May 2009 - Cannon, Adam & Erica & Family

We bought a house in Fresno. I am starting at the Fresno CHP office on July 1st, the house will not be finished until mid September...October. We are excited. Maja is still doing great at school. Annika is still sneaky and Ava can crawl at turbo fast. Life is great.

That is all we have to report.

May 2009 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family

So this past month was full of whirlwind traveling for us Haupts. We headed out to Portland, OR for Levi’s brother’s wedding. I was a little frustrated that our connection was in NYC. We went straight south instead of west; it’s always nice when we make some progress, plus, that was one LONG flight from JFK to Portland. But we survived. The wedding was great and we had lots of fun being with Grandpa and Nana Haupt and all the adoring uncles and aunts. Afterwards our diligent hubby and daddy headed back to work in NY, while the girls and I headed to Colorado for some more mischief. Grandma Woodward had been wishing we could show up for some fun but I kept telling her it was too expensive. Somehow we found money in our budget (thanks, tax return) and conspired with Grandpa to surprise her. We walked into the house to a very dumbfounded Grandma! Later that week Alexis and Maija showed up and we were there to surprise them as well. We had lots of fun with all the grandkids being there and being able to send Arianna off to school with all our well wishes.

Last but not least, our Emma turned 3 on the 26th . We can’t believe how the time has flown! I remember the first time I saw her. Now she is a bright, beautiful little girl who is a great big sister. Charlotte and Emma have tons of fun together. We are truly blessed.

We hope your month was just as good.

Until next time,

Levi and the girls

May 2009 - McClintock, Robert & Susan

Just a quick word from the McClintocks.

We have spent most of the month fighting off the flu. Uncle Bob has had two bouts but Susan and Anna have only had to deal with one bout each. Our weather has been a bit on the cool side but not unbearable. We understand that an obscure state administrative office has announced there is nothing to worry about because the flu epidemic in Northern California is not related to the swine flu. Instead it is related to the "swim" flu do to the fact that so many Californians have swimming pools, or is it because so many Californians are swimming in money...we can't recall which definition applies...but we seriously doubt their Intel is any good because we haven't seen hard evidence of the one and it's too early for the other scenario.

Our ward celebrated it's 40th anniversary the last weekend of April and over one hundred people came from areas outside of California to help celebrate. The building where this ward has met since 1973 was dedicated by Pres. Monson and Grandpa Woodward was stake president at the time. One of the early bishops of this ward is about 6' 3" tall and he testified that Pres. Monson was eye level with him at the dedication. One of the more humorous aspects of the ward anniversary was the Sacrament meeting. Of the ten bishops that have served during those forty years, seven are living. As each of the bishops stood at the pulpit to speak about a memory during their time in service the pulpit, which had been fully extended for the current 6' 6" tall bishop, was lowered just a little bit for the next bishop who stood to speak until the pulpit was at its very lowest and it just happened to be the last bishop. Size doesn't make a whit of difference when one serves in the Church but it was rather interesting to see that the bishops had consistently shrunk in height over the years. Your Grandpa, though not present during the Sacrament meeting, is still a memorable figure for those bishops and was mentioned by one in particular.

Love to all,

The McClintocks

May 2009 - Mercier, Cesar & Kelly & Family

Dear Family,

I was thinking that there really wasn't much for us to contribute to the newsletter this month as nothing has changed for us. But Cesar was able to give me some great news today that will allow us to share something good from New Jersey. Today he had his interview at immigration for naturalization. He passed and Cesar is now officially an American citizen. We are preparing to get an American passport for him in this next week. We are thinking we will get one for Jilina at the same time so that we can travel whenever.

Nothing else to report. We still wish we were back in CA and it wouldn't matter if it were east or west of I-5!

Love,

The Merciers

May 2009 - Westover, Mel & Carol

Hi family! Well, the weather in Fresno is beautiful! It is starting to warm up a little. We start our testing on Monday. We will be testing for the next two weeks. Then, it is downhill. We will finally get to do some fun things with the students. Mel is still building houses, not as many, we are trying to get Mel out of the building business and into ACN full-time. We will be going to Charlotte, North Carolina in June for our international convention. Donald Trump will be speaking. If anyone needs a new cell phone, direct TV, or Dish TV, or ADT (home security), wireless air cards for your computer, or one of our Video Phones, just let us know. That will really help out our business. www.melwestover.acnrep.com You can look on Mel's website and see what we are talking about.

We are excited for Adam and Erica to move to Fresno this summer. Their new house has already been trenched and ready for the rough plumbing. Erica will be coming up to Fresno to pick out her final colors/tile/carpet/etc. When they are in, then Mel can add some extra cabinets, crowns, and upgrades to make it even nicer. If you are ever in Fresno, please come and visit us. Have a great month!!

Carol and Mel

May 2009 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family

It is always so good to hear from everyone through the Newswire. Given our geographical differences and the varied activities in which everyone is involved, it’s great to have a monthly family “huddle”. I can’t help but think of our family “Round Robin” newsletter that we attempted many years ago. Back then we had no other option but the U.S. Postal Service. Perhaps we might simply consider that a prototype of what was to follow. And now with this edition of the Newswire, we start our fifth year. And even during that short period, we have evolved from a simple e-mail exploder to a blog which allows for reminiscent searches down memory lane.

We enjoyed visits from Torrie and Alexis and their babes this past month. It was great to have them here, although we did miss having Levi and Ryan as well. Tammy accompanied Arianna out to Provo where she began her Spring Term at BYU this past week. She is settled in and has command of the campus. I was privileged to get my last haircut from her, as she made room for me in her schedule, before she left. I had two business trips to the east coast: one to northern Virginia and one to Philadelphia.

Sister Julie Beck, Relief Society General President, visited Colorado Springs April 17 - 19. It was wonderful getting to know her and her husband Ramon. She provided some wonderful instruction for the sisters and for the priesthood leadership in this area.

After our respective travels, Tammy and I are now at home ill, nursing one another back to health. That’s about the sum total for the month. Lots of love,

Kevin and Tammy

April 2009 - Picture of the Month

Katelyn Christiansen

April 2009 - Executive Office of Ken Woodward

Dear Family,

I write this with heavy heart. I just learned that the cold temperature in Colorado Springs may “darken” its upcoming crab apple spring show. For me, that news is more disturbing than the recent firing by President Obama of the CEO of General Motors. And for you, that should be convincing evidence that I have virtually nothing worthwhile to report this month.

Zack and Josh did have a birthday. In the past my independent selection of gifts for them hasn’t impressed them much, so I asked them to write a list of some items which I might consider. I got nothing from Joshua and after several days Zack handed me a piece of paper with just one item on it. I looked at it and said to him, “no way am I going to go down to Wal-mart and ask for a ‘skunk fur suit with green eyes and a jaw that moves up and down.’” But it worked out OK, Big Nick and Daddy Alex came to town and took them to McDonalds so all was well.

Levi convinced me join his rigged East Coast Bias chapter of the ESPN Tournament Challenge for the NCAA playoffs but I was eliminated hardly before the first tipoff. Anytime Torrie leads in some contest, as she apparently does at the time of this writing, it has got to be rigged. And when Governor Schwarzenegger told Aaron to take a furlough he didn’t mean from contributing to our Newswire.

One of my shirt-tail relatives, Jean Roundy, is promoting an Elizabeth Kingsford Lowe family reunion in Franklin on July 1. You five immediate members of the Ken and Corene Woodward family may be hearing from her by e-mail. I’ve never met Jean, but anyone who would leave Whitney, which as you know is a suburb of Franklin, to live in Cache Junction, Utah has got to be suspect. In fact anyone who lives in Cache Junction, Utah has got to be suspect. Jean is your 2nd cousin, and the granddaughter of the most colorful member of my mother’s extended family, my Uncle Jack.

Love, Dad

April 2009 - Cannon, Aaron & Mindy & Family

Ah yes, March. It's a grand month. The weather is beautiful, 72 and sunny. Spring breakers officially start to come and invade our beaches. And my good friend the Governor is still stealing 10% of my paycheck from me. I have recently started a Friday morning ritual where I meet two friends of mine at about 6am and we surf until I gotta be at LDS Family Services. My good friend Dr. O is Catholic. My good friend Dr. S. is Jewish. They both work with me at the Prison. My new favorite joke starts like this...stop me if you have heard it. A Mormon, A Jew, and A Catholic go surfing......
I don't have a punchline yet, let me know if you think of one.

I took Jakob skiing today. His first real time as his last time he was 3 and spent the day with me just lifting him up as he skied between my skis. Right about the time I stopped nagging him and left him alone is about the time he figured out what he was doing and took off down the mountain. And didn't crash. And didn't kill anyone, including himself. Next up....Surfing!

Emily and her husband came to visit briefly this month. My mother might have been here too, although that could just as easily have been last month. I don't remember. You know what they say is the first thing to go when you get older.....I don't remember.
Not much else to report here. Until next month when I will certainly report drastic weather changes.

Jakob, Hannah, Mindy, Aaron

April 2009 - Cannon, Adam & Erica & Family

We are moving to Fresno. Ava can/does climb stairs (7 months old). Annika is very, very sneaky and Maja is apparently one of the smartest kids in her school. She got 100% on both the math and language test that 1st graders have to take in the State of California. I am thinking she takes after her mother. I failed a spelling test in the 3rd grade because I didn't know how to spell "Bano". I still don't know how to spell it. (For those of you who didn't get the joke, Bano is Spanish for bathroom...why was I being tested in Spanish? I went to Nelson.) I got my transfer to Fresno and report on the 1st of July.

That is all.

The Cannon, Adam family

April 2009 - Cannon, Cassie

Hello Family! Things are going well out here in San Diego (also west of I-5). I'm getting promoted at work which tells me that at least I won't be getting fired anytime soon (I hope). I also finished data collection for "round one" of my dissertation which means I'll hopefully be done with "round 2" in December . . .and defending my dissertation a few months after that. I suddenly have all this time which I have been filling up with some serious xbox 360 game time. I also was called this month to be the education counselor in my ward, but the Relief Society President will be "graduating" in May, (translation: "nicely" kicked out because she is turning 31 and therefore no longer allowed to be in the YSA ward) so the responsibility will only last another month or so. I don't know what they were thinking having a Cannon in a leadership position in the first place, we are all trouble makers anyway. And we cuss a lot. . .Or at least I do.

That's all for me! The Cassie Cannon Family.

April 2009 - Haupt, Levi & Torrie & Family

The month of March in upstate NY brought many long awaited moments. Quite possibly the most anticipated was the 12 degree rise in temperature. The average temperature rose above freezing, melted the snow, and allowed our little family the chance to venture out to Palmyra. Our local missionaries had a meeting they needed to attend in Utica NY which is half way between our home and Palmyra. Since the meeting also fell on Levi's Friday off we all go up early and left at 6 am. With the stop in Utica to drop off the missionaries and to change a few diapers we arrived in Palmyra around 10 am. It was a nice morning. We made a stop at the Hill Cumorah and walked around the pillar at the top. It was neat to see more of the valley from that vantage point; this is quite the rare occurrence in Upstate NY, no nice CA, CO or Utah mountains, but lots of gorgeous trees. We then proceeded to the Smith Farm, visiting both the log cabin and the frame home. Lastly we walked through the Sacred Grove. The trees were bare and the sky was cloudy, we were told this is probably how it looked when young Joseph went to pray, somehow I don't get that picture from the song..... sad. Nevertheless it was a neat stroll especially to look back and see the Palmyra temple on a nearby rise. According to the sister missionary leading the tour, President Hinckley requested that the Palmyra temple be built with a clear window overlooking the Grove and the Smith Farm. We had a great time and can't wait to go back for the pageant this July.

This month was also spent hovering around ESPN.com and watching our brackets during March Madness, thanks to all who participated. We had a lot of fun and hope you will join us next year. Please don't be discouraged by the whining of those who avidly watch espn, and still struggle to stay out of last place (you know who you are ;). Charlotte has had pretty good chance of taking the crown this year. She has already prepared a victory speech/squawk in which she thanks her mother who made her selections for her. Hopefully she didn’t celebrate too soon.

Until next month..

Love,

Levi, Torrie, Emma and Charlotte

April 2009 - McClintock, Robert & Susan

No April Foolin'

The McClintocks are just living each day the best they can. For some reason the McClintock Cottage lawn and shrubs didn't get the word that Punxsutawney's ground hog Phil declared six more weeks of winter. Uncle Bob and Aunt Susan have been spending much too much time staying on top of annoying yard work.

Uncle Bob continues to build up the La Sierra Ward 40th Anniversary Website. http://www.lasierrawardreunion.com. Carol and Kristy might be interested to know that a former Arden Ward MIA adult worker now lives in La Sierra ward and remembers them well. They would know her as Kathy Peterson. She and her husband moved into Arden Ward in 1964 as newly married BYU students.

I understand Kimber was housemother to Rocco for the Ekins while Justin and Emily made a visit to Arizona recently. I look forward to her report on that Kat-meets-kid experience.

And California is rockin' and rollin' again with a light 4.3 magnitude earthquake down near Morgan Hill. The reason we mention this slight event is the chuckle Aunt Susan got out of the response of the recent young hires in the news department. One would have thought the State of California was about to fall off into the sea based on the reaction of these "budding" journalists who have not even now experienced a genuine earthquake. The veteran news folks waxed long about their own terrifying experiences with earthquakes that may have spilled pool water as much as a horrifying 20 drops and brought queasiness from imagined ground roll. For those of you who experience this every day along the San Andreas Fault I share this bit of absurdity. And to those on the west side of I5, yet further east of those on east of I5, we sympathize that you have not had such a dire experience to steel your nerves. For, as one young newsy observed, "The end is near."

Love to all,

The McClintocks

April 2009 - Westover, Mel & Carol

Hi family, we are still here and alive. Life has been very busy for us. Mel is still building houses and I am still teaching second grade. We just got done with our third district-wide test, and my students did awesome. I had two students that really surprised me as to how well they did. Mel and I were in San Diego in February at an ACN meeting. We are planning on going to Charlotte, North Carolina in June for another ACN meeting (that will be our family vacation). Did anyone see Celebrity Apprentice last March 22. They highlighted our new video phone for two hours. It was really great. We had a houseful of people.

Adam and Erica are coming up on Thursday to look for houses. They will be moving here in July. We are very excited to have them back in Fresno. We are still busy with our church callings. Anyone coming to Fresno, please come and visit with us. Have a great month!!

Carol and Mel

April 2009 - Woodward, Kevin & Tammy & Family

You might recall that we left you last month discussing the 70 degree weather in Colorado Springs. Even as I write, we are enjoying the spring-time precipitation otherwise known as snow flurries. That is what I really like about Rocky Mountain weather: it is always changing. I must admit that I do find having to contend with yard work only 6 months out of the year, instead of 10, to have its advantages. On the flip side, I am getting to be pretty handy with a snow shovel on the driveway.

The last week of March brings the entire aerospace/defense industry to Colorado Springs for the annual Space Symposium which is held at the historic Broadmoor Hotel. Speaking of the Broadmoor, I attended a Boy Scout fundraising breakfast that was held there earlier in the month. Shuttle Astronaut Rick Searfoss, a member of the church who lives in the Auburn, CA, area, was the featured speaker.

We have been pretty focused on school, church and work this past month. Arianna is in the midst of her state cosmetology licensure examination, and taking a semester’s worth of BYU online courses. She’ll be heading to Provo to start the Spring Term there at the end of April.

We enjoyed a visit from Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the First Quorum of Seventy during the middle of March. He was here to tour the mission and to conduct Youth and Young Single Adult firesides in the area. In April, we will be privileged to have Sister Julie Beck, Relief Society General President, to visit Colorado Springs for a weekend. We are gearing up to broadcast, via the internet from our stake center to various stakes in southern Colorado and Kansas, her Friday evening fireside for Relief Society sisters and Laurels. The church has now made this webcasting equipment available throughout the church.

We love you all and wish you the very best,

The Woodwards