrician that Kristy, and I tried to get the boys in with for over a year. At least I have an “in” now and maybe I can get Kaiser to look closer at the boys. If not, I am switching them to my new insurance!
Rob began a new job today. Well, love to all and we always keep you in our prayers.
Wendy, Rob & Stephanie
It has been nearly a year since I last wrote a contribution to our family's newsletter, and a lot has happened. I'm sure many of you have heard from others about our welfare, but for those who have not, allow me to do an abridged version. We lost our court case last May - Goodyear was found negligent but the jury did not award us a cent. That was very devastating. But it also triggered some other events that currently I'm not sure how to view them - blessings, trials, necessary hardships or just some dumb thing I need to go through.
Through my new medical insurance, I have been trying to catch up on medical care that I should have received from Kaiser years ago. I have been diagnosed as a mild agoraphobic with extreme anxiety, depression, OCD; I was given Clomipramine today to help with my eyelash pulling and I sure hope it works.
I have at least 3 kidney stones and a mass on my left kidney that needs to be biopsied to see if it is benign or a solid neoplasm. Basically, I have been sick as usual except now I feel as if I am headed the right direction, finally.
Stephanie turned 3 last September and was potty-trained within 2 wks. HOORAY! No more diapers! She also says a very nice prayer at mealtime and bedtime. She had an audiology exam Friday and has normal hearing, but somehow I got her an appt with the very pediatrician that Kristy, and I tried to get the boys in with for over a year. At least I have an “in” now and maybe I can get Kaiser to look closer at the boys. If not, I am switching them to my new insurance!
Rob began a new job today. Well, love to all and we always keep you in our prayers.
Wendy, Rob & Stephanie
March 2008
This past month hasn't been much different from the rest of them. Levi is busy with school and grad research. He also had to do a background and security check so that he can officially be hired by Lockheed Martin, so if any of you are contacted by the FBI that's the reason. I was able to successfully survive helping out with our ward's Visiting Teaching Conference, and now I don't have to worry about it again, at least in this ward because of our move back east this summer. The weather has kept us sick and inside as of late, but yesterday we finally let Emma out to the play-yard at our complex. She and Levi had a lot of fun, but we experienced the mother of all meltdowns when she had to come back in. She's definitely 2. We hope all of you are doing well. For more info and fun videos about our little family, please check out our blog at :
http:// indianspit.blogspot.com
We update it periodically and have had a lot of fun doing it. Until next month.
Love,
Emma, Levi and Torrie
p.s. the attached picture is our 2 year old in training who has the typical forced kiddie smile.
http:// indianspit.blogspot.com
We update it periodically and have had a lot of fun doing it. Until next month.
Love,
Emma, Levi and Torrie
p.s. the attached picture is our 2 year old in training who has the typical forced kiddie smile.
March 2008
February was another quiet month for the McClintocks. At our age any time we can avoid disorientation, breathlessness, lightheadedness, shivering, sweating, aching, or memory reduction we call it good. Bob and Susan did take a day trip up Scenic California Highway 88 on President's Day to see just how much snow was in the mountains. It had been reported that our snow fall this year had exceeded normal expectations. We found that to be true. And we understand the world's snowfall has hit an all time high. Overall temperatures across the globe have drop significantly; wiping out any previous concerns for global warming extending 100 years.
Grandma Anna is continuing to do well. Her daily routine would cause any number of you to fall instantly asleep but it keeps her well and in relatively good spirits. She does, however, miss her independence and the stuff in her house. Emily can appreciate what that means.
Would you keep Aunt Bonnie in your prayers? Pray that her separation from this temporal sphere will be swift and peaceful. I recall a time when, as a freshman at BYU, I received a package from her filled with scrumptious cookies and home-made caramels. As a young woman I was rather self-centered and thoughtless, and I never sent a thank you note. She later asked me if I had received the package and it was then that I was properly embarrassed to realize I had not even the common courtesy to thank her for her thoughtfulness to me. I always think of that whenever I think of Aunt Bonnie. It was an excellent teaching moment.
May Easter bring you renewal on all accounts.
The McClintocks
Grandma Anna is continuing to do well. Her daily routine would cause any number of you to fall instantly asleep but it keeps her well and in relatively good spirits. She does, however, miss her independence and the stuff in her house. Emily can appreciate what that means.
Would you keep Aunt Bonnie in your prayers? Pray that her separation from this temporal sphere will be swift and peaceful. I recall a time when, as a freshman at BYU, I received a package from her filled with scrumptious cookies and home-made caramels. As a young woman I was rather self-centered and thoughtless, and I never sent a thank you note. She later asked me if I had received the package and it was then that I was properly embarrassed to realize I had not even the common courtesy to thank her for her thoughtfulness to me. I always think of that whenever I think of Aunt Bonnie. It was an excellent teaching moment.
May Easter bring you renewal on all accounts.
The McClintocks
March 2008
We have had a good month overall busy with school, ballet and karate. We had our second snow day this month much to Jilina's thrill and the neighborhood came out to have a fun afternoon. The winter has actually been very mild with our snow melting away quickly. Kelly continues to enjoy graduate school and is keeping very busy. Jilina is now in her 2nd month of ballet and karate. She loves them and is doing great. Cesar loves that she is learning lots of self-defense for those dating years. Cesar is working hard and enjoying school also.
Murphy's Law came into affect this month with our house. We purchased the house in October and four months later Kelly is walking down to the basement to do laundry and sees the water heater is leaking. Thank goodness she was doing laundry that day! While we decided to go tankless or not we had no hot water for a week. That was loads of fun! The stupid water heater just couldn't have given out while the previous owners were here!!! Oh well, we are warm now.
We also got to have a fun visit with my best friend who I caught in high school. Jilina always loves watching her on TV as a coach for U of A. Jilina is excited (as is Kelly) to start softball next month.
We miss our family and beloved CA tons and would welcome any who would love to come for a visit.
With love,
The Mercier Family
Murphy's Law came into affect this month with our house. We purchased the house in October and four months later Kelly is walking down to the basement to do laundry and sees the water heater is leaking. Thank goodness she was doing laundry that day! While we decided to go tankless or not we had no hot water for a week. That was loads of fun! The stupid water heater just couldn't have given out while the previous owners were here!!! Oh well, we are warm now.We also got to have a fun visit with my best friend who I caught in high school. Jilina always loves watching her on TV as a coach for U of A. Jilina is excited (as is Kelly) to start softball next month.We miss our family and beloved CA tons and would welcome any who would love to come for a visit.With love,
The Mercier Family
March 2008
It is always great to read about how everyone is doing each month. Given the fact that February was a short month, we all had to squeeze our experiences into fewer days. It’s nice though that we received a little quadrennial relief by having the bonus Leap Day thrown in, so that are schedules weren’t too cramped. This was especially helpful for the home teachers throughout the stakes of Zion.
Things have been pretty quiet here in COS. Arianna continues to clip along (no pun intended) in cosmetology school. Kevin volunteered two weeks ago to provide Arianna with her first “live head” on which to perform a haircut. He showed up at the appointed hour at which time Arianna greeted and escorted him to the chair. She dutifully asked him how he would like his hair cut. When Kevin suggested that she take off a half-inch, she replied with a recommendation that she take off a quarter-inch this time to build in a margin for error. She then set the stage by directing him to the shampoo bowl. After several minutes of wonderful relaxation brought on by a very methodical scalp massage and rinse, she redirected him to the spot wherein she prepared to perform the operation.
Bringing to bear her best geometry skills, she applied great precision with every pass of the shears. She even found the wherewithal to strike up a conversation regarding important current events such as, “How ‘bout them Rockies this coming season?” Her professional “bedside” manner had Kevin starting to doze off in the chair. Even with the obvious challenge this posed, Arianna made the necessary adjustments to respond and bring successful closure to the engagement.
Upon completion, Kevin looked into the mirror and discovered the very best haircut he had received in recent memory. It was a far cry from the time he looked into the mirror shortly after Grandpa Woodward instructed a barber almost five decades ago to “give him a butch”. Perhaps the best way to sum up the experience is to borrow a phrase from the financial world, “the greater the risk, the greater the reward”. If there is any doubt in our mind that Arianna is learning, let alone actually attending school, that was put to rest. We are extremely proud of her.
The weather here is absolutely beautiful today. They say in Colorado, “if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute”, or something like that. Today we are approaching 70 degrees, tomorrow will be snow. We love it.
Much love to the family,
The Woodwards
Things have been pretty quiet here in COS. Arianna continues to clip along (no pun intended) in cosmetology school. Kevin volunteered two weeks ago to provide Arianna with her first “live head” on which to perform a haircut. He showed up at the appointed hour at which time Arianna greeted and escorted him to the chair. She dutifully asked him how he would like his hair cut. When Kevin suggested that she take off a half-inch, she replied with a recommendation that she take off a quarter-inch this time to build in a margin for error. She then set the stage by directing him to the shampoo bowl. After several minutes of wonderful relaxation brought on by a very methodical scalp massage and rinse, she redirected him to the spot wherein she prepared to perform the operation.
Bringing to bear her best geometry skills, she applied great precision with every pass of the shears. She even found the wherewithal to strike up a conversation regarding important current events such as, “How ‘bout them Rockies this coming season?” Her professional “bedside” manner had Kevin starting to doze off in the chair. Even with the obvious challenge this posed, Arianna made the necessary adjustments to respond and bring successful closure to the engagement.
Upon completion, Kevin looked into the mirror and discovered the very best haircut he had received in recent memory. It was a far cry from the time he looked into the mirror shortly after Grandpa Woodward instructed a barber almost five decades ago to “give him a butch”. Perhaps the best way to sum up the experience is to borrow a phrase from the financial world, “the greater the risk, the greater the reward”. If there is any doubt in our mind that Arianna is learning, let alone actually attending school, that was put to rest. We are extremely proud of her.
The weather here is absolutely beautiful today. They say in Colorado, “if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute”, or something like that. Today we are approaching 70 degrees, tomorrow will be snow. We love it.
Much love to the family,
The Woodwards
February 2008 - Executive Office of Kenneth Woodward
Dear Family,
This has been a fast month. It’s hard to believe that we only have 11 more months until Christmas. I should have not acceded to the boys demands. If I’d left the Christmas tree and outside lights up, we’d be ready already.
Sacramento had a severe windstorm during the month and about 100 feet of my/our (part I share with the Sidebothams) redwood fence was blown over. But that’s alright. I’ve been threatening to replace most of it for a couple years. Now I’m forced to do it. Sometime procrastination does pay off.
I could find nothing to get after Aaron about this past month. But that’s only because he didn’t submit anything for the Newswire. But Cassie did. That’s partial compensation, but she cannot stir up my ire as Aaron can. He’s an expert on the subject.
And aren’t we comforted in knowing that Adam is protecting us from all those “liars, thieves and idiots.” And what happened to Erica? I note her name was omitted although there was a strong hint from the closing of their contribution that she is very much present.
School for Joshua and Zachari has been fairly routine this month, but February is going to be a killer, with all the holidays and vacation scheduled.
Joshua’s school has arranged to have a team from the State Education Department Diagnostic Center in Fremont, CA observed him during class for two days during the first week of February for reasons you are all aware of.
I want you to know how grateful I am that I’m not living in Franklin or Colorado Springs at this time. Last week the temperature in Franklin was a minus 12F, and a typical mercury thermometer probably couldn’t go low enough to measure the temperature at that time in COS.
Love, Dad
This has been a fast month. It’s hard to believe that we only have 11 more months until Christmas. I should have not acceded to the boys demands. If I’d left the Christmas tree and outside lights up, we’d be ready already.
Sacramento had a severe windstorm during the month and about 100 feet of my/our (part I share with the Sidebothams) redwood fence was blown over. But that’s alright. I’ve been threatening to replace most of it for a couple years. Now I’m forced to do it. Sometime procrastination does pay off.
I could find nothing to get after Aaron about this past month. But that’s only because he didn’t submit anything for the Newswire. But Cassie did. That’s partial compensation, but she cannot stir up my ire as Aaron can. He’s an expert on the subject.
And aren’t we comforted in knowing that Adam is protecting us from all those “liars, thieves and idiots.” And what happened to Erica? I note her name was omitted although there was a strong hint from the closing of their contribution that she is very much present.
School for Joshua and Zachari has been fairly routine this month, but February is going to be a killer, with all the holidays and vacation scheduled.
Joshua’s school has arranged to have a team from the State Education Department Diagnostic Center in Fremont, CA observed him during class for two days during the first week of February for reasons you are all aware of.
I want you to know how grateful I am that I’m not living in Franklin or Colorado Springs at this time. Last week the temperature in Franklin was a minus 12F, and a typical mercury thermometer probably couldn’t go low enough to measure the temperature at that time in COS.
Love, Dad
February 2008
Hello to all.
This month has been great. I am done with all of my initial training as a CHP officer. That means I get to go out and work the Highway all by myself. I have been working by myself now for about 3 weeks and I love it. My view on the general public gets worse and worse everyday and sooner or later I will come to the conclusion that everybody that drives a motor vehicle is a liar, a theif and a drug dealer or a pimp. I am not to that point yet, but I can see how dealing with that part of society every day can warp your view on life. It is a good thing that I was never very positive in the first place. Erica is doing as well as can be expected, she is pregnant, sick, lives in a new town, has two crazy little girls to take care of and is finishing school. Plus her husband works 12 hour days. She is really a great wife and Mother. She puts up with a lot. Maja is doing great in school still, we are selling candy for some fund raiser, and I am getting fatter because of it. Annika is developing into a beautiful, sneaky, a overly creative little girl.
The Cannons. .
This month has been great. I am done with all of my initial training as a CHP officer. That means I get to go out and work the Highway all by myself. I have been working by myself now for about 3 weeks and I love it. My view on the general public gets worse and worse everyday and sooner or later I will come to the conclusion that everybody that drives a motor vehicle is a liar, a theif and a drug dealer or a pimp. I am not to that point yet, but I can see how dealing with that part of society every day can warp your view on life. It is a good thing that I was never very positive in the first place. Erica is doing as well as can be expected, she is pregnant, sick, lives in a new town, has two crazy little girls to take care of and is finishing school. Plus her husband works 12 hour days. She is really a great wife and Mother. She puts up with a lot. Maja is doing great in school still, we are selling candy for some fund raiser, and I am getting fatter because of it. Annika is developing into a beautiful, sneaky, a overly creative little girl.
The Cannons. .
February 2008
A conspiracy theory is brewing in our home. Regardless of how much we are assured all entries to the up coming newswire are protected from premature views by one who holds a top secret security clearance, however, a growing theme has developed. We have noticed each month the letter from the executive office has become more and more a preview or highlight of all of the significant news revealed in the newswire. Our theory is the executive invokes executive power in receiving the first copy a few days before, enabling the letter from the executive office to be on the up and up every month. This last month we have been working very hard to validate this theory, even to traveling to New York to apply for a security clearance ourselves. We have not been able to substantiate this theory and must conclude the executive office simply is involved in everyone's lives to know what they are up to. Then again, this last month was the second marriage I have witnessed in which prior approval of the executive office was not granted.
This theory developed this month since we haven't been doing much. Since the school year began we have been passing a stomach bug around. Currently Emma has it. We hope it will end there, but then again she loves to share our food, or plant kisses. She was really good on our trip down to St. George for a family wedding where she became acquainted with some relatives she hadn't met yet. Emma is a constant source of entertainment. Just today I gave her a bottle of milk while she was sitting on the couch. However before she would accept the milk, she had to sit with her knees bent and a pacifier balanced on each kneecap. She was successful in this endeavor until the end of the bottle.
We hope everyone else is doing well. If you know any information that may help us with our theory we would love some help with this mystery.
Love
Torrie, Levi and Emma
This theory developed this month since we haven't been doing much. Since the school year began we have been passing a stomach bug around. Currently Emma has it. We hope it will end there, but then again she loves to share our food, or plant kisses. She was really good on our trip down to St. George for a family wedding where she became acquainted with some relatives she hadn't met yet. Emma is a constant source of entertainment. Just today I gave her a bottle of milk while she was sitting on the couch. However before she would accept the milk, she had to sit with her knees bent and a pacifier balanced on each kneecap. She was successful in this endeavor until the end of the bottle.
We hope everyone else is doing well. If you know any information that may help us with our theory we would love some help with this mystery.
Love
Torrie, Levi and Emma
February 2008
Dear Family,
McClintocks are still breathing and faithful to the Gospel. Nothing of any significance to share with you this month.
We trust all are well. The Prophet's death has given many opportunities to share and strengthen testimonies at work and in our wards. What a privilege to live during his time and see the growth of the church.
Love to each of you.
McClintocks
McClintocks are still breathing and faithful to the Gospel. Nothing of any significance to share with you this month.
We trust all are well. The Prophet's death has given many opportunities to share and strengthen testimonies at work and in our wards. What a privilege to live during his time and see the growth of the church.
Love to each of you.
McClintocks
February 2008
Well, we are doing fairly well here at the Slade house. We have lots of transitions going on with Jeff's career change (financial planner) which essentially requires starting a "new business." But, my husband is smart and when he talks about HELOC's and ILOC's and other terms that sound like a foreign language I smile and nod and request a crash course in financial consulting. We'll see if that happens. I will likely be going back to work part time(health really does not permit full- time but part-time is a great fit for me) soon. We will see what works out. Andrew will be starting preschool this Fall, the trauma for his day is that he has not yet decided if he prefers cars for dinosaurs. He is very sweet with his siblings and often reprimends them if "they" fight!! Felicity is our social beast and our social conscience. She is a sweet heart and as a 1st grader already being pulled out of class for advanced reading. Mathew is my bodyguard. He is literally as tall as I am and soon I will need to hire him out to protect me against anyone that looks at me funny (yeah right!) But seriously, he is growing so quickly and already sleeping like a teenager. He is in the 4th grade but at a 9th grade reading level!! What a blessing. Other than that we volunteer at school, Jeff and I work in the primary (Jeff is the chorister, I am the pianist.) And....We hang out and have lots of fun with our sweet little Colorado family. We love you and hope you all the best. A special thanks to those of you who have given us special help this month- you know who you are!! We love you!!!
Crystal
Crystal
February 2008
Well it has been a busy month as usual. My hand is getting better all the time. I can now tell when there is going to be a change in the weather, just by how my hand feels. School is coming along. I have a few students who are very bad!! Everyday it is someone who is in major trouble. They take turns. Last Friday I had a student who came to school and started hitting his head against the cafeteria wall. The custodian took him to the school psychologist. Come to find out, he didn't like the pants that his mother made him wear that day. This is quite typical for this student. I think this year I will be retaining 3 students. It makes me feel sorry for those students who don't get the support at home that they need.
Mel is busy, as usual. He just keeps going on and on. We are both well. We are expecting Mel's daughter Charlotte and husband Jarod and boys, Andrew and Joel who are coming to visit us for a week. I hope that they can get past Shasta. They are driving, and the weather is not very good.
Yesterday I drove to Los Banos to give a deposition for the car accident that I was in 2 1/2 years ago. It was very educational. It is amazing that they have taken so long to even get to this point.
Hope everyone has a great month. Love ya all!!
Carol and Mel
Mel is busy, as usual. He just keeps going on and on. We are both well. We are expecting Mel's daughter Charlotte and husband Jarod and boys, Andrew and Joel who are coming to visit us for a week. I hope that they can get past Shasta. They are driving, and the weather is not very good.
Yesterday I drove to Los Banos to give a deposition for the car accident that I was in 2 1/2 years ago. It was very educational. It is amazing that they have taken so long to even get to this point.
Hope everyone has a great month. Love ya all!!
Carol and Mel
February 2008
Coming off of December's wedding led us right into a busy start of the month of January when we had a reception for Ryan and Alexis here in Colorado Springs on January 2nd. It was held at a lodge about 6 miles to the east of us in the Black Forest. Ryan's parents came for the occasion, as did Levi, Torrie and Emma. We all had a wonderful time. Prior to the reception Ryan and Alexis spent several days up in Boulder and took the opportunity to spend time on the slopes at Eldora Ski Resort. They are now back in Provo at school. We truly enjoyed the chance to see family while in California, and to celebrate this wonderful event with Ryan and Alexis.
January 2nd was also the day when Arianna began her cosmetology program at the Salon Professional Academy/Redkin. After one month, she is doing very well and loving it. She really enjoys her instructors. She comes home each day with something new to share. We are finding that she is learning a little bit of electrical engineering, biology, chemistry, mathematics, first aid and art all combined. She has had a great passion for this for some time now. She's the only child we know who, at a relatively young age, asked for a manikin head for Christmas so that she could practice.
Kevin spent a week in Palm Beach, Florida (on business of course). The temperature was in the 70s and 80s. He honestly can say that although it was a productive week, he missed being at home snuggled up with the family while they experienced temperatures in the 20s and snow. Speaking of snow, Arianna is getting some good practice with winter driving. She's a good driver and does very well handling the elements on the road that winter dishes out.
We express our love to each of you,
The Woodwards
January 2nd was also the day when Arianna began her cosmetology program at the Salon Professional Academy/Redkin. After one month, she is doing very well and loving it. She really enjoys her instructors. She comes home each day with something new to share. We are finding that she is learning a little bit of electrical engineering, biology, chemistry, mathematics, first aid and art all combined. She has had a great passion for this for some time now. She's the only child we know who, at a relatively young age, asked for a manikin head for Christmas so that she could practice.
Kevin spent a week in Palm Beach, Florida (on business of course). The temperature was in the 70s and 80s. He honestly can say that although it was a productive week, he missed being at home snuggled up with the family while they experienced temperatures in the 20s and snow. Speaking of snow, Arianna is getting some good practice with winter driving. She's a good driver and does very well handling the elements on the road that winter dishes out.
We express our love to each of you,
The Woodwards
January 2008 - Executive Office of Kenneth Woodward
Dear family,
For this month’s Newswire I want to be more positives than in the past and inform you of some of the things that didn’t happen here at home during December. First, I didn’t get an official word of the birth of the new great grandchild. But that is understandable. Aaron has an extremely important and time-consuming responsibility of looking after the affairs of the Kingdom west of I-5, and Adam has been unusually busy during the holiday season issuing DUI’s citations at the entrance of Magic Mountain amusement park. But I’m optimistic that this will all be straightened out as soon as Carol and Mel return from their time-sharing odyssey in Tijuana.
Alexis went forward with her marriage without my concurrence, but that can be forgiven considering the miserable weather in Colorado Springs and that Arianna has completed her high school graduation requirements.
My devoted combination housekeeper, cook, tutor, financial advisor and overall confidant was a no-show during the entire Christmas week. But that was of little moment considering Joshua did not receive for Christmas the wig, ear rings, mouthpiece, purple hair spray and wrestlers mask he just couldn’t live without, and a long-time friend called me on the phone Christmas eve, not to wish me a merry Christmas, but to report that during the past week he had attended four funerals of mutual acquaintances.
Kristy hosted an excellent Christmas dinner. I had instructed Zachari before arriving that as soon as the dinner was over he was to complain of a stomach ache and needed to be taken home immediately so we could graciously leave as early as possible. But he over did it, he started to complain before we had our dessert.
I agreed to allow the boys to stay up until midnight New Years eve to watch the dropping of the ball at Times Square, and that I would stay up with them. Knowing that this event occurs at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time, I knew I could get to bed at my usual time. Do you know on Channel 3 TV it is shown again at midnight? We need better communicate here in this house.
Notwithstanding all of the above, to paraphrase the reply of Chief Inspector Dreyfus, when asked how he felt, although confined in a nut house (pardon me Aaron, I know in your business you use a more refined expression), due to the bungling of Inspector Clouseau , “every day and in every way I’m feeling better and better.”
Have a Happy New Year.
Love, Dad
For this month’s Newswire I want to be more positives than in the past and inform you of some of the things that didn’t happen here at home during December. First, I didn’t get an official word of the birth of the new great grandchild. But that is understandable. Aaron has an extremely important and time-consuming responsibility of looking after the affairs of the Kingdom west of I-5, and Adam has been unusually busy during the holiday season issuing DUI’s citations at the entrance of Magic Mountain amusement park. But I’m optimistic that this will all be straightened out as soon as Carol and Mel return from their time-sharing odyssey in Tijuana.
Alexis went forward with her marriage without my concurrence, but that can be forgiven considering the miserable weather in Colorado Springs and that Arianna has completed her high school graduation requirements.
My devoted combination housekeeper, cook, tutor, financial advisor and overall confidant was a no-show during the entire Christmas week. But that was of little moment considering Joshua did not receive for Christmas the wig, ear rings, mouthpiece, purple hair spray and wrestlers mask he just couldn’t live without, and a long-time friend called me on the phone Christmas eve, not to wish me a merry Christmas, but to report that during the past week he had attended four funerals of mutual acquaintances.
Kristy hosted an excellent Christmas dinner. I had instructed Zachari before arriving that as soon as the dinner was over he was to complain of a stomach ache and needed to be taken home immediately so we could graciously leave as early as possible. But he over did it, he started to complain before we had our dessert.
I agreed to allow the boys to stay up until midnight New Years eve to watch the dropping of the ball at Times Square, and that I would stay up with them. Knowing that this event occurs at 9:00 p.m. Pacific time, I knew I could get to bed at my usual time. Do you know on Channel 3 TV it is shown again at midnight? We need better communicate here in this house.
Notwithstanding all of the above, to paraphrase the reply of Chief Inspector Dreyfus, when asked how he felt, although confined in a nut house (pardon me Aaron, I know in your business you use a more refined expression), due to the bungling of Inspector Clouseau , “every day and in every way I’m feeling better and better.”
Have a Happy New Year.
Love, Dad
January 2008
To Whom It May Concern.
We have had a great month. Maja is doing great in school, she is loving her class and making friends on a continual basis. Maja makes friends by looking at them and then
smiling. It is that easy for the girl. Annika continues to be a little stinker. That is Par for the family she was born into. Erica is starting her last semester of school. I have had a long, long, long month. I work on average 12 hours a day and then I get to take home my reports and write them at home so they are ready for the next day. I have had a chance to arrest lots of people. Porn Stars, Pimps, Drunks, Mothers, Fathers, Music Producers, College Students, Etc. I have decided that the general public is filled with liars, thieves, and idiots. Everyone has drugs in their car and even more have some sort of weapon in their car. There is even more to tell, but I know my Mother will read this and I know better. I have yet to meet someone who has told me the truth. Typical day, today, I left for work at 12:15pm. I returned home at 1:00 am. I arrested two people, both were driving on a suspended driver's license and both had lots of drugs in their car. One of them wanted to fight with me, but I was able to convince him that if he did, he would never see his mother again. (Well, I said something like that, He got the point, and much more cooperative after). I wrote 5 tickets, and towed 2 cars.
But I get to come home every night, and that is what is important.
Cannon, Adam, Maja, and Annika....Plus one more on the way.
We have had a great month. Maja is doing great in school, she is loving her class and making friends on a continual basis. Maja makes friends by looking at them and then
smiling. It is that easy for the girl. Annika continues to be a little stinker. That is Par for the family she was born into. Erica is starting her last semester of school. I have had a long, long, long month. I work on average 12 hours a day and then I get to take home my reports and write them at home so they are ready for the next day. I have had a chance to arrest lots of people. Porn Stars, Pimps, Drunks, Mothers, Fathers, Music Producers, College Students, Etc. I have decided that the general public is filled with liars, thieves, and idiots. Everyone has drugs in their car and even more have some sort of weapon in their car. There is even more to tell, but I know my Mother will read this and I know better. I have yet to meet someone who has told me the truth. Typical day, today, I left for work at 12:15pm. I returned home at 1:00 am. I arrested two people, both were driving on a suspended driver's license and both had lots of drugs in their car. One of them wanted to fight with me, but I was able to convince him that if he did, he would never see his mother again. (Well, I said something like that, He got the point, and much more cooperative after). I wrote 5 tickets, and towed 2 cars.
But I get to come home every night, and that is what is important.
Cannon, Adam, Maja, and Annika....Plus one more on the way.
January 2008
For fear of being cut off by grandpa (and to prove that I still exist), I submit my message for the month. I'm still working at the psych hospital, as well as at an agency doing psychotherapy. I'm in data collection for my dissertation; someday the nightmare of grad school will be over! I got to go to Fresno (cooooold) for Christmas, where I was subsequently spoiled (almost to death). Mom and I continued our tradition of going to High Tea (see picture) where we gossip, drink good tea, gossip, eat yummy tea sandwiches and gossip some more. I got to be at Alexis' wedding reception; it was great to catch up with family and be there for part of her important day!
Until next time,
Cassie
310-574-2961
Until next time,Cassie
310-574-2961
January 2008
Christmas came early this year at the haupt home. Regardless, Emma was still not the most excited one (she is very much like her dad when it comes to sleeping) we are not sure that she completely woke up until after all of the presents were opened. As for the traditional Christmas morning we woke bright and early to catch a flight to San Diego for Alexis' wedding. Since the morning wasn't eventful enough Levi decided to spice it up a little (to learn more give Torrie a
call, Levi had pleaded the 5th). We will spare you a second version of events of the wedding since Kevin will surely bring everyone up to speed. the big news for our family is we have decided on a job! We have accepted an offer from Knolls Atomic Power Lab, operated by Lockheed Martin (and no Todd Levi is not aspiring to be a Kevin Jr. but he is a great man to look up to). Levi will be a nuclear reactor designer and no can't tell you more, or he will have to kill you
(possibly literally, since he has to get a top secret department of energy security clearance). Next August we will be moving to Schenectady New York. Schenectady is just north of Albany, the state capital. We will be roughly 2 1/2 hrs from New York city, Philly, Boston and Montreal. We are really excited to live on the east coast, but at the same time sad to be so far away. As we prepare to move we will let everyone know more. We hope everyone will have a great new year, we are excited for the adventures to come.
Emma in the airport, and no, she will not accept any help with that heavy bag
Emma and Levi at the Beach
Knolls Atomic Power Lab
Love
Torrie, Levi and Emma
call, Levi had pleaded the 5th). We will spare you a second version of events of the wedding since Kevin will surely bring everyone up to speed. the big news for our family is we have decided on a job! We have accepted an offer from Knolls Atomic Power Lab, operated by Lockheed Martin (and no Todd Levi is not aspiring to be a Kevin Jr. but he is a great man to look up to). Levi will be a nuclear reactor designer and no can't tell you more, or he will have to kill you
(possibly literally, since he has to get a top secret department of energy security clearance). Next August we will be moving to Schenectady New York. Schenectady is just north of Albany, the state capital. We will be roughly 2 1/2 hrs from New York city, Philly, Boston and Montreal. We are really excited to live on the east coast, but at the same time sad to be so far away. As we prepare to move we will let everyone know more. We hope everyone will have a great new year, we are excited for the adventures to come.
Emma in the airport, and no, she will not accept any help with that heavy bagEmma and Levi at the BeachKnolls Atomic Power LabLove
Torrie, Levi and Emma
January 2008
Welcome, Welcome to the New Year,
December was certainly a full month. Once Susan got past the several Christmas concerts to which she is committed each year it became a mad dash to the end of December. Emily and Justin spent a week with us for the Christmas Holiday. Susan went down to see the Ekins in Los Angeles for a few days before the Ekins came to Sacramento. Bob finished up a very successful term with the Sacramento City College Paper as their Photo Editor and was in high demand to take family pictures of several of the friends he has made during this past year. Susan and Bob attended the Christmas Program of the African Methodist Episcopal church where Bob made friends earlier this year while on a Photo assignment. It was a delightful experience and one entirely out of the realm of experience for Susan.
Anna is really doing very well. Her body has finally healed. Her overall health has greatly improved and her spirits are up. She was with us during the time Justin and Emily were with us which was a real treat for her. It was very cozy in our home with the five of us but Anna was able to see Emily and Justin much more often than when she is in her own home. We are so glad to see her recovery and to be able to plan with her spending time in her home. We don't know how that will look for the future but right now.
That pretty much sums up December for the McClintocks. May life will be great in two-thousand-eight for each and every one of you.
Happy New Year and love to all,
the McClintocks
December was certainly a full month. Once Susan got past the several Christmas concerts to which she is committed each year it became a mad dash to the end of December. Emily and Justin spent a week with us for the Christmas Holiday. Susan went down to see the Ekins in Los Angeles for a few days before the Ekins came to Sacramento. Bob finished up a very successful term with the Sacramento City College Paper as their Photo Editor and was in high demand to take family pictures of several of the friends he has made during this past year. Susan and Bob attended the Christmas Program of the African Methodist Episcopal church where Bob made friends earlier this year while on a Photo assignment. It was a delightful experience and one entirely out of the realm of experience for Susan.
Anna is really doing very well. Her body has finally healed. Her overall health has greatly improved and her spirits are up. She was with us during the time Justin and Emily were with us which was a real treat for her. It was very cozy in our home with the five of us but Anna was able to see Emily and Justin much more often than when she is in her own home. We are so glad to see her recovery and to be able to plan with her spending time in her home. We don't know how that will look for the future but right now.
That pretty much sums up December for the McClintocks. May life will be great in two-thousand-eight for each and every one of you.
Happy New Year and love to all,
the McClintocks
January 2008
We have enjoyed the holidays despite being away from friends and family. We hope that by next year we will be able to have more friends to celebrate with and maybe family. It has been another eventful year with buying our house in New Jersey and going back to grad school. I am very excited for 2008 and all of the possibilities it will bring. Congratulations to Aaron and Mindy on the birth of their daughter. I hope that this newsletter will tell me what her name is. Also, congratulations to Alexis on her marriage this week. We wish you the best! And, of course, Happy Birthday to Todd, Craig and Brenton!
With love,
The Mercier Family
With love,
The Mercier Family
January 2008
Well guess what, I am writing this from Los Cabo (San Jose Del Cabo). We are in Mexico for a week. We got here today and I knew that I had better contribute to the newsletter or I would be getting a special e-mail from dad.
I didn't write in October because on October 31 I fell and broke my right hand at school. It was just wonderful trying to do just normal things without my right hand. However, it is better now. In October Mel and I went to San Diego to take Cassie her bedroom furniture. We got out just in time for the fires. Then in November we went to San Diego again for Thanksgiving. We also got out just in time for the fires again. On November 30, Mel and I were in Salt Lake City for a convention. Once again we were out of town, and therefore I didn't contribute (also, my hand was still healing).
We had a wonderful Christmas. Cassie came and spent Christmas with us. Then on December 27, we flew out to San Diego for Alexis's wedding. It was wonderful seeing the family. Also we loved meeting Alexis's new in-laws. They are wonderful people. Then Mel and I flew out on Sunday, December 30 and flew into Cabo for a week. We will get into San Diego again on January 5, spend the night, go to church in the morning so we can be there for Hannah's blessing and then on Sunday afternoon we will fly home. I am planning on resting up so that I won't be too tired after our vacation. Tomorrow we are going to Cabo San Lucas and going on a dinner cruise. I guess that will be our New Years party. The resort here is brand new and really impressive. I know that we are going to have a good time.
Hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year. Love from us.
Carol and Mel
I didn't write in October because on October 31 I fell and broke my right hand at school. It was just wonderful trying to do just normal things without my right hand. However, it is better now. In October Mel and I went to San Diego to take Cassie her bedroom furniture. We got out just in time for the fires. Then in November we went to San Diego again for Thanksgiving. We also got out just in time for the fires again. On November 30, Mel and I were in Salt Lake City for a convention. Once again we were out of town, and therefore I didn't contribute (also, my hand was still healing).
We had a wonderful Christmas. Cassie came and spent Christmas with us. Then on December 27, we flew out to San Diego for Alexis's wedding. It was wonderful seeing the family. Also we loved meeting Alexis's new in-laws. They are wonderful people. Then Mel and I flew out on Sunday, December 30 and flew into Cabo for a week. We will get into San Diego again on January 5, spend the night, go to church in the morning so we can be there for Hannah's blessing and then on Sunday afternoon we will fly home. I am planning on resting up so that I won't be too tired after our vacation. Tomorrow we are going to Cabo San Lucas and going on a dinner cruise. I guess that will be our New Years party. The resort here is brand new and really impressive. I know that we are going to have a good time.
Hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year. Love from us.
Carol and Mel
January 2008
Hello Family,
The Wilcox family had a great Christmas at home for the first time in 4 years. I enjoyed not having to travel. We also made it with only one case of croup (horrible cough) in December. New record I believe. Todd and I haven't been sick at all. Alexis has also been very healthy. Anyhow, Alexis is doing great in school. She made Honor roll and got straight 4's (which are A's in my book). Brenton finally said "Mom" for my Christmas present. He only said daddy before then. He also had his 2nd birthday on Dec 31st. We went to dinner at a Japanese Steak house and sushi restaurant. The cooking show cracked him up. He loved seeing the flaming volcano and flying shrimp. Todd and I enjoyed eating the steak and sushi. Even Alexis loves to eat sushi. I am so proud. I was very busy in December and worked 23 days straight between the two jobs. I now only work at IKEA and I am much happier. Todd has been busy and work trying to get out easels for Christmas. We also got to spend a few days with my mom and brother Todd and his wife Sarah when they came down for a conference. It was good to see them again. We visited Temple square with them. It was a good month over all. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
Tracy and Family
The Wilcox family had a great Christmas at home for the first time in 4 years. I enjoyed not having to travel. We also made it with only one case of croup (horrible cough) in December. New record I believe. Todd and I haven't been sick at all. Alexis has also been very healthy. Anyhow, Alexis is doing great in school. She made Honor roll and got straight 4's (which are A's in my book). Brenton finally said "Mom" for my Christmas present. He only said daddy before then. He also had his 2nd birthday on Dec 31st. We went to dinner at a Japanese Steak house and sushi restaurant. The cooking show cracked him up. He loved seeing the flaming volcano and flying shrimp. Todd and I enjoyed eating the steak and sushi. Even Alexis loves to eat sushi. I am so proud. I was very busy in December and worked 23 days straight between the two jobs. I now only work at IKEA and I am much happier. Todd has been busy and work trying to get out easels for Christmas. We also got to spend a few days with my mom and brother Todd and his wife Sarah when they came down for a conference. It was good to see them again. We visited Temple square with them. It was a good month over all. We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,Tracy and Family
January 2008
Happy New Year Dear Family!!!
This past year has been a whirlwind for the Woodwards. Between graduation, weddings, and investigating job opportunities in cosmetology, we don't know what to do with ourselves. This last week we had the opportunity to participate in Alexis' endowment and sealing to our new beloved son-in-law Ryan Paul Bessey. Yes, there is one less Woodward girl in the world now. Alexis is having a hard time getting used to being called Sister Bessey, but she'll come around to it. We had our Christmas cut very short as we flew out to San Diego on the 25th to make it in time for Alexis' endowment on the 26th. We were able to meet the in-laws and we are convinced that Alexis married into an amazing family. The wedding was held in the San Diego temple on the 27th around 11:00 AM with a reception following that evening. She was so grateful to see so many familiar, loving faces at her sealing and would like to express a special thanks to the Westovers, Christiansens, Scotts and the Cannons for making an appearance at her wedding and reception. On the 2nd of January we had another reception held in Colorado at a local lodge, which ended the chaos - we mean festivities - for the year. Alexis and Ryan will return to Provo to finish their schooling and start their life together. Alexis couldn't be happier.
The next bit of information that we're excited to present is Arianna's graduation from High school. She decided that it was in her best interest to finish her high school experience a semester early in order to pursue more important matters, that of a side career in cosmetology. She will still have the opportunity to "walk" with her senior class come June, but she has moved on to bigger and better things in the meantime. She is currently enrolled in the Salon Professional Academy and loving every minute of it. After a year of the Academy she will enroll at BYU and use her cosmetology skills to put herself through college. Very savvy.
We are excited for this new year and look forward to the opportunities that this year has in store for our family. We likewise wish all of you a Happy New Year. We send you all of our love.
The Woodwards
This past year has been a whirlwind for the Woodwards. Between graduation, weddings, and investigating job opportunities in cosmetology, we don't know what to do with ourselves. This last week we had the opportunity to participate in Alexis' endowment and sealing to our new beloved son-in-law Ryan Paul Bessey. Yes, there is one less Woodward girl in the world now. Alexis is having a hard time getting used to being called Sister Bessey, but she'll come around to it. We had our Christmas cut very short as we flew out to San Diego on the 25th to make it in time for Alexis' endowment on the 26th. We were able to meet the in-laws and we are convinced that Alexis married into an amazing family. The wedding was held in the San Diego temple on the 27th around 11:00 AM with a reception following that evening. She was so grateful to see so many familiar, loving faces at her sealing and would like to express a special thanks to the Westovers, Christiansens, Scotts and the Cannons for making an appearance at her wedding and reception. On the 2nd of January we had another reception held in Colorado at a local lodge, which ended the chaos - we mean festivities - for the year. Alexis and Ryan will return to Provo to finish their schooling and start their life together. Alexis couldn't be happier.
The next bit of information that we're excited to present is Arianna's graduation from High school. She decided that it was in her best interest to finish her high school experience a semester early in order to pursue more important matters, that of a side career in cosmetology. She will still have the opportunity to "walk" with her senior class come June, but she has moved on to bigger and better things in the meantime. She is currently enrolled in the Salon Professional Academy and loving every minute of it. After a year of the Academy she will enroll at BYU and use her cosmetology skills to put herself through college. Very savvy.
We are excited for this new year and look forward to the opportunities that this year has in store for our family. We likewise wish all of you a Happy New Year. We send you all of our love.The Woodwards
December 2007
Dear family,
The highlight of my month was undoubtedly a sewer backup. Not that this event was serious or cause any great concern, it’s just that the other events were less noteworthy.
I have been devoting some time to writing my life history, most of which is untrue, but I feel more at ease in do so now that the only person who in the past could challenge me on accuracy no longer has a voice--at least she hasn’t spoken to me lately.
Kristy hosted an outstanding Thanksgiving dinner, but then that is to be expected. I was happy to see Tracy, Todd and the children, and to note that Craig, who put in an appearance, like the groundhog, surfaced for one day.
I survived a full week of school vacation with no obvious permanent mental scars. But I’m not looking forward to a full two-week Christmas vacation. Zack and Josh are now giving some thought for possible gifts. Josh is debating between a wig or ear rings. But then he is somewhat unique in his line of thinking. Recently he asked me to help him find a shoe, and when I suggested that he was old enough and smart enough to do it himself he said I was wrong, he wasn’t smart enough, he said he had a brain “only about the size of a peanut.”
Upon Kristy’s recommendation I have employed a fine LDS grandmother five afternoons a week to supervise all elements of our home life, especially the discipline of the residing students, including homework, TV viewing, and monitoring computer use. Both boys seem pleased with the arrangement.
This is the 2nd month I’ve found no reason to get after Aaron, but this is understandable in view of the event of the past month which I expect will be reported by him in great detail in this Newswire. Carol gave me a cursory account of the happening, but she usually gets the facts wrong.
I hope you will all have a merry Christmas and that timely arrangements have been made for the proposed event at the San Diego temple, clearance for which Alexis has yet to run past me for my approval.
Love, Dad
The highlight of my month was undoubtedly a sewer backup. Not that this event was serious or cause any great concern, it’s just that the other events were less noteworthy.
I have been devoting some time to writing my life history, most of which is untrue, but I feel more at ease in do so now that the only person who in the past could challenge me on accuracy no longer has a voice--at least she hasn’t spoken to me lately.
Kristy hosted an outstanding Thanksgiving dinner, but then that is to be expected. I was happy to see Tracy, Todd and the children, and to note that Craig, who put in an appearance, like the groundhog, surfaced for one day.
I survived a full week of school vacation with no obvious permanent mental scars. But I’m not looking forward to a full two-week Christmas vacation. Zack and Josh are now giving some thought for possible gifts. Josh is debating between a wig or ear rings. But then he is somewhat unique in his line of thinking. Recently he asked me to help him find a shoe, and when I suggested that he was old enough and smart enough to do it himself he said I was wrong, he wasn’t smart enough, he said he had a brain “only about the size of a peanut.”
Upon Kristy’s recommendation I have employed a fine LDS grandmother five afternoons a week to supervise all elements of our home life, especially the discipline of the residing students, including homework, TV viewing, and monitoring computer use. Both boys seem pleased with the arrangement.
This is the 2nd month I’ve found no reason to get after Aaron, but this is understandable in view of the event of the past month which I expect will be reported by him in great detail in this Newswire. Carol gave me a cursory account of the happening, but she usually gets the facts wrong.
I hope you will all have a merry Christmas and that timely arrangements have been made for the proposed event at the San Diego temple, clearance for which Alexis has yet to run past me for my approval.
Love, Dad
December 2007
The Ekins Family,
Ok ok, sometimes cool things happen to people. And tonight was one of those nights for me! Yes, you guys should already have known this because you were watching the Republican debate :) but I was on CNN!
See here:
http://www.youtube.com/republicandebate (question 8)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/28/debate.main/index.html
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/123690.html (8:37)
--
Emily Ekins (McClintock)
University of California, Los Angeles
Political Science Department
PhD Graduate Student
emily.ekins@gmail.com
emilyekins@ucla.edu
310-574-2961
Ok ok, sometimes cool things happen to people. And tonight was one of those nights for me! Yes, you guys should already have known this because you were watching the Republican debate :) but I was on CNN!
See here:
http://www.youtube.com/republicandebate (question 8)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/28/debate.main/index.html
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/123690.html (8:37)
--
Emily Ekins (McClintock)
University of California, Los Angeles
Political Science Department
PhD Graduate Student
emily.ekins@gmail.com
emilyekins@ucla.edu
310-574-2961
December 2007
Happy December dear family,
This past November has been filled with new experiences for Bob and Susan. The Stake Fall concert was a big hit with the newly organized stake. Susan met new singers and many old friends from her childhood who had been living in the the former Fair Oaks stake. Now that the newly organized stake brings old friends back together it has been enjoyable catching up on each others lives.
The stake Fall Concert choir was also enlisted to sing in Stake Conference this month. In years past those singing for Conference would be asked to arrive at the stake center an hour before the session, warm up, review and sing and return home by 12:30 pm, in time for lunch. This year, however, the stake is too big to be able to park and attend one Conference session in the same building. The choir was asked to arrive at 7:30AM, ouch! and sang through two Conference sessions, being dismissed at 3 pm. It reminded Susan of when the Sacramento saints attended Stake conference "back in the day" on the then State Fair grounds. Conference sessions were held in the Governor's Hall on those fair grounds. The seats were squeaky, wooden, and bolted to the floor. The bishops sat in metal folding chairs along the front of a stage, facing the audience. On the stage sat the Stake Presidency and speakers, oh yes, and the choir, if there was one. Most of the bishops fell asleep, nearly falling out of their chairs during conference. There was no way for a kid to be quiet in those Stake conferences. Every time a kid moved the chair would loudly proclaim restlessness and many mother's would turn in your direction with frowning eyes. Not only did we attend a session in the morning, but we attended a session in the afternoon. Some folks brought a basket-lunch because they came such great distances. Some went home for lunch. Argh! The awful part about the second session was staying awake. After lunch your body just wanted to take a nap and you couldn't sleep in squeaky wooden chairs with tons of frowning mothers. You couldn't use the excuse of needing to go the restroom either. A kid was always seated in the middle of the row and no proper mother would allow their child to disrupt the adults in the row just to let a kid take a much needed restroom break. And, now that I think of it, I'll bet Gary Cannon was one of those "big" cocky kids who used to torment Kristy, Carol, and Susan at those Stake Conferences in the Governor's Hall. Who Knew!
Bob's mother, Grandma Anna, has had an infection in her foot for several weeks. Bob has been diligent in checking in on his mother and helping her try to get the infection under control and healed but it has been stubborn. For a few weeks she was under skilled nursing care in a facility just around the corner from us but it just didn't seem to help. So she has come to live with us for a while so that Bob can monitor her progress and have direct contact with all the medical referrals made in her behalf. We realize she has become a bit too unsteady and forgetful to live by herself. For those not counting, she was born September 23, 1919. I think it is OK for her to have a few moments of confusion...this generation of time is confusing. Her foot is on the mend and her spirits are up, but she will be the first to tell you that she is not yet ready for wheelchair races. She has not yet mastered that arm-powered horseless-carriage.
It is nice to have fall make the temperature a little more comfortable for Susan (the woman with a broken body-thermostat). Bob was able to squeeze in a few last day-trips to take pictures for his photo file. We look forward to a little less chaos and a little more orderliness in the day-to-day routine, however, how does one do that during the hustle and bustle of the holidays?
Merry Christmas and love to all,
the McClintocks
This past November has been filled with new experiences for Bob and Susan. The Stake Fall concert was a big hit with the newly organized stake. Susan met new singers and many old friends from her childhood who had been living in the the former Fair Oaks stake. Now that the newly organized stake brings old friends back together it has been enjoyable catching up on each others lives.
The stake Fall Concert choir was also enlisted to sing in Stake Conference this month. In years past those singing for Conference would be asked to arrive at the stake center an hour before the session, warm up, review and sing and return home by 12:30 pm, in time for lunch. This year, however, the stake is too big to be able to park and attend one Conference session in the same building. The choir was asked to arrive at 7:30AM, ouch! and sang through two Conference sessions, being dismissed at 3 pm. It reminded Susan of when the Sacramento saints attended Stake conference "back in the day" on the then State Fair grounds. Conference sessions were held in the Governor's Hall on those fair grounds. The seats were squeaky, wooden, and bolted to the floor. The bishops sat in metal folding chairs along the front of a stage, facing the audience. On the stage sat the Stake Presidency and speakers, oh yes, and the choir, if there was one. Most of the bishops fell asleep, nearly falling out of their chairs during conference. There was no way for a kid to be quiet in those Stake conferences. Every time a kid moved the chair would loudly proclaim restlessness and many mother's would turn in your direction with frowning eyes. Not only did we attend a session in the morning, but we attended a session in the afternoon. Some folks brought a basket-lunch because they came such great distances. Some went home for lunch. Argh! The awful part about the second session was staying awake. After lunch your body just wanted to take a nap and you couldn't sleep in squeaky wooden chairs with tons of frowning mothers. You couldn't use the excuse of needing to go the restroom either. A kid was always seated in the middle of the row and no proper mother would allow their child to disrupt the adults in the row just to let a kid take a much needed restroom break. And, now that I think of it, I'll bet Gary Cannon was one of those "big" cocky kids who used to torment Kristy, Carol, and Susan at those Stake Conferences in the Governor's Hall. Who Knew!
Bob's mother, Grandma Anna, has had an infection in her foot for several weeks. Bob has been diligent in checking in on his mother and helping her try to get the infection under control and healed but it has been stubborn. For a few weeks she was under skilled nursing care in a facility just around the corner from us but it just didn't seem to help. So she has come to live with us for a while so that Bob can monitor her progress and have direct contact with all the medical referrals made in her behalf. We realize she has become a bit too unsteady and forgetful to live by herself. For those not counting, she was born September 23, 1919. I think it is OK for her to have a few moments of confusion...this generation of time is confusing. Her foot is on the mend and her spirits are up, but she will be the first to tell you that she is not yet ready for wheelchair races. She has not yet mastered that arm-powered horseless-carriage.
It is nice to have fall make the temperature a little more comfortable for Susan (the woman with a broken body-thermostat). Bob was able to squeeze in a few last day-trips to take pictures for his photo file. We look forward to a little less chaos and a little more orderliness in the day-to-day routine, however, how does one do that during the hustle and bustle of the holidays?
Merry Christmas and love to all,
the McClintocks
December 2007
Hello Everyone!
We hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that you enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Last month was eventful in the Mercier household once again. Cesar and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on October 10th, that's right, we had our 10th anniversary on 10/10. We thought this was pretty cool and wanted to do something really fun for our anniversary, like a cruise or something. Well, instead we did the only thing that we seem to do well - we moved again! What a way to celebrate, huh. But we are hoping this will be the last move for a long time. We are settling in and Jilina loves her new school. I am really enjoying going back to school for my Masters in Education. Well, we thought we should send out our new contact info:
24 Park Street
Roseland, NJ 07068
home 973-287-6869
Love,
The Merciers
We hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that you enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Last month was eventful in the Mercier household once again. Cesar and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on October 10th, that's right, we had our 10th anniversary on 10/10. We thought this was pretty cool and wanted to do something really fun for our anniversary, like a cruise or something. Well, instead we did the only thing that we seem to do well - we moved again! What a way to celebrate, huh. But we are hoping this will be the last move for a long time. We are settling in and Jilina loves her new school. I am really enjoying going back to school for my Masters in Education. Well, we thought we should send out our new contact info:
24 Park Street
Roseland, NJ 07068
home 973-287-6869
Love,
The Merciers
December 2007
At the Woodward home, wedding plans are in full swing. Tammy has been busily working long distance with Alexis and Torrie. We have made arrangements to fly to San Diego on Christmas morning, a time when flights are relatively inexpensive. Alexis will be going through the temple for her endowments on December 26. The sealing will be on December 27 at 11:00 AM. A reception will be held that evening at 7:00 PM. Invitations will be forthcoming. Tammy, Arianna, Torrie, Levi, Emma and I will fly back to Colorado Springs on December 28. Alexis and Ryan will follow on the 29th. A reception will be held in Colorado Springs on January 2.
We were privileged to have Torrie, Levi, Emma, Alexis and Ryan come spend the Thanksgiving holiday with us. This gave us a chance to meet Ryan for the first time. A surprise bridal shower was held for Alexis on November 17, shortly after she returned home from Provo. She was conned into helping clean the house and make refreshments for what she thought would be the annual High Priest party at our home. She was cheap labor. Below is the invitation that went out for her shower.
ALEXIS HAS CAUGHT HERSELF A MAN!!!
THAT'S NO SURPRISE, BUT THIS PARTY IS!
We were privileged to have Torrie, Levi, Emma, Alexis and Ryan come spend the Thanksgiving holiday with us. This gave us a chance to meet Ryan for the first time. A surprise bridal shower was held for Alexis on November 17, shortly after she returned home from Provo. She was conned into helping clean the house and make refreshments for what she thought would be the annual High Priest party at our home. She was cheap labor. Below is the invitation that went out for her shower.
ALEXIS HAS CAUGHT HERSELF A MAN!!!
THAT'S NO SURPRISE, BUT THIS PARTY IS!
Come help us celebrate her finding…
Where: The Woodwards: 12916 Brookhill Drive
When: Saturday, November 17, 2007 from 7 to 9pm
Why: To Celebrate “True Love” of course!
How: Bridal Shower Par-tay!
R.S.V.P: 487-1152 or ktwoodward21@msn.com
Alexis is registered at Bed Bath and Beyond
P.S. Please bring your “Favorite Recipe” (on a recipe card) to start
Alexis’ “Recipe Box”
We are thrilled for Alexis and Ryan and look forward to the above mentioned events later this month.
Arianna will be graduating a semester early from high school. Although she won't have her graduation ceremonies until May, she will be enrolling in cosmetology school here locally. Her cosmetology program will run for about 12 months. She will then go off to college, preferably to BYU, in the Winter Semester 2009. She is excited about this pursuit, as cosmetology has been a passion of her's for some time. Her intent is to use her newly acquired expertise to help put herself through college and beyond.
Tammy was recently called to serve as a ward missionary. She does such a wonderful job of making friends and just working references to the church in her everyday conversations. She will be a great strength to our ward missionary effort. I had the opportunity to make my first visit to the prison in Florence, about 70 miles southwest of Colorado Springs. What a wonderful experience it was to meet with the 15 inmates in the medium security section. We have 35 more in minimum security and one in maximum. The inmates are given direction to conduct their own Sunday School services. I spent about 2 hours interviewing those who wished to meet with a bishop. Some of these men just sobbed as they rehearsed the events that led to their current circumstances. Some of these men are returned missionaries. It is heart-breaking, yet at the same time, an amazingly rewarding experience.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love,
The Woodwards
November 2007
Dear family,
Undoubtedly the highlight of my month was attending the graduation ceremony of Class 1-2007 of the California Highway Patrol Academy on October 5 in West Sacramento. I’m sure you will hear more from those more intimately associated with one of the star graduates, but needless to say, I was extremely proud. Not only from the effort, perseverance, and accomplishment of Adam in completing the 27-week rigorous training course, but that Erica, Carol, and I had a reserved seat in the second row of the large auditorium. Due to the overflow crowd, Mel had to view it from a closed circuit TV in the cafeteria, but he shouldn’t have felt too badly, if Aaron had come Adam would probably have arranged to have had him seated at some run-down bar in Old Sacramento.
And as an added bonus I was able to meet Cassie face to face. I had heard rumors that she was still claiming family membership but it had been so long since she reported in that I was beginning to wonder. Anyone heard of Kristy lately? Not that I’m too concerned about her, but she usually gives us a report on Todd and Sarah.
And while I am talking about the World Series, and the Colorado Rockies poor showing, I’m reminded of my old friend Joseph Jefferson Jackson, affectionately known by millions of baseball fans as “Shoeless Joe” of the Chicago White Sox. When accused of taking money to fix the outcome of the 1919 World Series in favor of the Cincinnati Reds, a distraught "young" admirer looked up at him and sobbed, “Joe, say it isn’t so.”
This distraught "old" admirer knows the feeling. “Alexis, say it isn’t so.” You faithfully promised me last June in Colorado Springs that you would never consent to enter into an eternal companionship until I had fully reviewed his qualifications. As I recall, I had the same commitment, and experienced the same disappointment with Torrie.
Arianna, I’m putting you on notice now, even before you register at the “Y.” If you haven't already come to that conclusion, that’s a dangerous place. Even your dad and mother can tell you that.
I have survived another month of school. Zachari and Joshua are doing well, but I am challenged almost every morning to determine if one of them is in fact too sick to go or if he is merely faking it. The digital thermometer is a great arbiter. Now, if I could settle the issue of haircuts as easy. Zack is looking more and more like Hairless Joe in the Lil’ Abner comic strip, which most of you are too young to even know what I’m talking about.
November is going to be a terrible month for me. There are more holidays and vacations than there are days of school. And December doesn’t look any better.
I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming report from each of you. However, I don’t expect much from Aaron. From his last month’s report, it sounded like he was so enamored with his new state of California prison guard job he may not find time to write.
Love, Dad
Undoubtedly the highlight of my month was attending the graduation ceremony of Class 1-2007 of the California Highway Patrol Academy on October 5 in West Sacramento. I’m sure you will hear more from those more intimately associated with one of the star graduates, but needless to say, I was extremely proud. Not only from the effort, perseverance, and accomplishment of Adam in completing the 27-week rigorous training course, but that Erica, Carol, and I had a reserved seat in the second row of the large auditorium. Due to the overflow crowd, Mel had to view it from a closed circuit TV in the cafeteria, but he shouldn’t have felt too badly, if Aaron had come Adam would probably have arranged to have had him seated at some run-down bar in Old Sacramento.
And as an added bonus I was able to meet Cassie face to face. I had heard rumors that she was still claiming family membership but it had been so long since she reported in that I was beginning to wonder. Anyone heard of Kristy lately? Not that I’m too concerned about her, but she usually gives us a report on Todd and Sarah.
And while I am talking about the World Series, and the Colorado Rockies poor showing, I’m reminded of my old friend Joseph Jefferson Jackson, affectionately known by millions of baseball fans as “Shoeless Joe” of the Chicago White Sox. When accused of taking money to fix the outcome of the 1919 World Series in favor of the Cincinnati Reds, a distraught "young" admirer looked up at him and sobbed, “Joe, say it isn’t so.”
This distraught "old" admirer knows the feeling. “Alexis, say it isn’t so.” You faithfully promised me last June in Colorado Springs that you would never consent to enter into an eternal companionship until I had fully reviewed his qualifications. As I recall, I had the same commitment, and experienced the same disappointment with Torrie.
Arianna, I’m putting you on notice now, even before you register at the “Y.” If you haven't already come to that conclusion, that’s a dangerous place. Even your dad and mother can tell you that.
I have survived another month of school. Zachari and Joshua are doing well, but I am challenged almost every morning to determine if one of them is in fact too sick to go or if he is merely faking it. The digital thermometer is a great arbiter. Now, if I could settle the issue of haircuts as easy. Zack is looking more and more like Hairless Joe in the Lil’ Abner comic strip, which most of you are too young to even know what I’m talking about.
November is going to be a terrible month for me. There are more holidays and vacations than there are days of school. And December doesn’t look any better.
I’m looking forward to reading the upcoming report from each of you. However, I don’t expect much from Aaron. From his last month’s report, it sounded like he was so enamored with his new state of California prison guard job he may not find time to write.
Love, Dad
November 2007
The month of October was fairly uneventful with the following exceptions:
1) I celebrated the 15th anniversary of my 21st birthday.
2) San Diego burned down. Unless, of course, you live WEST of I-5....we had no problems. And since nobody should be living east of the 5 anyway I don't see what's all the hubub.....bub.
3)Adam and I drove from Burbank to Fresno in a shade over 2 hours. Adam was driving.....He's a CHiP. Im torn between calling him Ponch of John. John certainly because he's white. He did grow up in Fresno however which allows him to claim Hispanic heritage. I think I'll go with Ponch. (Ponch is short for poncharello. I feel you need to know that).
4) Grandpa has not yelled at me this month. Save all your "Well that's because you didn't do anything to get yelled at for" emails. I NEVER do anything to get yelled at for. He's just a yeller. (Yes, you can make Old Yeller jokes).
5) Jakob likes Halo 3.
6) Mindy does not like Halo 3.
And that about covers it. When next we meet I should be able to report on our efforts to successfully bring life into the world. Unless of course the hospital burns down. That would be poor.
Minby, Jakob, Aaron, She Who Has No Name.
1) I celebrated the 15th anniversary of my 21st birthday.
2) San Diego burned down. Unless, of course, you live WEST of I-5....we had no problems. And since nobody should be living east of the 5 anyway I don't see what's all the hubub.....bub.
3)Adam and I drove from Burbank to Fresno in a shade over 2 hours. Adam was driving.....He's a CHiP. Im torn between calling him Ponch of John. John certainly because he's white. He did grow up in Fresno however which allows him to claim Hispanic heritage. I think I'll go with Ponch. (Ponch is short for poncharello. I feel you need to know that).
4) Grandpa has not yelled at me this month. Save all your "Well that's because you didn't do anything to get yelled at for" emails. I NEVER do anything to get yelled at for. He's just a yeller. (Yes, you can make Old Yeller jokes).
5) Jakob likes Halo 3.
6) Mindy does not like Halo 3.
And that about covers it. When next we meet I should be able to report on our efforts to successfully bring life into the world. Unless of course the hospital burns down. That would be poor.
Minby, Jakob, Aaron, She Who Has No Name.
November 2007
Hello.
This is the Adam Cannon family. I have been gone for about 27 weeks and thus unable to participate in the newsletter. I am happy to inform you all that you get to hear my ramblings again. I graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy on October 5th. That means that I am now an officer of the law. I started enforcing the law on Oct. 15th in the Newhall area . For those of you who do not know, I patrol all of the grape vine, all the way to the 118 on both the 5 and 405, plus the 210, along with all the unincorporated areas in our area around magic mountain. My area is filled with violators, scumbags and defendants. It only took 3 days of working for me to have to pull out my gun and put it in someone's ear on the side of the road with the morning commuting traffic watching. This poor defendant should not have robbed a subway. He gave up quickly and is now going to spend Christmas in jail. ( I am sending another on your way Aaron)
We moved into our new home and then the girls had to evacuate it because of the fires. I had to go and keep the peace, which meant 16 hour days and lots of smoke in my lungs. Everything seems to be back to normal now.
Apparently no one likes me. I have yet to walk up on a single vehicle and have to driver thank me for protecting the others on the freeway that he was endangering by driving with excessive speed. In fact, I haven't heard such a variety of profanity since I was in basic training. People sure are creative.
Maja is in school. Kindergarten. She loves it and it seems that everyone loves her, which is good. Erica is doing well. We are not far from her family so that is very helpful, since I have been gone a lot.
Our contact numbers are as follows.
Adam 559-312-4829
Erica 559-451-7925
Home 661347-1653
27515 N. Rosa Lane #204
Santa Clarita, Ca. 91387
This is all we have to report.
This is the Adam Cannon family. I have been gone for about 27 weeks and thus unable to participate in the newsletter. I am happy to inform you all that you get to hear my ramblings again. I graduated from the California Highway Patrol Academy on October 5th. That means that I am now an officer of the law. I started enforcing the law on Oct. 15th in the Newhall area . For those of you who do not know, I patrol all of the grape vine, all the way to the 118 on both the 5 and 405, plus the 210, along with all the unincorporated areas in our area around magic mountain. My area is filled with violators, scumbags and defendants. It only took 3 days of working for me to have to pull out my gun and put it in someone's ear on the side of the road with the morning commuting traffic watching. This poor defendant should not have robbed a subway. He gave up quickly and is now going to spend Christmas in jail. ( I am sending another on your way Aaron)
We moved into our new home and then the girls had to evacuate it because of the fires. I had to go and keep the peace, which meant 16 hour days and lots of smoke in my lungs. Everything seems to be back to normal now.
Apparently no one likes me. I have yet to walk up on a single vehicle and have to driver thank me for protecting the others on the freeway that he was endangering by driving with excessive speed. In fact, I haven't heard such a variety of profanity since I was in basic training. People sure are creative.
Maja is in school. Kindergarten. She loves it and it seems that everyone loves her, which is good. Erica is doing well. We are not far from her family so that is very helpful, since I have been gone a lot.
Our contact numbers are as follows.
Adam 559-312-4829
Erica 559-451-7925
Home 661347-1653
27515 N. Rosa Lane #204
Santa Clarita, Ca. 91387
This is all we have to report.
November 2007
This has been a wild and crazy month. We can't quite remember when the month started, the days are running together as much as Torrie has had to run to the airport to make various drop-off/pickups. Levi has had a trip every week to various parts of the country on "fact finding" missions; I think he's just taking in the sights. The first of these trips was to Wichita, Kansas to rendezvous with Spirit Aero-Systems who are an aid to the enemy (Boeing.) As interested as he was in building the fuselages of various Boeing aircraft, the armfuls of Kansas brochures could not convince us to move to "tornado alley". The following week was the busiest all month. On top of Levi's 26 th birthday all 3 of us had a plane to catch bright and early at 7am. We first flew to Denver where Tammy met us at the airport to pick up Emma. She was staying with Grandma and Grandpa while we went on to Ohio. Our trip to Ohio was sponsored by Goodyear. They have offered Levi a job, and to add to the incentive offered to fly us back out to "check out" the area. The 3 days we spent in Ohio were exciting and useful in our decision making. We learned that October is a gorgeous time of year to visit. We came right in the middle of the fall season. Since Goodyear provided a rental car we were able to tour Kirtland, which was a lot of fun, as well as the area around Akron. After a tour of the area with a local realtor we found a great area that we like. It is only a 10 minute drive from where Levi would be working and has all of the characteristics we are looking for in a place to live (acreage, 4 seasons, good schools, beautiful homes). Once we returned home (and yes we picked Emma back up even thought Kevin and Tammy wanted to keep her) Levi go right back on a plane to S chenectady New York to interview at the Knolls Atomic Power Lab, which we are still waiting to hear back from. Even though this would be a job for the home team (Lockheed Martin) Tammy did not approve of the area, she is hoping for something in Colorado. Once Levi finally finished his tour of the nation we prepared for all hollow's eve. The Wilcox family invited us to trick or treat in their neighborhood. It was a great night. The 2 princesses (Alexis and Emma) had a great time the princess carriage (the Wilcox's wagon), and Brenton learned not to leave his candy unattended or Emma would help herself. This next month should be just as exciting as we decide where Levi will be working and where we will be living, as well as take a much anticipated trip to Colorado for the holiday. Until next month.
Love,
Torrie, Levi and the Princess
Levi's B-Day cake (the old man)
A house for sale in Ohio
Emma teaching Brenton to share
Princess Emma
Love,
Torrie, Levi and the Princess
Levi's B-Day cake (the old man)A house for sale in OhioEmma teaching Brenton to share Princess Emma
November 2007
Busy month for McClintocks. At the end of September Emily and Justin spent a couple of days with us so that they could drive Emily's car down to Los Angeles. Her car has been with us this past year, while they were in Boston. The West coast, however, is simply not "single" car country for a busy couple like the Ekins.
Bob spent most of the month running the sidelines of Sac City College's football games, as the team and school photographer. He also received a call-back from a New York firm to shoot their west coast fashion show. (They liked his work from last year's show and didn't hesitate to commission him again.) And he has traveled back and forth between enough other photo shoots throughout Northern California to be counted missing in action at the McClintock home.
Susan is busy again in a Stake Musical production. Our newly reorganized stake needed to be homogenized so a concert was scheduled and will be presented the first weekend in November. Even at age 60 the old vocal chords still vibrate pretty good. She would hope those of you gifted by Father with music, in some form, will remember to bless the lives of others by sharing it often before you have to make an accounting to Him.
Carol and Mel made a couple of trips to Sacramento this month and we enjoyed spending some time with them. We are also very pleased with Adam's exemplary conduct and achievement at the CHP Academy. We hope his gift for humor will extract him from otherwise difficult situations when confronted with the "bad guys" in the line of duty.
One last item. Susan began working for KCRA TV October 24, 1972. That means 35 years have been spent employed at the same television station. Many of her current associates there were not even born when she started. No gold watch was awarded, not even a relic of Jade proffered, which is the usual 35th anniversary offering.
Love to all,
The McClintocks
Bob spent most of the month running the sidelines of Sac City College's football games, as the team and school photographer. He also received a call-back from a New York firm to shoot their west coast fashion show. (They liked his work from last year's show and didn't hesitate to commission him again.) And he has traveled back and forth between enough other photo shoots throughout Northern California to be counted missing in action at the McClintock home.
Susan is busy again in a Stake Musical production. Our newly reorganized stake needed to be homogenized so a concert was scheduled and will be presented the first weekend in November. Even at age 60 the old vocal chords still vibrate pretty good. She would hope those of you gifted by Father with music, in some form, will remember to bless the lives of others by sharing it often before you have to make an accounting to Him.
Carol and Mel made a couple of trips to Sacramento this month and we enjoyed spending some time with them. We are also very pleased with Adam's exemplary conduct and achievement at the CHP Academy. We hope his gift for humor will extract him from otherwise difficult situations when confronted with the "bad guys" in the line of duty.
One last item. Susan began working for KCRA TV October 24, 1972. That means 35 years have been spent employed at the same television station. Many of her current associates there were not even born when she started. No gold watch was awarded, not even a relic of Jade proffered, which is the usual 35th anniversary offering.
Love to all,
The McClintocks
November 2007
Hello Family!
It has been one crazy summer. We are very glad to say that we have finally moved into our house in NJ. We were in a hotel for 6 weeks and I was going crazy. We had a very difficult closing but it is finally done. We really like our new area. We are in a great little town on a quiet street with lots of other kids. We hope this will be the last address change for a long while. I started grad school on Sept. 1 and I am so glad I did. I love it! When I graduated from BYU 10 years ago I was sick of school, but I am really enjoying it now. I also plan to start substitute teaching in the next few weeks. So things are finally settling down and we are happy. Fall finally arrived this week in NJ and it is beautiful. It had been unseasonably warm until now. If anyone wants to visit the East Coast we would love to have you. However, to answer Emily's question from last month - I am forever a CA girl and would move back in a heartbeat. We miss it so much. After spending August there Jilina has now decided that she wants to live there too.
We hope all of you are doing okay despite all of the fires. I figured the only ones to be affected would really be Aaron and Cassie but it appeared to be east of you. We hope this was the case.
Have a great Thanksgiving! We love you!
The Merciers
Oh, and here is our new address:
24 Park St.
Roseland, NJ 07068
It has been one crazy summer. We are very glad to say that we have finally moved into our house in NJ. We were in a hotel for 6 weeks and I was going crazy. We had a very difficult closing but it is finally done. We really like our new area. We are in a great little town on a quiet street with lots of other kids. We hope this will be the last address change for a long while. I started grad school on Sept. 1 and I am so glad I did. I love it! When I graduated from BYU 10 years ago I was sick of school, but I am really enjoying it now. I also plan to start substitute teaching in the next few weeks. So things are finally settling down and we are happy. Fall finally arrived this week in NJ and it is beautiful. It had been unseasonably warm until now. If anyone wants to visit the East Coast we would love to have you. However, to answer Emily's question from last month - I am forever a CA girl and would move back in a heartbeat. We miss it so much. After spending August there Jilina has now decided that she wants to live there too.
We hope all of you are doing okay despite all of the fires. I figured the only ones to be affected would really be Aaron and Cassie but it appeared to be east of you. We hope this was the case.
Have a great Thanksgiving! We love you!
The Merciers
Oh, and here is our new address:
24 Park St.
Roseland, NJ 07068
November 2007
Well, as usual, the month flew by. Adam graduated on October 5 from the California Highway Patrol Academy. I have never been to a military graduation before, it was really great. Erica pinned Adam's badge on, and the rest of us took lots of pictures. We went to the Olive Garden for graduation dinner, then the Cannon's took off for Southern California. Mel and I stayed and played with Cassie until Sunday, and then drove home. Then on October 19, Mel and I drove to San Diego to take Cassie her bedroom furniture. It just happened to be the weekend that the Santa Ana winds kicked up. I am sure that Adam will tell you more about his first week on the job in Santa Clarita. On our way home that weekend we could see the fires from the freeway.
We are planning on going to San Diego for Thanksgiving. That way we can see little "Carol Jean" Aaron's and Mindy's new baby girl. Hopefully, San Diego is still standing.
Mel and I are very busy working and doing our church assignments. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful November.
Carol and Mel,
We are planning on going to San Diego for Thanksgiving. That way we can see little "Carol Jean" Aaron's and Mindy's new baby girl. Hopefully, San Diego is still standing.
Mel and I are very busy working and doing our church assignments. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful November.
Carol and Mel,
November 2007
Hello family,
The Wilcox family is doing well. Brenton just had surgery today to have tubes put in his ears and adenoids taken out. He did well. Halloween was fun, we had Torrie, Levi, and Emma come over to trick or treat with us. It was very cute seeing them all together. Todd is doing fine, but he has an ulcer right now that is bothering him. Alexis and I are healthy and happy. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving in Sacramento this year! It will be good to spend it with my mom and the rest of the Sacramento clan.
Love,
Tracy
The Wilcox family is doing well. Brenton just had surgery today to have tubes put in his ears and adenoids taken out. He did well. Halloween was fun, we had Torrie, Levi, and Emma come over to trick or treat with us. It was very cute seeing them all together. Todd is doing fine, but he has an ulcer right now that is bothering him. Alexis and I are healthy and happy. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving in Sacramento this year! It will be good to spend it with my mom and the rest of the Sacramento clan.
Love,
Tracy
November 2007
October was indeed eventful at the Woodwards. We enjoyed General Conference, stake conference with a general authority visitor (Elder Robert R. Steuer), and Emma while her mom and dad "vacationed" in Ohio. Kevin did enjoy a week in the Hampton Roads/Williamsburg, VA area. But not one of us enjoyed watching the Rockies go down in four straight. But the real event of the month for our family is that of Alexis...well perhaps we should let her explain:
Dear Family:
As word has already circulated around the family (with a little help from excited immediate family members and facebook), it would be redundant to say that "I'm engaged," but, I'm engaged. Ryan Paul Bessey and I are to be married in San Diego (where he is from) on the 27th of December of this year... nine weeks and one day, but who is counting?
Ryan and I met January of this year in our calculus class (Dad likes to take credit for his part in insisting that I register for calculus as opposed to Japanese for a GE requirement). For two months this cute boy would sit next to me and not once engage me in conversation. Finally, in the beginning of April he asked me out and that is when we started dating. Though we loved being together, a good portion of our dates consisted of me listening in on his concerts; he is in the BYU Men's Choir and he happens to be deaf in his left ear. He has an amazing singing voice and one really good ear. Of course I'm glad that he told me about his ear early on in our relationship, even though I'm still not used to being ignored while trying to talk to him on his left side. I have to keep reminding myself that he's not doing it on purpose even though it sounds like a really good scam to me.
We kept correspondence during the summer via phone and email; never once did we succumb to the urge to take a cheap flight to either Colorado or San Diego...although Mom will be the first to tell you that Express Jet was one of her favorite web sites over the summer. We were able to court through letters all throughout the summer; sounds like something from Jane Austin. When we came back to school in September I accompanied him, a couple of his roommates and his family home evening sisters on a camping trip in Zions national park. Then on September 21, during Homecoming he took me to watch the Spectacular, a night of musical appreciation with special guests from various BYU dance teams and a special performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Afterwards we hiked the "Y" and he proposed to me on the lit "Y".
A couple of weeks later during General Conference he took me to Salt Lake to watch conference in the Tabernacle. Afterwards, while we were walking by the reflection pool of the Salt Lake temple he pulls a ring out of his pocket, and it promptly slips out of his fingers into the water. As I'm laughing and looking for the ring in the water he is going crazy and beating himself up over dropping the ring and ruining a perfectly romantic moment. However, when I see that the ring in the water is not an engagement ring, I turn to tell him so and see him fumbling in his backpack for a box. Next thing I know he is on bended knee asking me to marry him again. I guess he didn't hear me the first time.
Ryan is majoring in Civil Engineering, to which I say "it runs in the family"...Woodward girls and engineers were meant for each other. Having said that, I would like to add that despite all of the excitement, school work has never been better and I'm loving every minute of being a BYU student. I've also accepted a calling to be the stake assistant extraction work coordinator which is very exciting. Yes, life is going pretty good for me right now. No complaints here. Just wanted you to know that I love you all and I love reading the Newsletter and hearing about everyone. See you again in a couple of months when there will be a new family installed into the Newsletter mailing list, the Besseys.
With love, Alexis Woodward.
With this, we all extend our love to you,
The Woodwards
Dear Family:
As word has already circulated around the family (with a little help from excited immediate family members and facebook), it would be redundant to say that "I'm engaged," but, I'm engaged. Ryan Paul Bessey and I are to be married in San Diego (where he is from) on the 27th of December of this year... nine weeks and one day, but who is counting?
Ryan and I met January of this year in our calculus class (Dad likes to take credit for his part in insisting that I register for calculus as opposed to Japanese for a GE requirement). For two months this cute boy would sit next to me and not once engage me in conversation. Finally, in the beginning of April he asked me out and that is when we started dating. Though we loved being together, a good portion of our dates consisted of me listening in on his concerts; he is in the BYU Men's Choir and he happens to be deaf in his left ear. He has an amazing singing voice and one really good ear. Of course I'm glad that he told me about his ear early on in our relationship, even though I'm still not used to being ignored while trying to talk to him on his left side. I have to keep reminding myself that he's not doing it on purpose even though it sounds like a really good scam to me.
We kept correspondence during the summer via phone and email; never once did we succumb to the urge to take a cheap flight to either Colorado or San Diego...although Mom will be the first to tell you that Express Jet was one of her favorite web sites over the summer. We were able to court through letters all throughout the summer; sounds like something from Jane Austin. When we came back to school in September I accompanied him, a couple of his roommates and his family home evening sisters on a camping trip in Zions national park. Then on September 21, during Homecoming he took me to watch the Spectacular, a night of musical appreciation with special guests from various BYU dance teams and a special performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Afterwards we hiked the "Y" and he proposed to me on the lit "Y".
A couple of weeks later during General Conference he took me to Salt Lake to watch conference in the Tabernacle. Afterwards, while we were walking by the reflection pool of the Salt Lake temple he pulls a ring out of his pocket, and it promptly slips out of his fingers into the water. As I'm laughing and looking for the ring in the water he is going crazy and beating himself up over dropping the ring and ruining a perfectly romantic moment. However, when I see that the ring in the water is not an engagement ring, I turn to tell him so and see him fumbling in his backpack for a box. Next thing I know he is on bended knee asking me to marry him again. I guess he didn't hear me the first time.
Ryan is majoring in Civil Engineering, to which I say "it runs in the family"...Woodward girls and engineers were meant for each other. Having said that, I would like to add that despite all of the excitement, school work has never been better and I'm loving every minute of being a BYU student. I've also accepted a calling to be the stake assistant extraction work coordinator which is very exciting. Yes, life is going pretty good for me right now. No complaints here. Just wanted you to know that I love you all and I love reading the Newsletter and hearing about everyone. See you again in a couple of months when there will be a new family installed into the Newsletter mailing list, the Besseys.
With love, Alexis Woodward.
With this, we all extend our love to you,
The Woodwards
October 2007
Dear Family,
Each time I start writing the report from the Executive Office I think that no month can be duller than the one just past, and then 30 days later I realize I was wrong. It gets progressively worse Only 36 more weeks until the end of the school year, give or take a couple of forced week-long vacations. Already I’m beginning to yearn for house-arrest time. Homework seems to be getting so time consuming.
Zachari had a 30-day assignment of preparing a book report to be presented on a poster board in a picture-narrative format. Joshua and I just completed it. Joshua provided the art-work and I wrote the narration. Zack ought to get a pretty good grade. . I wonder how the parents of the other kids made out.
But notwithstanding Joshua’s display of artistic talent, he didn’t have a very good month. He could only fake an illness of sufficient seriousness to justify absence from school one day. And the following week, Zack, seeing Josh’s success, decided to try. But Zack dreamed up a different approach. Because he thought Josh looked worse than he did at the moment he asked me if I would use Josh’s temperature as a basis to determine the severity of Zack’s physiological impairment. I may just be a dumb southern Idaho farm boy but I didn’t buy into that.
An old friend, extending back some 70 years, Jim Beatty (now 85) drove alone from Orem, Utah to Sacramento a few days ago to visit me (see picture of the month). He has had an interesting background which some of you may remember from my various “true” stories. He came to Franklin in 1937 from Lodi, California hoping to live with a sister who was then one of the grade school teachers in our local institution of learning. At the time he left Lodi he was sleeping in a tent and working when he could for various San Joaquin valley growers. His parents couldn’t provide a home for him. With the on-coming winter he concluded that type of a life had no future so he hitch-hiked to Franklin. The morning following his arrival, while standing alone on the “Corner,” my dad saw him, and not recognizing him as one of the local kids, invited him home to dinner. Then and there Jim declared himself an adopted member of our family. He still claims that kinship.
In its Watt Ave. beautification project, the county has installed a planter of about 60 feet by 15 feet in the median strip in front of the house with an automatic watering system. When the plantings have reached adequately height I'm thinking of putting in a few pot starts. From the success of some recent raids by the Drug Task Force down around Walt and Wanda's old homestead I think a half dozen plants could bring at least 8 to 10.
Anyone know the whereabouts of Kristy?
The widow and I took a short ride to Apple Hill a few days ago. The trip was noteworthy only from the standpoint that it was the first time I have been outside Sacramento County since last June when we visited Carol and Mel in Fresno. For those of you who don't know, Apple Hill is in El Dorado County about five miles beyond the county line. Big Deal!
Love, Dad
Each time I start writing the report from the Executive Office I think that no month can be duller than the one just past, and then 30 days later I realize I was wrong. It gets progressively worse Only 36 more weeks until the end of the school year, give or take a couple of forced week-long vacations. Already I’m beginning to yearn for house-arrest time. Homework seems to be getting so time consuming.
Zachari had a 30-day assignment of preparing a book report to be presented on a poster board in a picture-narrative format. Joshua and I just completed it. Joshua provided the art-work and I wrote the narration. Zack ought to get a pretty good grade. . I wonder how the parents of the other kids made out.
But notwithstanding Joshua’s display of artistic talent, he didn’t have a very good month. He could only fake an illness of sufficient seriousness to justify absence from school one day. And the following week, Zack, seeing Josh’s success, decided to try. But Zack dreamed up a different approach. Because he thought Josh looked worse than he did at the moment he asked me if I would use Josh’s temperature as a basis to determine the severity of Zack’s physiological impairment. I may just be a dumb southern Idaho farm boy but I didn’t buy into that.
An old friend, extending back some 70 years, Jim Beatty (now 85) drove alone from Orem, Utah to Sacramento a few days ago to visit me (see picture of the month). He has had an interesting background which some of you may remember from my various “true” stories. He came to Franklin in 1937 from Lodi, California hoping to live with a sister who was then one of the grade school teachers in our local institution of learning. At the time he left Lodi he was sleeping in a tent and working when he could for various San Joaquin valley growers. His parents couldn’t provide a home for him. With the on-coming winter he concluded that type of a life had no future so he hitch-hiked to Franklin. The morning following his arrival, while standing alone on the “Corner,” my dad saw him, and not recognizing him as one of the local kids, invited him home to dinner. Then and there Jim declared himself an adopted member of our family. He still claims that kinship.
In its Watt Ave. beautification project, the county has installed a planter of about 60 feet by 15 feet in the median strip in front of the house with an automatic watering system. When the plantings have reached adequately height I'm thinking of putting in a few pot starts. From the success of some recent raids by the Drug Task Force down around Walt and Wanda's old homestead I think a half dozen plants could bring at least 8 to 10.
Anyone know the whereabouts of Kristy?
The widow and I took a short ride to Apple Hill a few days ago. The trip was noteworthy only from the standpoint that it was the first time I have been outside Sacramento County since last June when we visited Carol and Mel in Fresno. For those of you who don't know, Apple Hill is in El Dorado County about five miles beyond the county line. Big Deal!
Love, Dad
October 2007
Ah yes....government work. I am an official employee of the Great State of California. Whereas before I was working as a contractor at RJ Donovan State Prison I now have been hired as a state employee. What does this mean you ask? Well I will tell you. It means I work 4 10 hour days. This means a 3 day weekend every week and 4 day weekends whenever there is a Monday holiday (Friday is my day off). This means I get Columbus day off (Columbus day?!?!?!?!?!) This means it is impossible to get fired, unless I sneak an inmate out in the back of my truck...and even then I think the most they can do is say "Please don't do that 4 more times." (Remind me why having the government in charge of airport security is a bad idea?) Did you know we have a Union? A union for shrinks?
There is absolutely positively no way a private business could be run the way this place is run. Every day I get four different copies of my caseload. Some by name, some by housing unit, some by length of stay. The same information is on every copy, they are just all arranged differently. And as for the 10 hour days...most of my coworkers show up at 8:10 and leave by 4. That's not even a 8 hour day.
Your tax dollars hard at work ladies and gentlemen.
Jakob's baby sister is still gestating. The child is still nameless. We are taking suggestions (which we will not use). My mother has suggested Carol Jean. My response was.............................No.
Jakob informed me the other day that "Baby sister will say "mine...mine" alot." This is true. As Bill Cosby so eloquently stated....."She has stuff that belongs to me too!" Jakob is very excited for her to join his family. That is because he doesn't know what he is in for yet.
Mindy is doing well. The baby is still healthy and growing and therefore so is Mindy.
We are still active members of The Church. The worst part about being in the Bishopric is that you can't just not go to church if there is a Cowboys game on I mean you don't feel like it I mean feel well.
Speaking of which, the Cowboys are 4 and 0. Let the trash talk begin!
Det här säger inget Grandpa.
Jakob, Malinda, She who has no name, Aaron.
There is absolutely positively no way a private business could be run the way this place is run. Every day I get four different copies of my caseload. Some by name, some by housing unit, some by length of stay. The same information is on every copy, they are just all arranged differently. And as for the 10 hour days...most of my coworkers show up at 8:10 and leave by 4. That's not even a 8 hour day.
Your tax dollars hard at work ladies and gentlemen.
Jakob's baby sister is still gestating. The child is still nameless. We are taking suggestions (which we will not use). My mother has suggested Carol Jean. My response was.............................No.
Jakob informed me the other day that "Baby sister will say "mine...mine" alot." This is true. As Bill Cosby so eloquently stated....."She has stuff that belongs to me too!" Jakob is very excited for her to join his family. That is because he doesn't know what he is in for yet.
Mindy is doing well. The baby is still healthy and growing and therefore so is Mindy.
We are still active members of The Church. The worst part about being in the Bishopric is that you can't just not go to church if there is a Cowboys game on I mean you don't feel like it I mean feel well.
Speaking of which, the Cowboys are 4 and 0. Let the trash talk begin!
Det här säger inget Grandpa.
Jakob, Malinda, She who has no name, Aaron.
October 2007
Justin and I made it successfully to California and we love it. I just will always be a West Coast person. Kelly, your thoughts? So Justin has started work again with the same company, Monitor Group. It's a business strategy consulting firm and people always ask me what exactly does that mean, "consulting." I found this de-motivational that describes it quite well .
Ok ok, I'm just kidding.
Anyway, I started my PhD program at UCLA in political science. In particular I'm interested in comparative governance and institutions and also statistical methods. I just finished math camp--which took us from algebra 100 to multivariable cal in about 14 days. So now that I just finished the final exam, real school actually starts on Monday. Wish me luck!
It's been great to be here close to Kimber and Uncle John. Mimi is SO CUTE! It was hilarious, when I first saw her I didn't know that she was Kimber and Carlon's daughter but she looked so much like Tracy's Alexis I looked at her again. I then said--"wait who is this?" She saw me and ran and jumped on me, then Kimber said "That's Mimi!" I still thought she was a baby like in 2005 when I saw her last. Anyway, it's amazing how kids grow up.:) It's great to be close to family again. So I hear that Adam moved down to Burbank? Hello stranger. Someone correct me if I'm wrong that he not down here.
The attached pictures were taken at the LA County Fair. Now I know why people said, "oh, you're going to that?" with a disdainful look on their faces. Lets just say, if you go to the LA County fair, it's appropriate to have more than a dozen tattoos and a few strange body piercings. :)
But it was fun nonetheless. Look at those flowers--they are actually dyed those colors by injecting chemicals into the stem that turn each individual petal a different color!
Love you all, come visit us when you're in town.
Love J and E
http://justinandemily.blogspot.com/
Ok ok, I'm just kidding.Anyway, I started my PhD program at UCLA in political science. In particular I'm interested in comparative governance and institutions and also statistical methods. I just finished math camp--which took us from algebra 100 to multivariable cal in about 14 days. So now that I just finished the final exam, real school actually starts on Monday. Wish me luck!
It's been great to be here close to Kimber and Uncle John. Mimi is SO CUTE! It was hilarious, when I first saw her I didn't know that she was Kimber and Carlon's daughter but she looked so much like Tracy's Alexis I looked at her again. I then said--"wait who is this?" She saw me and ran and jumped on me, then Kimber said "That's Mimi!" I still thought she was a baby like in 2005 when I saw her last. Anyway, it's amazing how kids grow up.:) It's great to be close to family again. So I hear that Adam moved down to Burbank? Hello stranger. Someone correct me if I'm wrong that he not down here.
The attached pictures were taken at the LA County Fair. Now I know why people said, "oh, you're going to that?" with a disdainful look on their faces. Lets just say, if you go to the LA County fair, it's appropriate to have more than a dozen tattoos and a few strange body piercings. :)
But it was fun nonetheless. Look at those flowers--they are actually dyed those colors by injecting chemicals into the stem that turn each individual petal a different color!Love you all, come visit us when you're in town.
Love J and E
http://justinandemily.blogspot.com/
October 2007
This has been a typical month for us college students. Levi has started his graduate courses, as well as his research, and is enjoying a slightly lighter schedule. I have enjoyed returning to my water aerobics class. The weather has taken a turn for the cooler starting with a brief rainstorm that chased us out of the BYU v. Air Force game last Saturday. Which in Emma's opinion was for the best, she wasn't too impressed with the quality seats on a student budget. We are really looking forward to this coming month. From the BYU career fair Levi has established several job interviews. These interviews over the next few weeks will culminate with a trip to Ohio for the 2 of us so that we can check out Goodyear and Akron. In the meantime Emma will be visiting the grandparents (which are extremely excited, and should provide some pretty good pics next month). We hope that all is well for everyone and have promised Emma better seats for the next game.
Love,
Torrie, Levi and Emma
Love,Torrie, Levi and Emma
October 2007
This month Carlon, Mimi and I went to Utah for the BYU Homecoming game. We were also able to participate in their 5K run, which was fun, but the change in altitude definitely made it more difficult for us as we ran it. Luckily, we were still able to beat our times from last year. While we were up in Utah, we stayed with Tracy and Todd and had a lot of fun watching Mimi and Alexis get dressed up in their princess outfits and the whole process of becoming a princess (do your hair, nail polish, perfume, etc.) It was very cute.
Right now, I am a single mom as Carlon stayed up in Utah to finish work on a Provo house we bought to flip. So for the next 3 weeks I am on my own with Mimi. Interestingly the house stays cleaner, but my patience is wearing thinner. Hope all is well with everyone.
Love, Kimber (The Scott Family
Right now, I am a single mom as Carlon stayed up in Utah to finish work on a Provo house we bought to flip. So for the next 3 weeks I am on my own with Mimi. Interestingly the house stays cleaner, but my patience is wearing thinner. Hope all is well with everyone.
Love, Kimber (The Scott Family
October 2007
Hello All-
We are doing well and loving fall out here in Colorado. Mathew and Felicity are back in school. Mathew is a 4th grader and loves his teacher!! He also is on the swim team and participates in scouts and GATE. He likes all of his activities and doesn't want to give any up, but would love more hours in the day to play Adventure Quest on the computer!
Felicity is a big first grader and a reading machine. I volunteer in her class every week (Jeff volunteers in Mathews class weekly, he thought it was a bit cooler to have dad come in than mom.) Felicity's teacher is great and she is always complimenting me and how wonderful Felicity is. She is also learning piano (I am her teacher) and gymnastics.
Andrew is a hoot. I love 2 year olds. Although NO is his favorite word, he really is quite sweet and always keeps me busy. We sure love him.
And then there are the 2 new additions, our 8 week old cats - Bonzai - his name fits him perfectly, and Shelby - the princess. We adopted them today and we are all very excited. Jeff is doing well, working hard starting up his business, playing basketball, and watching a lot of football. He seems happy. I am also doing well. We hope you are all doing well too!!
Crystal
We are doing well and loving fall out here in Colorado. Mathew and Felicity are back in school. Mathew is a 4th grader and loves his teacher!! He also is on the swim team and participates in scouts and GATE. He likes all of his activities and doesn't want to give any up, but would love more hours in the day to play Adventure Quest on the computer!
Felicity is a big first grader and a reading machine. I volunteer in her class every week (Jeff volunteers in Mathews class weekly, he thought it was a bit cooler to have dad come in than mom.) Felicity's teacher is great and she is always complimenting me and how wonderful Felicity is. She is also learning piano (I am her teacher) and gymnastics.Andrew is a hoot. I love 2 year olds. Although NO is his favorite word, he really is quite sweet and always keeps me busy. We sure love him. And then there are the 2 new additions, our 8 week old cats - Bonzai - his name fits him perfectly, and Shelby - the princess. We adopted them today and we are all very excited. Jeff is doing well, working hard starting up his business, playing basketball, and watching a lot of football. He seems happy. I am also doing well. We hope you are all doing well too!!Crystal
October 2007
Hi family. Another month has come and gone and it has gone fast. School is in full swing. My second graders are very sweet. We have another new second grade teacher. Once again this year I am a BTSA provider for her. I am the only one trained, so I am elected. She is a very nice lady, so it will be a nice year working with her.
You probably won't hear from Adam and Erica this month. They are here for this weekend. Adam is going back to Sacramento. This Wednesday, Erica and I are going to Sacramento for Adam's CHP graduation. Mel will come up on Thursday. Adam is graduating on Friday. Then they get one week off to move and then Adam will start his "break-in" in Newhall, California (Magic Mountain). He will be there for a while.
You also won't be hearing from Cassie. I talked to her this morning. She is on her way home from a week cruise with two old high school friends. They went to the Caribbean. She will be flying into Sacramento Thursday night to be at Adam's graduation. She also just moved, so she has a new address.
Mel and I are both very busy. The weather is beautiful. We are going into the prettiest time of the year here in Fresno. If you are in town, come and stay with us.
Have a great month!!!
Carol and Mel
You probably won't hear from Adam and Erica this month. They are here for this weekend. Adam is going back to Sacramento. This Wednesday, Erica and I are going to Sacramento for Adam's CHP graduation. Mel will come up on Thursday. Adam is graduating on Friday. Then they get one week off to move and then Adam will start his "break-in" in Newhall, California (Magic Mountain). He will be there for a while.
You also won't be hearing from Cassie. I talked to her this morning. She is on her way home from a week cruise with two old high school friends. They went to the Caribbean. She will be flying into Sacramento Thursday night to be at Adam's graduation. She also just moved, so she has a new address.
Mel and I are both very busy. The weather is beautiful. We are going into the prettiest time of the year here in Fresno. If you are in town, come and stay with us.
Have a great month!!!
Carol and Mel
October 2007
A fairly quiet month here in the shadow of Pikes Peak. Arianna has been fully engaged in school, enjoying her final semester. She plans to graduate early and get a jump on some post-high school educational opportunities. She is also experiencing release-time seminary which is held at one of the buildings in the stake not far from her high school. After three years of early morning seminary, she's indicated that it's a rather pleasant change of pace.
Tammy has been busy with some annual Relief Society events in the weeks just prior to her release from her calling in the Relief Society presidency. She is preparing for the next opportunity to serve when the call comes.
We have taken in some Colorado Rockies (baseball) games in Denver this past summer. We have also enjoyed watching them from the comfort of home. In fact our Family Home Evening tonight, after a wonderful lesson provided by Arianna on the life of President Faust, included our ordering pizza, grabbing our pillow and blankets, and watching the tiebreaker game with San Diego... all 13 innings. For those in the family who may be Padres fans, our condolences. In fact, I received a late night telephone call from a concerned subscriber to the Newswire, wondering if the October issue had been dispatched. (This briefly took me back to my earlier days of delivering the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Union when I would received a call from a customer whom I had missed on a given morning.) I assured them that the Newswire would be released shortly, but that we were in the top of the 13th inning of a very important baseball game, and that the home team was trailing by two. Thankfully, they were very sympathetic to our plight.
The Farmers Almanac predicts a warmer winter for the Front Range this year. We shall see. However, we understand from the local long-time residents, as well our own experience of the past two years, that the first snow fall seems to hit on Halloween. I even noticed a light dusting on the top of mountains on Saturday evening. We enjoy the change of the seasons.
Wishing everyone lots of love,
The Woodwards
Tammy has been busy with some annual Relief Society events in the weeks just prior to her release from her calling in the Relief Society presidency. She is preparing for the next opportunity to serve when the call comes.
We have taken in some Colorado Rockies (baseball) games in Denver this past summer. We have also enjoyed watching them from the comfort of home. In fact our Family Home Evening tonight, after a wonderful lesson provided by Arianna on the life of President Faust, included our ordering pizza, grabbing our pillow and blankets, and watching the tiebreaker game with San Diego... all 13 innings. For those in the family who may be Padres fans, our condolences. In fact, I received a late night telephone call from a concerned subscriber to the Newswire, wondering if the October issue had been dispatched. (This briefly took me back to my earlier days of delivering the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Union when I would received a call from a customer whom I had missed on a given morning.) I assured them that the Newswire would be released shortly, but that we were in the top of the 13th inning of a very important baseball game, and that the home team was trailing by two. Thankfully, they were very sympathetic to our plight.
The Farmers Almanac predicts a warmer winter for the Front Range this year. We shall see. However, we understand from the local long-time residents, as well our own experience of the past two years, that the first snow fall seems to hit on Halloween. I even noticed a light dusting on the top of mountains on Saturday evening. We enjoy the change of the seasons.
Wishing everyone lots of love,
The Woodwards
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