WOW WHAT A WEEK!!

I AM SITTING HERE IN THE DARK JUST TAKING A MOMENT TO BREATHE, THIS PAST TEN DAYS HAS BEEN CRAZY AT OUR HOUSE!! WE STARTED OFF WITH CHEROKEE'S 18TH BIRTHDAY PARTY ON THE 21ST, SHE WANTED TO GO TO "CHUCK A RAMA" FOR HER BIRTHDAY DINNER-IS SHE CRAZY OR WHAT?? THEN WE HAD SEMINARY GRADUATION FOR HER THAT SUNDAY, IT WAS AWESOME, SHE LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL, SHE JUST HAD A GLOW ABOUT HER IT WAS SO NEAT!! THEN ON MONDAY MORNING MARTY AND ME AND CASH LEFT TO GO TO UTAH TO HELP CONTESSA GET THAT BABY HERE!! WE STARTED WITH HER IN THE HOSPITAL AT 10P.M. ON MONDAY NIGHT, SHE TOLD ME I WAS NOT TO LEAVE HER, SO I STAYED UNTIL 3A.M., THEN I SNUCK TO HER APARTMENT FOR SOME SLEEP, AT 5A.M. LORIN CALLED TO SAY SHE NEEDED ME, AND THAT THEY BROKE HER WATER, SHE WAS VERY NERVOUS AND SCARED AND ANYONE WHO KNOWS HER WELL, ALSO KNOWS THAT IS SAYING IT VERY MILD!! ANYWAY WITH TWO HOURS OF SLEEP I STAYED THE WHOLE DAY TUESDAY, EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 1HOUR, I WENT TO LUNCH WITH CASH AND MARTY. CONTESSA WAS SO AWESOME, SHE NEVER COMPLAINED AND WAS VERY BRAVE, I WAS SO PROUD OF HER!! AT AROUND 11P.M. THE DOCTOR TOLD HER WE WERE GOING TO START TO PUSH AND TWENTY MINUTES LATER THE SWEET LITTLE BABY CAME. CAN I JUST SAY THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE TO SEE THAT LITTLE GIRL COME INTO THIS WORLD, I COULD HARDLY HOLD IN MY TEARS AND MY SMILE WOULDN'T LEAVE MY FACE. I LOOKED OVER AT MARTY AND WE JUST BEAMED AT EACH OTHER, HE GOT TO SIT IN THE CHAIR, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE HIM IN THE ROOM ALTHOUGH FOR PRIVACY REASONS HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE ACTUAL BIRTH, HE STILL FELT THE SPIRIT IN THAT ROOM. IT WAS AWESOME AND YES I AM SO EXCITED TO BE A GRANDMA!! THANKS TO SHAWNA FOR TAKING CASH SO THAT MARTY COULD BE THERE AND THANKS TO MARTY FOR TAKING CASH TO WORK MONDAY AND TUESDAY SO THAT I COULD BE WITH TESS AND LORIN!!
WELL WITH ABOUT FIVE HOURS OF SLEEP WE PICKED UP CASH AT SHAWNA'S AND HEADED HOME TO IDAHO FOR CHEROKEE'S GRADUATION. BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME I HAD 45MINUTES TO SHOWER US ALL AND GET US READY, WE WERE A LITTLE LATE, BUT STILL MADE IT!!! THE GRADUATION WAS GREAT-SHORT AND TO THE POINT!! IT ONLY WAS ABOUT 65MINUTES FROM START TO FINISH!! AFTERWARDS WE TOOK CHEROKEE TO BIG JUD'S, HER AND CHEVY ATE ONE OF THEIR BIG BUGERS AND FRIES AND ICE-CREAMS!!! MARTYS AND ME BARELY ATE 1/2 OF A BIG BURGER, 1/2 OF OUR FRIES AND I DIDN'T EVEN EAT MY ICE CREAM!! TEEN-AGERS!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF CHEROKEE, SHE IS TRULY A SWEET DAUGHTER AND WE FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE HER IN OUR LIVES!! MARTY AND ME TOOK OFF THURS. TO GO BACK TO UTAH TO HELP THE ZIPPAY'S, WE WERE SO EXCITED TO HOLD THAT LITTLE GIRL AGAIN, MARTY COOKED DINNER WITH LORIN'S HELP, WHILE I SHOWED CONTESSA HOW TO BATHE HER LITTLE"SNAPS" THAT IS WHAT GRANDPA MARTY CALLS HER. ON FRIDAY MARTY AND ME TOOK CONTESSA'S HOUSE TO TASK, WE CLEANED, MOVED FURNITURE, HUNG PICTURES, WASHED EVERYTHING FROM LORIN'S UNDIES TO THE BATHROOM RUG!! WE COOKED AUNT BECKY'S CHICKEN CHOWDER-IT WAS YUMMY, FOR DINNER AND THEN WE PRETTY MUCH POOPED OUT!! SATURDAY WE FOUND THEM A BED AND SOME MUCH NEEDED THINGS FOR THEIR APARTMENT AND THEN MARTY AND ME HEADED HOME!! WE GOT UP SUNDAY AND WENT TO CHURCH AND SPENT SOME MUCH NEEDED TIME WITH OUR OTHER THREE MONKEYS, THEN ON MONDAY WE CELBRATED CASH A ROO'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY!! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE IS FOUR, HE IS THE LIGHT IN MY LIFE!! MARTY HEADED BACK TO UTAH FOR TWO DAYS AND THEN IS BRINGING KENNEDY AND MOMMY,DADDY BACK TO IDAHO FOR A FEW DAYS!! CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE GREAT PARENTS, THEY TALK SO CUTE TO THAT LITTLE "SNAPS" IT MAKES ME WANT TO CRY, THAT LIFE IS SO FAST, IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY THAT SHE WAS IN MY ARMS. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE TENDER MERCIES THAT WE AS A FAMILY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THIS PAST WEEK, I THANK MY HEAVENLY FATHER FOR MY SWEET BLESSINGS!!
MARTY AND ME TOOK THE TIME TO GO TO THE CEMETARY ON SATURDAY, HIS FATHER'S GRAVESITE IS SO PEACEFUL, IT IS AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN AND YOU CAN HEAR THE BIRDS AND HEAR A STREAM AND IT IS JUST SO SPECIAL TO FEEL THAT PEACE WHEN YOU GO THERE TO KNOW THAT SUCH A GREAT GUY WAS A PART OF YOUR LIFE, I MISS HIM DEARLY AND I KNOW THAT HE THINKS OF US AND PRAYS FOR US. WE ALSO GOT TO VISIT WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BURIED ON MY MOM'S SIDE, THAT WAS NEAT TO, I GOT TO TELL CHEVY AND MARTY SOME STORIES AND I JUST FELT PEACEFUL WHILE I WAS THERE. ONE MORE THING I NEED TO SAY TODAY, I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD, I MISS YOU WITH EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU ARE DOING A WORK FAR GREATER THAN RAISING US KIDS, SO FOR NOW I JUST WANT TO SAY I LOVE YOU!! A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL MY FAMILY FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO MARTY AND ME AND OUR KIDS, AND TO ALL MY SISTER'S FOR BEING CASH A ROO'S GRANDMA'S AS HE CALLS ALL OF YOU!!! THANKS TO MARTY'S MOM FOR SENDING THE KIDS CARDS AND GIFTS THEY REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND LOVE YOU!! TO MY HUSBAND- I THANK YOU FOR BEING MY BEST FRIEND AND SUPPORT!! I LOVE YOU WITH ALL THAT I AM, 143MARTY!! LOVE, C

CRAZY WEATHER, CRAZY LIFE, CRAZY MOM!!

SO OF COURSE I GET ALL MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER'S DAY PLANTS AND BUSHES ALL IN THE GROUND AND IT SNOWS!! IT HAS BEEN FREEZING HERE THIS WEEK, EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE PATCH OF SUNSHINE ON MONDAY, WHICH I TOTALLY ENJOYED!! I AM JUST HOPING THAT MOST OF MY PLANTS SURVIVED, MY HOUSE SMELLS LIKE TOMATO PLANTS, BECAUSE I DON'T DARE PLANT THOSE YET, AND CHEROKEE GAVE ME PLANTS FOR M.-DAY. LIFE HAS BEEN SO CRAZY LATELY, I WAIT EVERYDAY PATIENTLY FOR A PHONE CALL, SAYING THAT I WILL BE A GRANDMA, WHILE I AM WAITING I SHOP FOR LITTLE KENNEDY, NO HARM IN THAT HA-HA!! I HAVE STARTED BUYING HER 24MONTH OLD CLOTHES NOW, I LOVE LITTLE GIRL STUFF. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT GRANDMA AND KENNEDY ARE GOING TO BE THE BEST OF PALS!! MARTY HAS BEEN VERY BUSY WHEN HE IS HOME WORKING ON HIS GMC, DOING THE BASEMENT, YARDWORK, AND FIDDELING IN HIS GARAGE. HE IS SUCH A GREAT GUY, HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP ME WITH ALL MY PROJECTS, HE DOES GET VERY JEALOUS OF "NOODLES," THOUGH. I HAVE A VERY SPOILED DOG ON MY HANDS, HE IS LIKE MY LITTLE SHADOW, AND WHEN I GO TO BED HE WANTS IN, HOWEVER I WILL NOT LET HIM SLEEP WITH ME, I ALREADY HAVE MARTY AND CASH WITH ME, SO THE DOG SLEEPS WITH CHEVY!! CHEVY HAS BEEN THE BEST HELPER TO ME THIS PAST MONTH, HE HAS DUG HOLES FOR ME AND THAT IS NOT A EASY TASK WHEN YOU HAVE "ROCK GARDENS" FOR SOIL!! WE ARE AWARDING HIS EAGLE SCOUT SOMETIME THE FIRST OF JUNE, MAY IS JUST TO CRAZY! CHEROKEE IS WAY EXCITED, SHE FINALLY GOT HER LETTER TO SAY SHE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE NURSING PROGRAM, SHE HAS BEEN CRAZY BUSY WITH GRADUATION STUFF AND WORKING AND FILLING OUT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GOOFING WITH FRIENDS. SHE GAVE THE MOST AWESOME SPEECH AT HER FFA GRADUATION NIGHT, SHE KNOWS HOW TO MAKE HER PARENTS TEAR UP REAL GOOD!! I WAS SO PROUD OF HER, SHE GAVE ALL HER GRATITUDE TO HER HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT IS NOT EASY FOR A TEENAGER TO DO IN FRONT OF THEIR PEERS, SHE IS SUCH A AWESOME DAUGHTER!!
CASH IS READY FOR THE SUNSHINE, HE FINALLY WILL SIT AND PLAY AND ENERTAIN HIMSELF WITH TOYS, I MIGHT ACTUALLY GET SOME SEWING TIME! CONTESSA AND LORIN ARE DOING WONDERFUL, THEY ARE EXCITED FOR THEIR BUNDLE TO COME, I AM SO PROUD OF THEM AND I LOVE WATCHING THEM GET INVOLVED IN THE GOSPEL, THEY ASKED MARTY AND ME WHAT MADE US SO HAPPY IN LIFE AND IN OUR MARRIAGE AND WE TOLD THEM, IF THEY ARE LIVING THE GOSPEL AND DOING WHAT HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS THEM TO DO, THEY WOULD ALWAYS FIND HAPPINESS IN THEIR LIVES. I THINK THEY WERE EXPECTING A ANSWER THAT WAS MORE COMPLICATED, AND WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL. WE HAVE TRULY BEEN BLESSED WITH OUR AWESOME KIDS, I AM PROUD OF EACH OF THEM, I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS THE OTHER NIGHT AND HOW SAD SOME OF THE TOP HEADLINES WAS, IT MADE ME SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SMALL THINGS I HAVE IN LIFE, LIKE FOOD, CLOTHES, A JOB, KIDS THAT ARE HEALTHY, THE FREEDOM TO WORSHIP AS I PLEASE, I SOMETIMES WE DON'T STOP AND THINK HOW TRULY BLESSED WE ARE. I DECIDED THAT I AM GOING TO THANK MY HEAVENLY FATHER EVERYDAY FOR THE SMALL THINGS I AM BLESSED WITH THAT USUALLY GO UNNOTICED!! I HOPE ALL OF MY FAMILY IS DOING AWESOME, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE REUNION AND TO HAVE LOTS OF WATER FIGHTS, CAMPFIRES AND ALL THE MARSHMELLOWS WE CAN EAT!!! LOVE YOU ALL, C

P.S. MARTY I KNOW YOU READ THIS SO-I LOVE YOU TODAY AND FOREVER!!

WE HAVE BEEN CRAZY BUSY THIS WEEK, WE GOT CHEVY EAGLE PROJECT APPROVED SO NOW IT IS ON TO HIS BIG INTERVIEW!! WE ARE GETTING CLOSER, I HAVE BEEN FINISHING BABY SHOWER PRESENTS AND HAVING LOTS OF FUN SHOPPING AGAIN!! CHEROKEE HAS A HUGE PROJECTS DUE THIS WEEK AND HAS BEEN A LITTLE STRESSED, SHE HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL TO ME WITH CASH, I WILL MISS HER WHEN SHE GOES TO SCHOOL. CASH IS ON HYPER DRIVE, I THINK IT IS THE NICE WEATHER, BUT HE DOESN'T QUIT, UNTIL I PRETTY MUCH SIT ON HIM TO GO TO SLEEP!! MY POOCHIE KEEPS ME BALANCED, I LOVE SITTING DOWN AT NIGHT TO WATCH THE NEWS AND HAVING HIM HOP UP ON MY LAP FOR A CUDDLE, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE A INDOOR DOG, BUT HE HAS BEEN A BLESSING TO MY HEART. MARTY HAS BEEN BUSY AT WORK, I REALLY MISS HIM WHEN HE IS GONE. HE HAS BECOME ATTATCHED TO ME, SO WHEN HE LEAVES I HAVE WITHDRAWLS. ANYWAY WE ARE GETTING EXCITED FOR THE BABY TO COME AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH CONTESSA AND FAMILY. SHE IS DOWN TO ABOUT THREE WEEKS-YA HOO!! LOVE TO ALL MY FAMILY, C

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE REUNION-IT HAS BEEN TO LONG SINCE OUR LAST GET TOGETHER IN JANUARY!! HAVE A HAPPY WEEK!

SIN CITY

JUST A LITTLE SIDE NOTE-BECAUSE SOME MIGHT BE OFFENDED-THE WHOLE "SIN STATE UTAH," THING IS A PERSONAL JOKE WITH MY SIBLINGS, SO DON'T EVERYONE GET UPSET, WE JUST HAVE TO JOKE ABOUT IT!!! ALL HAS TO DO WITH MARTY MOVING TO THE PROMISED LAND!!! SO IF ARE OFFENDED SORRY, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE PERSONALLY, EXCEPT MARTY-AND HE KNOWS IT'S A JOKE!! HAPPY DAY TO MY FAMILY, LOVE, C

EASTER

AFTER A WONDERFUL TRIP AND 12 DAYS WITH MY HUBBY, IT WAS KINDA SAD TO SEND HIM BACK TO THE "SIN STATE," WE ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A LET DOWN WHEN HE HAS TO GO BACK, BUT THE HYUNDAI STORE WOULD FALTER WITHOUT MY AWESOME HUSBAND, THAT IS WHY HE WENT BACK!! ANYWAYS, CONTESSA AND LORIN SPENT SAT. THRU TUES. WITH US AND THAT WAS FUN, WE TOOK TESS TO GET HER HAIR COLORED AND CUT, WHICH TURNED OUT DARLING!! WE ALSO FOUND A BLESSING DRESS FOR KENNEDY, IT LOOKS LIKE A CINDERELLA DRESS!! I STUFFED LORIN WITH FOOD AND HIM AND CHEVY BONDED WITH VIDEO GAMES, CHEROKEE HAD TO PACK FOR HER TRIP AND DO LAUNDRY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER AND I ALWAYS HATE TO SEE THOSE TIMES END, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE OTHER TIMES WE WILL HAVE TOGETHER THIS SUMMER!! CHEROKEE DID REALLY GOOD AT STATE, SHE HAS WORKED HARD AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER, SHE IS GEARING UP FOR GRADUATION AND COLLEGE, SHE JUST WANTS TO MOVE ON IN LIFE. SHE IS SUCH A GO GETTER!! CASH THINKS WE ARE GOING BACK TO PETER PAN EVERYDAY!! CHEVY FINALLY GOT HIS PAPERWORK DONE FOR HIS EAGLE SO THAT WILL HAPPEN SOON. MARTY IS BACK AT WORK AND KEEPS US ALL TOGETHER, I AM BUSY MAKING QUILTS AND SCRAPING. LIFE IS GOOD AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH, I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE GOSPEL AND THE PEACE IT BRINGS INTO MY LIFE, EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT PERFECT. I AM GRATEFUL FOR MY SWEETIE, MY KIDS, SON-IN-LAW AND NEW BABY SOON!! I AM SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE FREEDOM AND THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND WERE I LIVE. I AM GRATEFUL FOR GOOD FRIENDS THAT MAKE ME SMILE!! LOVE, C

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