May 2008 - Picture of the Month

Levi, Torrie & Emma attending Levi's BYU graduation for his Masters in Mechanical Engineering

May 2008 - Executive Office of Kenneth Woodward

Dear family,

My sister Ina and her husband Eldon and a couple children came to visit me last month. They were on their way to San Francisco to tour an aircraft carrier in the harbor Eldon was on during the Big One. But also to get away from the Franklin, Idaho weather. It must have been real bad across the line in Utah.

I've been doing a little gardening lately and just to make you out-of-staters feel jealous about our weather, I have blossoms on my tomato plants.

One subject which has received a lot of attention in our house lately was the length of Zachari’s hair. Finally Joshua and I decided we could look at it no longer so we forced a visit to a barber and ask that Zack be given a slight trim. It was a tearful event, going and coming. When we got home and Zack could study the extent of the atrocity in the privacy of the bathroom mirror he came out and said to me, "grandpa, you've just ruined my most precious possession." Then Joshua started to cry.

I asked Josh why he was crying, that after all, he was the one who was most insistent on the cut, and he said he had changed his mind. I can't say much about his timing.

Six more weeks of school and then I'll have them home full time. But we'll survive. They have ambitious plans for our summer, most of which are out of the question, and they are now old enough that I can leave them alone for a few hours at a time, and they are pretty good company. Our home would be very lonesome without them and I'm grateful they are such an important part of my life---haircuts notwithstanding.

Love, Dad

May 2008 - Ekins, Justin & Emily

We Moved Out of the Pit! So Justin and I finally moved out of the pit, and moved into an apartment that, thus far, doesn't have gang graffiti on the outside walls. I'm enjoying my graduate program thus far, despite the socialists, but I'm converting them to the truth and light. :) My friend and I are committed to creating the US' hub of libertarian PhD political science students at UCLA. Justin is still enjoying consulting and Monitor and of course they absolutely love him. The only other claim to fame is that we made it into Glamour Magazine, p 165 of April's magazine. You'll see our pictures and some phony quotes that we didn't say. Please let us know if you are in town. We moved to the Beverly Hills/West Hollywood area and there is so much to do around here. We'd love to see you.

~Emily & Justin

May 2008- Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family

And we're off!!! Well the chaos of the summer has begun. We decided to kick things off with a bang. This week has been really busy. It started with the ultrasound. Friday was BYU graduation. Last year I walked in graduation for my bachelor's degree. We had a lot of family come, and it was great, but it didn't quite seem real since we knew we still had a least a year to go. This year was different, it was a little more low key, since no one flew in from out of town Torrie was solely responsible for controlling Emma and managing the camera. Torrie did a fantastic job with both tasks. Emma behaved as well, she didn't make a big scene like last year when we walked across the podium. Also Torrie gave me a graduation lei, reminiscent of our time in Hawaii- thanks babe!

Emma is seeing right through the "graduation" knowing I still have work to do.

Saturday was just as busy as Friday. It was Emma's 2nd Birthday!! To celebrate we went to the Wilcox's where Tracy and Alexis graciously hosted us and had a cake for Emma to boot. It was fun to hang out with Todd and Brenton too, thanks-a-bunch Wilcox Family!

Our other huge news this month is that we're pregnant with our second, actually about half way through.... but you should all know that since you're all consistent subscribers to our personal family blog.... We found out just before graduation that we're having another girl!!! Levi was excited and I was in shock I was certain this one was a boy because this pregnancy has been so different, so long to the old wives' tale that pregnancies resulting in the same gender are similar! we're very excited and we'll have even more fun to tell you of next month. Ta ta for now!

May 2008 - McClintock, Robert & Susan

April at the McClintocks was pretty ordinary. General Conference was different without Pres. Hinckley. Our Stake conference Authority reorganized our Stake Presidency. Bob photographed a wedding and kept the Bishop's appointment schedule humming, Anna attended some club meetings and got some new shoes, and Susan practiced music with her very few choirs. In fact, the most traumatic event that can take place at the McClintock Cottage is when someone forgets to clean and replace Anna's bedroom commode. That is a life threatening circumstance but we can't reveal who's life is threatened. In all, April was ordinary. The McClintock's are grateful they got through it and that each time Susan called the Watt Avenue home, Grandpa Woodward is still lively enough to answer. At least that is good news.

Love to you all,
The McClintocks

May 2008 - Slade, Jeff & Crystal & Family

The Slades are doing well and busy, busy, busy. Crystal is in full swing of job applications (not fun) and deciding the best place to work next year (not fun) and just got back from family time in San Diego ( soooo fun it makes up for the job applications and the work decisions!) I was treated to a wonderful long weekend by Cassie who pampered me and took care of me (because moms need that sometimes.) I got to see all of my family except Adam who was out in L.A. protecting the public (thank you Adam) and I have to say, I think my family is packed with great people (OK, I may be a little biased, but I think I am allowed to be.) My sweet family here is Colorado is keeping busy with school etc. Mathew is busy with GATE projects and scouts. He has been bringing a school friend with him to scouts weekly and it is so fun to see him be a little missionary, but better yet, just a good example. Felicity is doing well in school and piano. Jeff's mother is her teacher (she actually is extremely talented and bonus is teaching her for FREE.) Gay, Jeff's mom, is very pleased with Felicity's progress and actually says that she gets excited to see that her own grand daughter have a little extra gift and picks up on things more quickly than most of her other students. Andrew is SO ready for preschool. Mainly for the social interaction. He just can't have enough play dates and mom (yes, believe it or not, me) is apparently quite boring. So, we are excited for summer (which equals sibling interaction) and preschool to start. Jeff's business is picking up and he is doing well. I still don't understand some of the complexities of what he does, but I guess that is why he is passed the gazillions of tests on financial advising and I just smile and let him explain what he does. He is very happy and loves his job. Life is good. Now if it would just stop snowing......

May 2008 - Westover, Mel & Carol

Again, this month as flown by. We are starting STAR tests tomorrow. Once that is over it means that the school year is over and it is downhill from then on. I still have to meet with several parents regarding retention. That will be the not-so-nice part of the school year.

Mel and I are in a new ward. The ward boundaries were realigned about a month ago and we are now back into Sierra Ward. We are very happy. This building is five minutes away, verses 15 minutes away by freeway. Mel is the second counselor in the High Priest Group Leadership. I am still ducking and weaving. I just want to get through the school year.

Last weekend Mel and I flew to San Diego. Crystal flew in from Colorado and Erica drove in from L.A. We had a great time together. This is the first time Crystal has been back in California for two years. The weekend went by way too fast. It was nice having my kids all together again.

Hope everyone has a great month!!

Mel & Carol

May 2008 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family

The month of April was rather quiet in the Woodward household. Kevin had a week-long business trip to New Orleans during the month. The meeting was at the Lockheed Martin facility that produces the large liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen tanks (big orange backbone) for the Space Shuttle. He stayed in the French Quarter, which really is not the nicest part of town, but historical. Flying into the city and seeing the mighty Mississippi River's terminus brought to memory the fact that a good number of our ancestors arrived in the US through this port. The devastation from Katrina still abounds, but progress is being made.

Tammy spent the month preparing for a family vacation to Florida which we will discuss in our June entry. She was also preparing to receive Torrie and Emma for a period of time after the vacation, as well as Alexis and Ryan. All will be in town for Arianna's high school graduation ceremony which is scheduled to be held at the US Air Force Academy later in the month of May. In the meantime, Arianna continues to excel in her cosmetology studies.

We send our love to the family,

The Woodwards