Woodward Family Newswire

Friday, October 3, 2008

McClintock, Robert & Susan

Is it true, has September come and gone already? It appears it has and with very little to show for it at the McClintocks.

For those who would know her, Evelyn Green passed away peacefully on Saturday Sept 20th. She was in good health until about 10 months ago when congestive heart failure became apparent. One of her most joyful times during the past 10 months was getting a portable oxygen tank so that she could come to Sacrament meeting. (Never, never take anything for granted.) I guess Corene has her choir pal back with her now.

Uncle Bob has been and will be keeping pace with the Sacramento City Community College Panthers during football season. Uncle Bob takes pictures during their games and then posts them up on smugmug.com. He has several galleries and lots of great pictures. (http://creativ-eservices.smugmug.com/)

Susan is participating in the Carmichael Stake Fall Concert. Grandma Anna continues writing her life story. And that is pretty much it.

We include pictures taken at the Christiansen/Bos reception. The Bos children are just as enthusiastic as their dad about jam sessions. Unfortunately the photographer didn't anticipate the impromtu Bos concert and didn't get any pictures of the Bos family "jammin". It would have made quite a shot.

Happy Autumn Family!

The McClintocks

Westover, Mel & Carol

We have had a busy month. School always keeps me very busy. I have an interesting class this year. As usual, I have some very needy students. This class will keep me on my toes!! Mel is still building houses, although it has slowed down some. The economic news doesn't look very good. I guess the prophet has been warning us for quite a while. Hopefully, we have been paying attention.

Mel and I went to Detroit for a convention on September 12. We flew out of L.A.X. on September 11. (911) I have never seen so many police in one area. They were very very visible. Detroit was an interesting place. You can say that you would not see any foreign cars there. Where we were staying, they had futuristic concept cars. VERY INTERESTING. The hotel (Marriotts) was enormous. We were on the 56th floor. This place was awesome. It was totally self-contained. To get to the convention, we just took a (people mover) trolly/tram . This went all over the city, so we could go where ever we wanted to go.

Last Sunday we were in Los Angeles at little Ava Cannon's blessing. She had quite a group there to celebrate this special day. She just mainly slept through it. What a beautiful baby. We are so happy to add her to our family.

Cassie also was here last weekend to go to her 10 year class reunion. I will let her talk about that.

Hope everyone has a great month.

Carol and Mel

Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family

Well, this past month marked 120 days that I have been on the job with the Colorado Springs North Stake. This would suggest that either my probationary period is up, or the stake’s warranty has expired.

A good portion of September has been on the road for our family. Tammy and Arianna winged their way to Provo on September 17 just as baby Charlotte Haupt arrived on the scene. I paid a weekend visit to the Executive Office on Watt Avenue, just prior to spending 4 days in San Jose on legitimate business. I got a chance to meet newly arrived Kaitlyn Christiansen. After coming back to Colorado Springs for an overnight visit, I joined the rest of the family in Provo for Charlotte’s blessing on the 28th. It was wonderful to see family members who reside in Utah. Early morning on Monday the 29th, Arianna and I flew back to Colorado Springs to jump back into school and work. Tammy stayed with Levi, Torrie & family to escort them to upstate New York for about 10 days.

Well the Colorado Rockies closed out their baseball season pretty quietly this year. Not a great deal of fanfare. Oh well, March is just around the corner. For the past 42 years, Grandpa Woodward and I have enjoyed a friendly ice cream wager on the All-Star game held each July and on the World Series in October. He’s consistently supported the American League and I the National. Suffice it to say that unlike the 1970s, the past decade or so has not been my friend. But hope springs eternal, as I look forward to this next month’s World Series.

We love you,

The Woodwards

Monday, September 1, 2008

September 2008 - Picture of the Month

Justin and Emily

September 2008 - Executive Office of Ken Woodward

Dear Family,

The boys and I survived another summer and they are now unhappily back in school matriculating in the 6th grade. They seem to live for the next holiday or vacation. And our school district seems to have an abundance of both. Joshua is fortunate to have the same teacher he had last year. Zachari drew a new teacher and his class is composed of twenty seven 6th graders with seven of the more advanced 5th graders in the school.

I noted a paucity of contributors to our last month’s Newswire, and particularly, with nothing from Aaron, August has been a slow month. The only comfort I had was knowing that Adam was out on the Interstate protecting us from whomever he protects us from. And I’ve been waiting to learn whether Ava has arrived. I guess he has been so busy issuing traffic tickets for burned-out tail lights that he overlooked the fact that I’m waiting for the news. Maybe there will be some hint of the event in the upcoming issue.

I didn’t think the time would ever come when the most exciting news I can share with you is a picture from my garden, but here it is. My tomatoes are so big that it only takes 10 to make a dozen. Here's a sample.

Maybe next month will be better.

Love, Dad

September 2008 - Cannon, Aaron & Mindy & Family

Hello Family. Hello Friends. Hello Adam

We have very exciting news to share this month! Wait a minute. No we don't. I can tell you this however. Buying a home is an absurd process filled with lunatic fees, shmarms, sheisters, hucksters, and crackheads. As a result of our foray into this process I have decided to totally change the way I do business. The following fees will immediately be charged:

-Diagnosis fee
-Assessment fee
-Medical records review fee
-Documentation fee
-Your boring me fee
-What in the world are you talking about fee
-I don't think that's true fee
-Sitting fee
-Thinking fee
-Because I can fee
-and so on and so forth....fee

No wonder the housing market is el crasho (that’s Spanish for crashed. I grew up in Fresno. I know Spanish.) These people are unbelievable. I think we close in three weeks. Who knows.

Other than that, all is well.

Jakob, Hannah, Mindy and Aaron

p.s. I’m charging Grandpa a fee for always being on my case. Cash only please.

September 2008 - Cannon, Adam & Erica & Family

Well Hello.

This month we greeted a new girl into the Cannon family. Ava Cannon was born on 08-18-2008 at approximately 6:20 am. She was and still is 8 lbs, 10 oz. and 21 inches long. She sleeps a lot, poops a lot and eats a lot. She lives the life I could only dream of. Erica is doing fine. Maja started 1st grade and she loves it. I get to take her to school in the morning and as we walk towards class, she is bombarded with kids running up to her and saying "Hi Maja!" and giving her hugs. Apparently, people like her. That is a personality trait she did not inherit from her father. Annika is doing well. Annika likes to point out that "Mommie feeds baby through her booty?" (as she pats her own chest) We haven’t had an in-depth anatomy discussion yet, so I let it slide when she makes a mistake now and then, plus... it is funny. I am towards the end of week one out of three that I have to take as vacation. A vacation filled with dirty diapers, crying, dishes, laundry, cooking, and cleaning. How did I get tricked into this?

The Cannon Family.

Here is a link to a youtube video of Ava Crying. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUd7vgHmP5M

September 2008 - Ekins, Justin & Emily

Hello All! We’ve had a very busy August. We’ve been traveling all over the country. I (Emily) went to Sacramento at the beginning of August to help my dad organizing his office. The office looks fantastic now.

Then Kimber and Mimi came over to play at our house and Justin, Kimber, and Mimi rocked out to Rock Band. We got a few videos with Mimi really getting into the songs, but those videos are a bit to large to go onto the blog.

Then I went to Kansas City to help my sister-in-law with her one-year-old twins and help her travel to Salt Lake City for the Bradley/Ekins family reunion. The babies are so adorable! I have even great admiration for parents. Children are so much work! I brought all this work with me to do while I was there and I barely got it all done because the kids required so much time. Every time I was away from the babies though, I realized how much I missed and loved them. I hope that this gives me an idea about what being a parent is like. So although kids can be annoying, they are so cute and loveable that we just have to be with them. Overall, the experience has even more convinced me of the importance of guys helping out! My brother-in-law Cameron is a pediatrician and emphasizes in helping premature babies (neonatology) and is a wonderful dad! He and Kristen work really well together and both take equal responsibility for taking care of the kids, changing diapers, cooking, cleaning, etc.

Kristen and I took the twins, Lydia and Robbie, with us to Salt Lake City and met with Justin’s mother Kathy and her family. We stayed at a resort up in the mountains. Justin met us up in Salt Lake and had one week off from work. Given that he’s been working until midnight or even until 3am on his latest case, this was a great vacation. In the picture below we are riding the Peruvian Chair, aka SKI LIFT!

Justin and I also went to our good friends’ wedding. It was the most beautiful wedding we’ve ever been to. They got married in the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles. It was one of those fancy weddings so Justin rented a tux and I found a dress that was actually (and surprisingly) cute even with sleeves!

September 2008 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family

Since we neglected to contribute to the August newswire we have some catching up to do…. Levi and his brothers and dad successfully finished the 200+ mile Seattle to Portland bike race.

His little brother Reuben also returned home from serving a mission in the Dominican Republic. So we had a good time visiting with his family. That was a two week visit during July. By the time we got home and settled we were off again on a house-hunting trip to upstate NY. New York is so beautiful, and the Hudson River is actually a nice river before you get down to NYC. During the House-hunting trip we took a detour down to NYC for a few days so that Levi could present a paper for an international geek convention, I mean Mechanical Engineering Conference. The Conference went well and because I was patient, and because it’s our anniversary in August, Levi was kind enough to treat me to the Phantom of the Opera, on Broadway. We had a great time and it was well worth the hike in heels.

Oh and by the way we found an apartment to rent in Malta, NY. Malta is just outside of Saratoga Springs where there is the famous Horse-race track. We're very excited. We have plane tickets for the morning of October 1st to be relocated. So we have just a few weeks to finish and defend Levi's Thesis, have a baby girl, and move across the country. When it rains it pours in our family. Just to let all of you know we are planning on blessing our new little addition on September 28th since its slightly easier for the majority of our families to travel to Utah instead of NY. We just wanted to let you know you're all invited. We love you and hopefully we'll be a little more settled in the next few months.

Love,

Levi, Emma, Torrie and baby girl

September 2008 - McClintock, Robert & Susan

The McClintocks have had a warm, quiet, August.

The California State Fair came and nary a one of us got to the event. We have been very busy organizing, de-junking, and generally reclaiming our "space".

For several months the one-hundred year old dairy next to the television station has been under demolition and Susan has experienced "quaking" like no earthquake can offer. The demolition has revealed a building code that was quite surprising. Even the architects of last century understood the need for walls to have leeway when the earth moves. One building, don't know its significance, but one building had walls FOUR bricks thick. The four-story pasteurizing building took five days, two huge Caterpillar dozers, and a blowtorch to weaken the otherwise quake-proof building enough for it to only lean over onto it's side rather than collapse in a heap. Apparently the metal, brick, and cement is quite valuable and the entire demolition project is behind guarded fences to discourage thieves from running off with the lot.

School has come once again to our part of the County and that means four lane roads that see cars stopped for buses with flashing red lights picking up children. That reminds one of a young Woodland, CA woman who was in China for the Olympics as a discus participant. She is a member of the Woodland Stake and ranked 12th in the World. We found out about her because her Aunt lives in our ward.

Our stake is having an unexpected visit from a General Authority, D. Todd Christopherson, the first Sunday in September. We suspect, though we don't know, that the occasion of the visit is the Marriage Initiative on the California ballot.

Hope all have a good September.

McClintocks

September 2008 - Mercier, Cesar & Kelly & Family

Hello family!

It has been a busy month. I actually had a break from grad school but it is starting back up. I am student teaching this semester and I am excited to get going. Jilina just had her 7th birthday on Friday the 29th. It is crazy how time flies. We have just been busy getting the girls ready for school, etc. My Dad came to visit us in Jersey at the beginning of the month which got us to do a lot of touristy things we hadn't done yet. It was fun and good to see him. Besides seeing New York we visited Philadelphia. We had just finished watching the mini-series on HBO "John Adams" so it was really cool to be amongst so much history. Of course, we have been really excited about the election this year and have been trying to teach the girls a lot about how our system works. They are actually showing some interest for young people. I have been a teacher in RS but just got called to be the 12 and 13-year-old Sunday School teacher. It is such a difference. My patience is definitely being tried. Anyways, we miss you all and still wish we were back in CA. (However, with Gustav we are glad we are not in Houston!) Okay, well maybe more reasons than just Gustav. Well, take care and love to all.

The Merciers

September 2008 - Slade, Jeff & Crystal & Family

Well family this month has been busy as usual. My kids are back in school and they LOVE it. I am always hearing about the songs and cars Andrew plays with, who Mrs. Jacoby just might be Felicities new favorite teacher, and Mathew is always asking me to be a part of his at-home science experiments (his teacher is big on science.) Both Mathew and Felicity are in Gate with the same teach and they LOVE her. This has been a great school for them. Jeff is busy with business and working hard. I have been working the past 3 weeks (which ironically they catered a luncheon for the district from a facility that gave us food poisoning...oops) They recognize with the high enrollment and the heavy SPec. Ed. percentage in addition to all the other duties they have asked me to do that they need me there more than half a week. The new plan is that I will be there 4 days a week. In a nutshell we are great, just be care full when a lunch is catered to you!

Crystal

Oh..no news on the house, so far no work has be done because the claims adjuster is being difficult.

September 2008 - Westover, Mel & Carol

Today is August 30, and we are thinking of Kristy and Rick. We wish them all the best. Mel and I are sorry that we could not attend, circumstances kept us home.

School has started again. It is a lot of work to get your class up and running. I come home very tired. I think that approaching 59 is catching up with me. I have a new principal (boss). She is great to work for. I got my students scores from last year, and they did awesome. I am very proud of my class. Our school's overall Star score was 844. Since I have been at that school (2001) we have brought our scores up over 250 points.

Last Sunday, Mel and I went to visit our newest granddaughter, Ava Cannon. She is beautiful. I am sure that Adam and Erica will have more to say about her.

Aaron and Mindy are in the final throws of buying a house in San Diego. (I am not sure if it is east, or west of the 5). I am sure they will also tell you more about that.

Crystal is working as a school psychologist this year. I am sure she will let you know more about that.

Cassie is still working, and finishing up her dissertation. I am NOT so sure she will tell you more about that.

Mel is still building houses. He is building a house for the owners of Gottschalks. That will take about a year and a half. We'll see if he will continue to build after that. We are both very busy, and know that everyone else in the family is also busy.

Hope everyone has a great month!!

Carol and Mel

September 2008 - Wilcox, Todd & Tracy & Family

Todd and Tracy just got back from 6 days in Cancun while Grandma Kristy watched the kids. We had fun despite the HEAT and HUMIDITY! We visited the Aztec ruins (hotter than hell!) and went to a Xcaret which is their version of a water theme park It was fun, but not "Wet 'n Wild" fun. Overall we liked our trip, glad we did it, but once was enough. When we got back I found my house in immaculate condition! No problems had occurred and....Brenton is finally eating food thanks to my moms doing! Now to the Christiansen side of the family. You may be thinking sarcastically..."Great job, a near three year old is eating." I say this because on our side of the family our lives revolve around food. Some how though, I have given birth to two children who could care less about food. It is an after thought, as it may be for many of you. Anyhow, my milk bill will finally be going down a bit, yaaah, and food will go up, boooh. But I am very happy about it. I also want to tell my mom THANK YOU SO MUCH for watching them and cleaning my house! I love you!

Tracy

PS I had Lap band surgery and hopefully I will finally be losing some weight soon!

September 2008 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family

This past month we enjoyed a visit with Alexis, a business trip to Washington, D.C., and a family evening at nearby Seven Falls. Yet one of the highlights of the month was our week-long visit with Emma. We had an Emma Haupt reception committee awaiting her arrival at the airport. One would think she had achieved celebrity status, at least in the minds of her grandparents. Tammy prepared and sent the following correspondence in preparation for her visit:

Dear Miss Emma,

I want to email this list of activities, and subsequent itinerary for your approval, for your planned vacation to Colorado Springs and "The Woodward Bed and Breakfast", (oh wait that's Bed and Breakfast and all other meals, snacks and goodies.) We are greatly anticipating your arrival and stay with us, and hope your visit will be a pleasant one.

-Playtime
-Outdoor activities
-Pool time
-Sun bathing
-Regular bathing
-Shopping (for toys)
-Spa time (under the direction of our specialist Arianna)
* Manicure
* Pedicure
*Up-do's
-Park visits
-Play dates (with children in the ward)
-Movies (of the Disney and Pixar variety)
-Storytime
-Snuggling
-Watching Bobo (the neighbor’s dog) out the kitchen window
-Walks
-Cooking with Grandma
-Watching baseball with Grandpa
-Riding Ginger (a rocking horse now serving a third generation of children)
*Baking cookies
*Rearranging Grandma's cupboards

Please go over this list and email us your preferences. Arrangements will be made at that time and be in place before your arrival.

Warmest Regards,

Woodward B&B Team

Emma partook of over 70% of the activities listed, and intimated that she was having a wonderful time. We hope that she will visit us again soon.

We love you all and wish you the very best this month,

The Woodwards