WHAT A GREAT TRIP!!

WE LEFT ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND DROVE TO OREM, ON THE WAY DOWN WE STOPPED AT SMITH AND EDWARDS COUNTRY STORE, CHEROKEE AND CHEVY LOVED ALL THE CANDY AND FUNNY THINGS WE SAW!! WE SPENT THE NIGHT WITH CONTESSA AND LORIN-ORDERED PIZZA AND WATCHED, "BLINDSIDE!" WE LEFT THE NEXT MORNING FOR CALIFORNIA, WE STOPPED IN ST. GEORGE FOR A LITTLE WALKING BREAK, WENT THRU MOST OF THE OUTLETS, WE LOVED THE OLD NAVY, AND RUE 21 STORE THERE. WE GRABBED SOME LUNCH AND A DRINK THEN HEADED TO PRIMM. WE STAYED AT "WHISKEY PETE'S," IN PRIMM NV, MARTY AND ME BOTH HATE VEGAS, BUT PRIMM WASN'T MUCH BETTER!! THE ROOM WAS NICE THOUGH AND WE WERE ALL TIRED FROM A LONG DAY. WE LEFT THE NEXT MORNING AND DROVE TO BAKER, CALIFORNIA TO SEE THE WORLD'S LARGEST THERMOHEATER, MARTY HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS, IT WAS FUN, WE ALSO WENT TO THE WIERD "ALIEN JERKY," PLACE!! THAT ACTUALLY WAS ALOT OF FUN, WE GOT SOME DELICIOUS JERKY AND THEY HAD GREAT PICTURE SPOTS!! AFTER THAT WE DROVE TO BARSTOW AND WE STOPPED AND HAD A ICE-CREAM, THEN ON TO ANEHIEM. WE GOT TO OUR HOTEL AT AROUND 1P.M., DUMPED OFF OUR LUGGAGE AND THEN HEADED TO THE BEACH, CASH LOVED ALL THE SAND AND WATER, BUT I THINK CHEVY AND CHEROKEE LOVED IT THE MOST, THEY CHASED WAVES AND WE BURIED CHEROKEE IN THE SAND!! WE GOT CLAMS AND SEASHELLS FOR LORIN, ALL IN ALL WE HAD FUN, BUT COULDN'T SEEM TO GET THE SAND OFF OF US!!! THE KIDS WERE STARVING SO "LITTLE CEASARS," PIZZA WAS ON THE AGENDA!! WE WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND WENT SWIMMING AND SAT IN THE HOT TUB, EVERYONE WAS EXHAUSTED AFTER A LONG DRIVE AND PLAY AT THE BEACH, SO WE HIT THE SACK PRETTY EARLY.
DISNEYLAND-PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK US WHY WE LOVE TO GO TO DISNEYLAND SO MUCH, WELL MARTY AND ME LOVE IT BECAUSE IT IS ONE PLACE WE ALL LOVE TO GO AND THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, WE LOVE SEEING OUR KIDS AND THEIR SWEET LITTLE FACES LIGHT UP AT ALL THE RIDES, FOOD, SIGHTS AND SOUNDS. THEY STILL LOVE IT AT THEIR AGES AND SO DO WE, SO WE FIGURE WE WILL DO THE EXOTIC TRIPS WHEN OUR KIDS GET TIRED OF GOING TO DISNEYLAND. WE SAY TO EACH THEIR OWN AND WE HAPPEN TO LOVE DISNEYLAND!!
ANYWAY, OUR FIRST DAY THEIR WAS CRAZY, IT WAS 80 DEGREES AND CASH JUST WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE!! HIS EYES WERE AS BIG AS SAUCERS THE ENTIRE TIME WE WERE THERE, HE LOVED THE PIRATE RIDE AND SPLASH MOUNTAIN!! HE ALSO LOVED WINNIE THE POOH AND HIS FAVORITE, "PETER PAN!" WE WAITED IN LINE FOR 1HR AND 30 MIN. TO GET ON THAT RIDE, AND THEN IT LASTED ABOUT 40SEC. HE LOVED IT ANYWAY AND WANTED MORE!! CHEROKEE AND CHEVY WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN AND DID THE BIG KID RIDES, THEN THEY MET UP WITH US AND MARTY WENT WITH THEM. MARTY AND ME BELIEVE THAT IF WE PAY THAT MUCH MONEY FOR A TRIP, THEN WE WILL STAY TIL THE END, SO WE STAYED OUR FIRST DAY THERE FOR 13HOURS!!! THE SECOND DAY OF OUR VACATION WAS SPENT AT CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK, THEY HAD A LOT CLOSED DOWN FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE KIDS STILL HAD FUN, THEY LOVED THE FREE TORTILLA'S, CASH GOT SOAKED IN THE BUG LIFE LAND, SO WE HAD TO CHANGE HIM, THEN HE FELL ASLEEP FOR 3HOURS. THAT NIGHT WE WALKED DOWNTOWN DISNEY, I LOVE THE RAIN FOREST CAFE AND THE LEGO STORE!!
OUR THIRD DAY WE SENT TO KNOTT'S BERRY FARM, WERE WE ENJOYED THE BEST CHICKEN DINNER AND OF COURSE ROLLS AND JAM!! CASH AND CHEVY BOTH LOVED THE SAMPLE JAM, OUR TEEN-AGERS AND MARTY DID ALL THE ROLLER-COASTERS AND MARTY I THINK WAS A LITTLE SCARED AT TIMES IF HIS HEART WAS GOING TO SURVIVE!! CASH AND ME ENJOYED SNOOPY LAND AND ALL THE OTHER WONDERFUL ATTRACTIONS!! SEEING SNOOPY AT THE END OF HIS DAY, CASH THEN FELL ASLEEP INTO A PEACEFUL NAP! WE HIT ALL THE FUN STORES, BUT BECAUSE OUR BELLIES WERE FULL AND THE FACT THAT FUNNEL CAKE WAS 8.00 FOR ONE, WE HELD BACK EVEN THOUGH THE SMELL WAS WONDERFUL!! THE NEXT TWO DAYS WERE SPENT AT DISNEYLAND AND CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE, WE TOOK TONS OF PICTURES, WATCHED AWESOME FIREWORKS AND PARADES, ATE HAMBURGERS ALOT YUK!!! WE DID HAVE SOME GUMBO, IT WAS ALRIGHT, MARTY LIKED IT THOUGH, PLUS HE GOT A HUGE TURKEY LEG-IT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING FROM A MEDIEVAL MOVIE!! WE WERE SAD TO LEAVE, BUT WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!! WE STAYED IN ST. GEORGE ON THE WAY HOME, STOPPED IN BARSTOW AT THEIR OLD NAVY AND EVERYTHING WAS 40% OFF, SO WE HAD SOME FUN SHOPPING, WE PICKED UP LORIN AND TESSIE ON THE WAY HOME AND THEY SPENT EASTER AND TESSA'S 20TH BIRTHDAY WITH US!! THE ONLY REAL MISHAP THAT WE HAD WAS, ON THE DAY AFTER THE BEACH, WE GOT INTO THE CAR THAT NIGHT AFTER BEING AT DISNEYLAND ALL DAY IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER, AND OH MY WHAT A WONDERFUL SMELL WE HAD-I FORGOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE CLAMS AND THEY ROTTED!!! IT TOOK US ALL THE REST OF OUR VACATION TO GET THE SMELL OUT!! THANKS TO MARTY FOR DRIVING US THERE AND FOR LETTING US HAVE SO MUCH FUN-WE LOVE YOU DADDY!! LOVE,C

LOVE THIS WEATHER!!

WE HAVE BEEN IN THE HIGH 40'S TO LOW 50'S THE PAST THREE DAYS AND I AM LOVING IT, WE PLAYED OUTSIDE AND WENT WALKING AND I THREW OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS FOR A NICE CLEANING OF THE HOUSE, IT SMELLS SO FRESH, WELL EXCEPT AT NIGHT WHEN WE GET SKUNKS UP BY THE PORCH!!! I AM GETTING SO EXCITED FOR SUMMER, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE LAWN MOWER BUSTED, SO IF ANYONE KNOWS OF A RIDING LAWN MOWER FOR SALE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO USE THE PUSHING ONE AND CHEVY IS GETTING A JOB, SO IT WILL BE ME PUSHING!! I AM ALSO GETTING EXCITED TO GO TO CALIFORNIA AND HANG OUT ON THE BEACH FOR TEN DAYS!!!! CASH IS EXCITED TO, HE KEEPS ASKING TO SEE PETER PAN. WE ARE HOPING TO STOP AT THE GRAND CANYON ON THE WAY HOME, BUT IT STILL MIGHT BE CLOSED, SO WE WILL SEE, I JUST WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THE PHONE, MY WARD CALLING, NEIGHBORS, AND BE WITH MY SWEET HUSBAND AND FUN KIDS-SO CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!!!
AS FOR NEWS ABOUT US, CHEVY GOT HIS BRACES ON THE TOP AND HE LOOKS JUST AS CUTE AS CAN BE, HIS BOTTOM ONES COME ON IN ABOUT TWO MONTH-THEY ARE SO OVER PRICED IT'S JUST METAL FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!! CASH HAS BEEN LEARNING LOTS OF NEW WORDS AND SONGS, HE LOVES TO SING, "FOLLOW THE PROPHET," AND WE TAUGHT HIM A SONG ABOUT ST. PATRICKS DAY THAT HE SINGS AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS!! THANKS AUNT WENDY FOR THE WORDS!! SPEAKING OF WENDY-SHE SENT ME HOME WITH A WHOLE LOT OF GOODIES FOR MY HOUSE THE OTHER DAY-MARTY JUST ROLLS HIS EYES AT ME, BUT THANKS ANYWAYS WENDY AND NORM!! WE HOPE YOUR MOVE GOES SMOOTHLY-AND LOVE YOU BOTH!! BACK TO OUR FAMILY-CHEROKEE WENT TO DISTRICT COMPETION AND TOOK FIRST IN ALL THREE CATAGORIES, SO SHE IS GOIN TO STATE IN APRIL IN TWIN FALLS, WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER, SHE WON A $500 SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE CITY OF COMMERCE AND THE BOARD MEMBERS TOLD US THAT EVERYONE ON THE BOARD VOTED FOR HER. SHE JUST HAS A WAY WITH WORDS AND AND SUCH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, HER FAITH IN HER HEAVENLY FATHER ASTOUNDS ME AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR HER. I AM EXCITED FOR HER TO BECOME A NURSE, SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF ME WHEN I NEED MY DIAPER CHANGED!! HA! MARTY IS JUST BUSY AS A BEE, HE IS SO GOOD TO ME AND OUR KIDS, I LOVE HIM AND AM ALSO PROUD THAT HE HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO WORK HARD, I AM GRATEFUL THAT HIS DAD INSTILLED IN HIM THE TALENTS THAT HE HAS, I KNOW HE MISSES HIS DAD ALOT. CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE DOING GREAT, THEY ARE SO EXCITED TO BECOME PARENTS, I AM EXCITED FOR THIS NEW PATH IN THEIR LIVES. I AM SO HAPPY FOR LORIN AND THE WAY HE IS EMBRACING THE GOSPEL, HE WAS MADE A PRIEST LAST TUES. NIGHT, I THINK HE WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT HE WILL BE GREAT. CONTESSA LOOKS AS CUTE AS CAN BE, I AM SO PROUD OF HER AND HOW MUCH SHE HAS GROWN AND ACCEPTED THINGS IN HER LIFE THAT ARE POSITIVE, I LOVE HER SO MUCH AND I MISS HER SMILING FACE AT HOME, BUT I AT LEAST GET TO TALK TO HER TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY. LIFE IS JUST GREAT, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE TRIALS AND SOMETIMES SORROWS, I HAVE TO BE SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH. HAVE A HAPPY DAY TO ALL!! LOVE, C

WOW WHAT A WEEKEND

I TOLD MARTY THAT WHENEVER WE GO AWAY, IT SEEMS LIKE ALOT OF WORK TO GET THERE AND BY THE TIME I COME HOME I AM EXHAUSTED AND NEED TO SLEEP FOR 8 HOURS!! WE HAD A FUN WEEKEND WITH THE ZIPPAY FAMILY AND MARTY AND ME EVEN GOT A NIGHT TO OURSELVES, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN OVER A YEAR-TO BAD WE JUST WANTED TO FALL ASLEEP!! IT WAS A AWESOME BAPTISM AND LORIN DID A GREAT JOB, I THINK HE WAS VERY NERVOUS TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON JUST HIM, BUT IT WAS GREAT AND THE SPIRIT THERE WAS VERY STRONG. MARTY DID A GREAT JOB ALSO, I KNOW HE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE THING TOO, HE HELD TIGHT TO LORIN SO HE WOULDN'T SLIP TO FAR UNDER!! CASH HAD WAY TO MUCH FUN WITH LORIN'S BIRDS AND OF COURSE GOT SPOILED WAY TO MUCH, CONTESSA AND ME WENT SHOPPING WITH SHAWNA AND WENDY AND WE FOUND SOME CUTE MATERNITY CLOTHES FOR HER AND OF COURSE THE BABY!! CONTESSA LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BUTTER BALL, SHE IS GOING TO BE SUCH A GOOD LITTLE MOMMY. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM THANKFUL I LIVE IN IDAHO NOW, THE CRAZINESS OF UTAH ABOUT DROVE ME BONKERS, I GUESS I HAVE CHANGED ALOT SINCE WE MOVED, I WAS GLAD TO GET HOME LAST NIGHT AND CRAWL INTO MY OWN SOFT BED!! IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE ZIPPAY'S LOVE YA ALL, C

GOOD GRIEF LIFE IS BUSY!!

I TOLD MARTY THE OTHER DAY THAT WE MUST BE GETTING OLDER, BECAUSE TIME JUST SEEMS TO NEVER BE STILL!! I USE TO DREAD IT WHEN HE WOULD LEAVE TO GO TO UTAH TO WORK AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE HE GOES AND IS BACK OVERNIGHT, I THINK IT MUST BE PARTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT I KEEP VERY BUSY AT HOME WITH MY THREE MONSTERS, AND THE FACT THAT I KEEP MYSELF BUSY IN MY HOME. I CAN'T EVEN GET A GOOD BOOK READ, I SEEM TO FALL ASLEEP IF I SIT DOWN TO LONG. OH WELL I WANTED MY LIFE TO HAVE FULLFILMENT AND KNOW I AM BLESSED WITH AN OVER LOAD OF HAPPINESS!! I PUT SOME CURTAINS UP IN OUR BEDROOM, I HAVE NEVER BEEN A GOOD SLEEPER, BUT SINCE WE MOVED TO IDAHO IT GOT EVEN WORSE, ANYWAY I GOT THIS IDEA THAT MAYBE IF I BLOCKED OUT THAT BIG OLD MOON I WOULDN'T THINK IT WAS MORNING AND WAKE UP. I AM SOOO HAPPY TO SAY THAT EVER SINCE I GOT MY CURTAINS UP I HAVE SLEPT EVERY NIGHT, EXCEPT OF COURSE WHEN CASH WAKES UP(HE IS SLEEPING THRU THE NIGHT BETTER), I CLOSE MY DOORS, CLOSE THE CURTAINS, TURN THE HEAT WAY DOWN AND AS MARTY SAYS, "WE GO TO SLEEP IN OUR TOMB!" I LOVE IT, MAYBE I AM PART VAMPIRE OR MAYBE IT IS JUST PLAIN OLD MENOPAUSE!! ANYWAY, IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME SINCE I BLOGGED, LIFE HAS BEEN GOOD. ON VALENTINE'S DAY MARTY AND ME CELEBRATED THE FACT THAT WE WENT OUT ON OUR FIRST DATE, 21 YEARS AGO. I REMEMBER IT CLEARLY FOR TWO REASONS, FIRST HE TOOK ME TO A RATED R SHOW-WHICH I DON'T WATCH, BUT WAS TO AFRAID TO SAY ANYHTHING, SECOND AND THIS IS THE REASON I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM, WE WENT TO HARDEE'S AFTER OUR DATE AND IT WAS FREEZING OUTSIDE IT WAS LIKE MIDNIGHT AND HE LEFT HIS BIG OLD ORANGE TRUCK RUNNING THE ENTIRE TIME WE WAS IN HARDEE'S. HE DIDN'T WANT ME TO BE COLD WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE, SO HE WASTED GAS FOR OVER A HOUR, I THOUGHT HE WAS A KEEPER IF HE WOULD DO THAT FOR ME ON THE FIRST DATE. HE TAKES SUCH GOOD CARE OF ME STILL TO THIS DAY AND I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THAT LITTLE ARROW THAT GOT OUR HEARTS!!! I THINK THAT MARRIAGE IS A PROCESS OF SEASONING, OVER THE YEARS MARTY AND ME HAVE BEEN THRU TOUGH TIMES, BUT WE ALWAYS COME OUT SMILING AND I KNOW IT IS BECAUSE WE PUT EACH OTHER FIRST ALWAYS. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING FUN GETTING OUR BASEMENT DONE AND JUST LAUGHING TOGETHER WITH A FEW PUTTY FIGHTS IN BETWEEN. WE HAVE ALMOST GOT THE TEXTURING DONE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THE FIREPLACE, I WANT IT ALL VERY PRIMITIVE, SO IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT WE DECIDE ON!! AS FOR THE KIDS AND THEIR NEWS, CHEROKEE IS SO READY TO GRADUATE AND GET ON WITH LIFE, SHE HAS DECIDED TO BECOME A NURSE SO I AM VERY EXCITED FOR HER, SHE HAS THE BRAINS SO I TOLD HER TO GO FOR IT, BECAUSE ONCE YOU ARE MARRIED IT IS WAY HARDER TO GET A EDUCATION!!! CHEVY GETS TO HAVE BRACES ON IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY SURE HAVE GOTTEN PRICY SINCE OUR LAST CHILD, HE IS SUCH A GOOD HELPER TO ME, I DO REWARD HIM WITH VIDEO GAME TIME THOUGH. HE WANTS TO WORK AT BEAR WORLD THIS SUMMER. CASH IS JUST FULL OF MISCHEIF AND HAS A MOUTH THAT NEVER QUITS ASKING, DEMANDING AND BEING SASSY!! CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE DOING WELL, SHE IS FINALLY FEELING A LITTLE BETTER, VERY BIG AND TIRED THOUGH. GRANDMA AND MOMMY SPOIL LITTLE KENNEDY ALOT ALREADY, I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A GRANDMA!!! LORIN IS TAKING THE MISSIONARY DISCUSSIONS AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR WHAT EVER HE DECIDES, WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT HE LOVES OUR DAUGHTER. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR LIFE AND ALL THAT IT TEACHES US, I MISS SEEING MY SIBLINGS AND THINK IT IS TIME FOR A SPRING HOLIDAY FOR US ALL!! I WOULD EVEN SETTLE FOR A ONE DAY THING, IT IS NICE TO HAVE FAMILY. I LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE YOUR LIVES ARE BLESSED WITH LOVE THIS VALENTINE'S SEASON!! HUGS AND KISSES C
P.S.- FOR MARTY I KNOW YOU READ THIS SO HERE IS A BIG KISS FOR YOU, CHEER UP THINGS ALWAYS GET BETTER IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, BESIDES IT JUST SOME DUMB CAR-DON'T LET IT KICK YOUR BUTT-KICK IT!!! LOVE YA C

Monday, December 21, 2009

OH WHAT FUN IT WAS TO SEE EVERYONE!!!
WELL WE DID IT, WE SPENT THE PAST FIVE DAYS VISITING FAMILY AND SHOPPING,EATING,SEEING LIGHTS, SWIMMING,SHOPPING SOME MORE AND ABOUT GOING CRAZY IN UTAH!! I WAS SO GLAD TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THAT CITY CLUTTER AND CRAZINESS!! ANYWAY, THIS IS OUR TRIP IN A NUTSHELL, WE STARTED OFF ON WED. NIGHT AFTER CHEROKEE GOT OUT OF WORK, THE KIDS AND ME WENT TO LOGAN AND ARRIVED AT ABOUT 11P.M. AT VIC'S TO SPEND THE NIGHT AND SOME TIME WITH HER AND ELLIE. I THINK CASH PROBABLY DROVE VIC NUTS WITH ALL HIS CHATTERING. I THINK HE MIGHT OF HAD A LITTLE TO MUCH SUGAR ON THE WAY!! WE WOKE AND VIC MADE US YUMMMY WAFFLES AND HOT COCOA, WE GOT READY AND HEADED TO DEBBIE AND JACK'S. VICKY'S TREE WAS VERY PRETTY, CASH SAID IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, SHE HAD IT DONE IN SILVER AND PLUM, IT LOOKED REALLY PRETTY SHINNING AT NIGHT.
TO THE JOHNSON HOUSE TO SAY HI AND GOOD-BYE TO JACK WHO WAS HEADED TO WORK, I HAD A NICE LITTLE LAUGH AT DEBBIE, SHE HAD ELECTRIC CURLERS IN HER HAIR WHEN I ARRIVED, I DIDN'T KNOW THEY STILL MADE THOSE THINGS!! DEBBIE HAD GOODIES ALL OVER HER HOUSE WITH CHRISTMAS IN EVERY CORNER, IT REMINDED ME OF A GINGERBREAD HOUSE!! WE HAD A NICE VISIT WITH DEBBIE AND CORY AND A NICE LUNCH WITH THEM. HER TREE WAS LIKE A OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS TREE, SHE EVEN HAD THE CHARLIE BROWN GANG ON IT!! HER AND JACK HAVE BEEN SINGING CHRISTMAS SONGS AT NIGHT TO EACH OTHER-PRETTY ROMANTIC!!!
TO CONTESSA AND LORIN'S HOUSE WE GO!! I LEFT DEBBIE AND JACK'S AROUND NOON, PICKED UP MARTY IN BOUNTIFUL AND HEADED TO UTAH COUNTY-YIKES!! IT WAS A MAD HOUSE AROUND THAT AREA, WE DID STOP AT IKEA, CHEVY AND CHEROKEE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLEST STORE EVER!! I GOT THAT ANXIETY FEELING IN THERE AND MARTY JUST HAD FUN CHASING CASH EVERYWHERE!! WE WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH MARTY'S MOM AND RANDY, JOHN AND KATHY, THERE IS A REALLY COOL PIZZA PLACE IN PROVO THAT WE ATE AT, IT WAS NICE TO SEE THEM AND ENJOY THERE COMPANY. CASH LOVED ALL THEIR CATS, HE CHASED THEM ALL OVER THE HOUSE.
WE WENT SWIMMING THAT NIGHT, BUT IT WAS PRETTY COLD, SO WE BASICALLY JUST TALKED AND GOOFED AROUND. WE WENT TO THE HOWLETT HOUSE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SHAWNA GOT A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT EARLY, JUSTIN CAME HOME AND SURPRISED HER, I THINK THAT MADE HER WEEK!!! THEY STILL HAVE THEIR HORSES, BUT THEY ARE PRETTY OBEDIENT, SO IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR IN A BARN, JUST A FRONT ROOM WITH HORSES HA-HA!! WE GOT TO VISIT WITH SPENCER AND SAM TO, IT WAS NICE TO SEE HOW THE HOWLETT BOYS HAVE GROWN INTO FINE YOUNG MEN-YOU TO SAM HA-HA!! SHAWNA OF COURSE SPOILED CASH WITH A FARM ANIMAL SET, HE LOVES THE PIGS AND HE CAN STILL GET HER NAME RIGHT. FRIDAY WE SPENT THE DAY SHOPPING AND GOING TO SOME OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES, I GOT TO SPEND ABOUT FOUR HOURS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH MY GIRLS SHOPPING AND GIGGLING. IT WAS SO FUN TO JUST BE WITH THEM AND WATCH THEM, THEY HAVE BOTH CHANGED SO MUCH AND IT WAS FUN TO LISTEN TO THEM. CONTESSA TOOK HER SIBLINGS TO HER HOUSE FOR PIZZA SO THAT MARTY AND ME COULD GO OUT TO "MI RANCHITO," THAT IS ONE THING I MISS ABOUT UTAH!! CONTESSA DID HER TREE IN SOME DISNEY ORNAMENTS, IT IS A LITTLE TREE, BUT JUST RIGHT FOR THEM.SATURDAY WE WENT TO GARDNERS VILLAGE AND WALKED ALL OVER AND TOOK PICTURES, THEN WE WENT TO THE GATEWAY AND SHOPPED A LITTLE, THEN IT TURNED COLD SO WE LEFT AND WENT TO CROWN BURGER FOR DINNER, IT WAS YUMMY!! WE THEN WENT TO TEMPLE SQUARE, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY LIGHTS AS THEY USE TO, BUT IT WAS STILL REALLY PRETTY. WE TOOK LORIN TO THE JOSEPH SMITH BUILDING UP TO THE TENTH FLOOR, THAT WAS WAY COOL FOR THEM, THE REFLECTION POND ON THE SQUARE WAS AMAZING. AFTER TEMPLE SQUARE WE HEADED TO WENDY AND NORM'S, THE FOG WAS REALLY BAD THAT NIGHT, AND I GOT A LITTLE NERVOUS DRIVING, BUT WE MADE IT.WE STAYED AT THE HOWELL'S OVERNIGHT, WENDY OF COURSE HAD HERE HOUSE ALL COZY AND WARM!!! CASH SAID HER HOUSE WAS BEAUTIFUL, NORM MADE US A NICE BREAKFAST SUNDAY MORNING AND WE HAD A NICE GAME OF HAND AND FOOT!! WENDY HAD TO UNWRAP SOME PRESENTS TO SHOW ME, THAT SHE HAD MADE, SHE DOES A AWESOME JOB ON JEWLERY!! CASH LOVED ALL HER TOYS AND EVEN CONIVED HER OUT OF A GOLF SET-THE LITTLE WEASEL!! WENDY AND NORM HAD THEIR TREE DONE IN REDS, IT GLOWED REALLY PRETTY AT NIGHT AND DURING THE DAY!! HER PUPPIES ARE DOING WELL AND ACTIVE!!
CHEROKEE GOT SICK AT THE HOWELL'S AND SO WE THOUGHT WE BETTER GET ON THE WAY TO THE ROBERTSON HOUSE BEFORE SHE GOT WORSE!! WE GOT TO JOIN IN ON THE ROBERTSON FAMILY PARTY, IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES AND WATCH THEM INTERACT TOGETHER. BECKY MAKES CHRISTMAS FUN, SHE DECORATES BIG-MEANING HER TREE WAS REALLY TALL, SHE MADE YUMMY GRANDMA CAMPBELL CHICKEN NOODLES, IT MADE ME WANT TO CRY, IT BROUGHT BACK A LOT OF MEMORIES!! THE ROBERTSON GRANDKIDS PUT ON A NATIVITY AND GRANDPA PAUL READ THE CHRISTMAS STORY, IT WAS FUN PLAYING GAMES WITH THEM AND WATCHING THEM OPEN THEIR PRESENTS FROM EACH OTHER. THEY HAVE TALENT IN THAT FAMILY, THEY DID HOMEMADE GIFTS AND WOW I WAS AMAZED AT WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH!! BECKY AND PAUL HAD SNOWFLAKES ON THEIR TREE WITH PRETTY BULBS, IT WENT TO THE TOP OF THEIR STAIRCASE!!! THEY WERE VERY GRACIOUS HOSTS TO LET US BE A PART OF THEIR FAMILY!! AFTER A LONG WEEK WE HEADED HOME, OUR BEDS FELT WONDERFUL AND CASH EVEN SLEPT THRU THE NIGHT-I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!! THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US COME INTO YOUR HOMES AND FOR SHARING YOUR HEARTS AND FAMILIES WITH OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR THE GIFTS AND FOOD, BEDS AND FOR BEING A PART OF OUR LIVES. WE LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE YOUR WEEK IS FILLED WITH LOVE AND LAUGHTER AND THE PEACE OF OUR SAVIOR. LOVE, CHERISE, MARTY, CHEROKEE, CASH, CHEVY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

A LITTLE CATCHING UP!

WHAT A BUSY PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ARE FAMILY HAS HAD!! OCTOBER FLEW BY AND KEPT US PLENTY BUSY WITH CHEVY'S EAGLE PROJECT AND CHEROKEE GOING TO INDIANA. CHEVY'S PROJECT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME, WE HAD ABOUT 120 PEOPLE THERE AND EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE PERFECTLY, IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY, BUT PEOPLE DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND. I AM SO PROUD OF CHEVY FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK, THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A HUGE PROJECT INSTEAD OF A LITTLE SERVICE ONE, BUT HE HAS HUNG IN THERE AND IS ALMOST DONE YA-HOO!! MARTY AND ME DRESSED UP AS CLOWNS, WE EVEN WENT OUT TO EAT WITH THE CAMPBELL FAMILY DRESSED UP, MARTY HATED THE FACE PAINT AND COMPLAINED THAT IT ITCHED HIM ALL DAY, HE DID HAVE A RASH ON HIS FACE WHEN WE GOT IT OFF, SORRY HONEY!! CHEROKEE HAD A BLAST IN INDIANA, SHE TOOK 31ST IN INDIVIDUAL COMPETION OUT OF HUNDREDS OF KIDS AND THEY PLACE 9TH OUT OF ALL THE UNITED STATES TEAMS, WHICH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF. SHE TOOK 1ST IN INTERVIEWING IN THE STATE OF IDAHO AND WILL GO ON TO NATIONALS THIS SPRING, WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER ALSO, SHE IS VERY DEDICATED AND WORKS HARD FOR HER FFA TEAMS AND STILL FINDS TIME FOR SCHOOL WORK, WHICH SHE HAS A 3.9 AND WORKS A JOB FOUR DAYS A WEEK. SHE IS OUR LITTLE ENERGIZER BUNNY!! I AM ALSO PROUD OF CHEVY AND HIS GRADES, HE GOT A 4.0 THIS TRI AND HE HARDLY EVER HAS HOMEWORK, THE KIDS ALL GOT THEIR DAD'S BRAINS, THEY ARE ALL DEEP THINKERS AND HARD WORKERS!! AS FOR LITTLE CASH A ROO, WELL LET'S JUST SAY HE HAS GIVEN HIS DADDY A RUN FOR HIS MONEY THIS PAST TWO WEEKS!! I TELL MARTY ALL THE TIME THAT CASH WEARS ME OUT AND HE JUST KIND OF LOOKS AT ME LIKE I AM CRAZY-LIKE A THREE YEAR OLD CAN'T WEAR YOU OUT! WELL SINCE I HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO STAY DOWN AND NOT LIFT OR ANYTHING, MARTY HAS FULLY TAKEN OVER AND HE IS REALLY WORE OUT!! I JUST SMILE AT HIM AND ASK HIM HOW CASH IS?? HE WILL HAVE A HARD TIME TOMORROW SINCE DADDY HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK, HE LOVES MARTY TO PLAY WITH HIM AND TAKE HIM PLACES!!
AS FOR MARTY, WELL HE HAS BEEN AWESOME THE PAST TWO WEEKS, HE IS AWESOME ALL THE TIME, BUT HE REALLY OUTDID HIMSELF WITH GIVING UP HIS VACATION TO STAY HOME AND HELP ME. HE IS SO GOOD TO ME AND OUR KIDS, HE NEVER COMPLAINS EVEN WHEN I AM GRUMPY, AND WHEN HE WAS IN UTAH LESS THEN 12 HOURS AND HAD TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK HOME-YOUR A TROOPER MARTY AND I LOVE YOU AND FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS MY HONEY-BUNS!! AS FOR ME, WELL I AM FINALLY HEALING THE RIGHT WAY AS OF FRIDAY, IT IS NOT A FUN THING TO RIP YOUR STAPLES OPEN, BESIDES THAT THEY LOOK NASTY!!! I STILL AM VERY SORE ON THE INSIDE, AND TIRED ALOT, BUT THE DOCTOR SAYS THAT IS NORMAL AND TO JUST BEHAVE!!! OUR LIBRARY CARD RAN OUT RIGHT BEFORE SURGERY, SO I HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING TO READ, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MY LIFE HISTORY AND I HAVE ABOUT 80PAGES HANDWRITTEN!!
CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE DOING ALRIGHT, TESS HAS BEEN VERY SICK WITH THIS PREGNANCY, I HOPE IT GOES AWAY NEXT MONTH, WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER FOR STICKING THRU SOME TUFF THINGS THAT SHE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH, AND WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, SHE WANTS TO GO SHOPPING ON BLACK FRIDAY, I THINK SHE MAY HAVE TO PUT ME IN A SHOPPING CART!!
AS FOR THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR, WELL I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR GOOD HEALTH AND THAT WE HAVE SUCH AWESOME THINGS TO HELP US FEEL BETTER AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO DO SO!! I AM GRATEFUL EVERYDAY FOR A WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO HONORS HIS PRIESTHOOD AND LOVES ME AND OUR CHILDREN. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE A MOM TO FOUR OF THE MOST COMPASSIONATE CHILDREN, WHO ARE STRONG IN THEIR LIVES TO BE HARD WORKERS AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE GOOD CHOICES, I AM SO LUCKY TO BE THEIR MOM AND I LOVE THEM DEARLY. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR FAMILY AND TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO BE WITH MINE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I FEEL SO LOVED AND AT PEACE WHEN I AM AROUND MY SIBLINGS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WE HAVE SUCH A CLOSE BOND AND I LOVE THAT. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE GOSPEL NOT A DAY GOES BY, THAT I DON'T THANK MY HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THAT AWESOME BLESSING IN MY LIFE AND THAT I HAD PARENTS THAT LOVED ME ENOUGH TO RAISE ME IN THE CHURCH, THAT IS SUCH A MIRACLE IF YOU REALLY LOOK AROUND US AT THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE GOSPEL, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY FREEDOM AND TO RAISE MY KIDS IN SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY-THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SERVE TO KEEP US FREE!!
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR MY SAVIOR, HE IS THE VERY CENTER OF MY LIFE, I HAVE SUCH RESPECT AND LOVE FOR HIM THAT IT IS OVERWHELMING AT TIMES TO THINK THAT HE DIED FOR ME, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF HIM AND TO BE ABLE TO TEACH MY CHILDREN THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SHARE WITH MY HUSBAND THAT GREAT BLESSING OF ETERNAL LIFE. I TRY EVERYDAY TO JUST STOP AND TAKE A MINUTE TO BE THANKFUL FOR SOMETHING AND IT IS SO PEACEFUL TO GIVE THANKS AND TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED. I LOVE EACH OF YOU AND HOPE THAT YOU HAVE MANY BLESSINGS OF LOVE, AND PEACE IN YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON!!! LOVE, THE CARRILLO'S

ONE THING I HAVE TO ADD-ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE CAMPBELL PARTY, MARTY AND ME WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SWEET LITTLE NATIVITY THAT THE SECOND GENERATION OF GRANDKIDS DID, WELL I ASKED MARTY IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SPECIAL THAT HE NOTICED AND HE ASKED ME THE SAME, IT WAS SO NEAT BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME WE BOTH RESPONDED THAT WE FELT THE PRESENCE OF GRANDMA AND GRANDPA CAMPBELL THERE AT THAT MOMENT WHEN THOSE SWEET KIDS GOT UP, WHAT A NEAT THING TO BE ABLE TO BE WORTHY OF HAVING THAT VEIL SO THIN FOR A FEW MINUTES, WE TRULY ARE BLESSED!!

THE DANG PIG GOT US!!

IT'S OFFICIAL WE NOW ARE IN THE FIRST STAGES OF "SWINE FLU," I SAY STAGES BECAUSE THE DOCTOR SAID IF YOUR NOT REALLY CAREFUL IT WILL JUST KEEP RECYCLING ITSELF, SO BASICALLY CASH HAS GOT IT AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE!! I AM PRETTY SURE HE GOT IT FROM NURSERY, IT IS LIKE ONE BIG GERM POOL IN THERE, I TOLD MARTY LET'S JUST ROTATE FROM WEEK TO WEEK AND KEEP HIM HOME UNTIL NEXT SPRING!! I HATE SICK KIDS, SO IF ANYONE ELSE IS GOING THRU THIS AT YOUR HOMES, I FEEL WITH YOU!! ANYWAY, A LITTLE INFO. ON THE GOINGS OF OUR HOUSE, CHEROKEE WAS ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT FOR FFA, SHE WAS SO CUTE AND OFFICIAL, SHE MADE ME VERY PROUD!! SHE LEAVES FOR INDIANA NEXT WEEK, I JUST HOPE SHE DOESN'T GET SICK-SHE HAS BEEN SMOOCHING WITH TRAVIS AND HE HAS BEEN REALLY SICK WITH SOME WIERD THING, SO I TOLD HER THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SMOOCH TO MUCH!! BUT IT SURE IS FUN!! CHEVY AND CHEROKEE COMPETED IN BURLEY THIS PAST WEEK FOR FFA, THEY TOOK FIRST IN STATE AND WILL GET TO GO TO NATIONALS IN NEVADA THIS SPRING, CHEVY IS THE YOUNGEST TO COMPETE, SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF HIM, HE DID AWESOME AND EVEN THOUGH HE WON'T ADMIT IT, HE LIKED IT!! THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR THE BIG EAGLE PROJECT, I WILL BE GLAD TO HAVE IT DONE-HE HAS WORKED SO HARD AND I REALLY AM PROUD OF HIM FOR OVERCOMING SO MANY OBSTACLES WITH IT. CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE STILL IN OHIO, SHE SAYS SHE IS READY TO COME HOME-SHE HAS BEEN PRETTY DANG SICK AND GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE HASN'T HELPED-SHE SAID THAT OHIO IS BEAUTIFUL THERE AND WOULD LOVE TO LIVE THERE IF HER IN-LAWS DIDN'T DRIVE HER NUTS!! I JUST LAUGHED AT HER!! MARTY HAS BEEN BUSY AS USUAL, I WILL BE GLAD WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT HE CAN TAKE TIME FOR HIMSELF, HE WORKS WAY TO MUCH AND THEN COMES HOME AND HELPS ME, SO I JUST WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM RELAX A LITTLE! AS FOR ME , MY LIFE IS CASH, AND TEEN-AGERS, I JUST TRY TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, BUT I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS-I LOVE BEING A MOM AND WIFE AND IT MAKES ME FEEL COMPLETE IN LIFE!! I FOUND OUT THAT MY NOSE DOCTOR I WAS SEEING WAS IN JAIL IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA FOR FALSE-A FYING DOCUMENTS TO MAKE MONEY-I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON I DIDN'T GO BACK TO HIM LAST SPRING-HE MADE ME FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, SO I PICKED UP ALL MY EX-RAYS FROM HIM AND TOOK THEM TO ANOTHER DOCTOR . THE FIRST DOCTOR TOLD ME I WOULD NEED SURGERY TO REMOVE 12 POLPS THAT I HAD, THE SECOND DOCTOR TOLD ME HE COULDN'T FIND ONE POLP AND THE ONLY THING HE COULD SEE WRONG WAS I HAVE A CROOKED BONE ON TOP OF MY NOSE THAT COULD BE CAUSING SOME PROBLEMS, I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE IN MY WARD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FIRST DOCTOR IS IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, SO I AM GLAD THAT I LISTEN TO THE HOLY GHOST, AND HOPEFULLY MY NOSE WILL CLEAR UP. IT IS KINDA SCARY TO THINK THAT YOU TRUST THESE DOCTORS AND YET THEY ARE ONLY HUMAN TO AND CAN MAKE WRONG CHOICES. LIFE IS JUST FULL OF ADVENTURE!! WELL MUCH LOVE TO ALL, I NEED TO GO AND HOLD CASH-HE IS SO WHINEY TODAY AND MARTY IS TRYING TO SLEEP(THANKS FOR GETTING UP WITH HIM THRU THE NIGHT HON). LOVE, C