June 2009

June 7, 2009

I’m starting out in 10 point font, because this letter is getting long and my goal is keeping it to 3 pages front and back, while still keeping you up on family business.  First of all, how can July 4th be three weeks away?  Honestly, July 4th ought to come closer to the end of July.  Then you could prepare for it.  But June???  June is just the month that you get to relax and have fun and mess around, but then bam, slam, thank you ma’am, and it is July and then there is no time to prepare! This may apply to life and death, too.  So as my duty this first day out of school, I am informing the family, that, “Yes, we are having a 4th of July Party, it is in our back yard, we would love you all to come, and it will be on the 4th of July!”  I hope that is not a problem for anyone, but it is easier for people living away from Salt Lake to come in on a Saturday.  However, I know that you may have more important and more fun stuff to do on that day.  I think we will begin at 5:30 for people who would like to bring their little ones and play in the pools. This is assuming that the weather is good and warm. So don’t forget swimming suit and towel if desired. We won’t eat until 6:30.  If you bring your kids early, be sure to plan to stay with them.  There might be a few legal fireworks since we are on the real 4th this year.  Bring yours along if you so desire.

The Rest of the Story:

• Brenda’s family:  Salads, fruit, vegetable trays
• Lynn’s family: Salads, fruit, vegetable trays
• Kent’s family: Breads (I honestly don’t mean rolls, maybe some good breads from places like Great Harvest, but you call it. If a bunch of you are coming, you may want to change a couple of you to desserts. We won’t starve.)
• Wayne’s family: Desserts (you all do such a great job of this that you may be stuck with it)
• Diana’s family: baked beans and Dutch oven potatoes.

Don’t forget to bring your own drinks.  

Brenda, Sharon, Wayne, and Gail:  Would you please take a count of how many of your family are coming that eat meat and call me very soon.  That way we know how much to buy!  Also, if you think not enough of your family is coming to cover your assignment on the food, let me know that too.

A Plea: 5 years ago when it was my turn for the Christmas Party, we sat around and had a memory session and people talked about Grandma and Grandpa and the farm and each other.  We recorded that, I think.  Does anyone know where the tapes are??  We desperately want them to transcribe and then to give to everyone.  If anyone remembers please call me.  Also, if any of you would like a copy of the last 3 years family emailed to you, email me and I will send it back.  randdparker@gmail.com

Now for a year of family history.  If only it were all happy and joyful, but along with the joy there is pain.  But as Kent’s family likes to say, “The harder it is, the better we like it.”  Just for the record, that is not my personal sentiment.  I like Cinderella stories.  I don’t want any downs, I just want ups and ups and ups!  Nevertheless, it is important that each of us remember that the journey will not be without its aches, discouragement, and difficulties.  So whether they are mentioned here or not, along with the good there’s got to be a little bad sometimes.  Never believe that you are the only one with challenges.  You are not.  

Sybil, Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma:  She is 86 years old and Dad has been gone 6 and a half years. Her words, “I’m getting old and creaky and need all the help I can get.”  But, she is out weeding the gardens, though Adam is mowing the lawns for her.  She hired Dan what’s his name to close in the basement stairs and turn it into a pantry.  I personally am so relieved that she is no longer negotiating those stairs I can barely speak.  She took a 4 day trip to California, for the last time probably, to see Aunt Lois (her sister) who is now living with Bindy in an assisted care facility.  Lois has some problems remembering and caring for herself.  Mom had a conversation with Lois in which Lois commented on how lucky Mom was to have all her kids and grandkids around her and loving her and caring for her.  Mom reminded her that she had just what she had preached all her life: small families and not bothering other peoples’ lives.  I was amazed at the somewhat callous attitudes of her family toward her.  Mom isn’t lucky, she is blessed, because of her commitment to and love for family and the Lord.  Also, just for the record, the old summer kitchen is falling off the house.  

Kent and Sharon: We recently returned from a trip to Europe.  It was great fun.  Learned more about WWII than we had ever known before or cared until now.  Went to Amsterdam, Brussels, France (I love Paris in the Springtime) Germany, Austria, Switzerland and two other little countries that I can't spell.  Luxemburg and Liechtenstein.  Yes they are countries.  It was awesome.  Our favorite places were the coast of Normandy (D-Day Invasion) and the American Cemetery.  Kent is still Ward Mission Leader and also teaches Priesthood.  He is an awesome home teacher, this is the responsibility very most important to him.  Sharon teaches fourth Sunday RS.  Finally got moved to that lesson cause she had an in with the new RS President.  They are both still working in SL each week, and wonder when will it ever end.  Sharon is old, Kent is even older but we love the Savior and especially our family.

• Cheryl: Richard and Cheryl are still busy with the Motel and are grateful to have Justin, Josh & Breanne helping this summer.  Richard is still the Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach at SUU.  Cheryl is still busy with the High School Drama team (they won Region and State this year) running the Main Street Progarm, and the Panguitch Valley Balloon Rally, helping with the local Community Theater and singing at the Cowboy Smokehouse (when she has time).  Justin finished his Sophmore year at SUU and will return in the fall.  Kyle will return from his mission in Atlanta on July 23 and will return to SUU this fall.  Josh leaves for the Columbus, Ohio Mission on July 1.  He finished his first year at SUU and was a member of the Basketball Team.  Breanne won 1st attendent in the Homecoming Pageant, is on the Varsity Volleyball and Basketball teams and will be the Junior Class Vice President this coming school year.  We are all staying busy and doing well!! :)

• Andrea: Jarom is still working for Novell in Provo.  He is the 1st councilor in the ward YM presidency and enjoys working with the youth. Andrea has her hands full with the 4 little girls, but loves it.  She is going on her 2nd year as the ward Primary President.  Emma just finished the 2nd grade.  Andrea was the room mother in her class this last year which at this age is still ok with Emma. She is currently playing coach pitch softball, and she, with Rachel, will begin swimming lessons and soccer soon. Rachel will be starting Kindergarten this next year. She is currently playing T-ball. Hannah just turned 3 in May and has survived another year.  Only one emergency visit to the Dr. with a head injury, and only one call to poison control.  We’re feelin’ good! Lily turned 1 in April. She started walking a couple of weeks after her birthday. We love having her be a part of our family. Feel free to check out our family blog  http://heckfish.blogspot.com
• Heath: Heath works as the Director of the Taylorsville Senior Center for Salt Lake County. He loves his work and the opportunity to help people with their problems. He also reports that he is down 2 inches in height, up several lbs in weight, and has lost more hair than he has grown. It was a great birthday this year, as he is no longer the same age, weight and hair style as Homer Simpson.  Kathy has gone back to work a little bit more this year for Intermountain Health Care as a Human Resource Specialist. Her work is very flexible and allows her to adjust her schedule to go home when Lindsey is finished with school, the atmospheric pressure gets below 40 or when Heath needs a sandwich. Kathy loves Church and especially Sunday School. Heath thinks she would spend 8 hours there on Sunday if they would let her. Often, Kathy has to drag Heath to Church because he claims that Church in Heaven is at 11:00 AM. Not 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM. He insists that he is going to church on Heaven’s schedule not the 11th ward’s schedule. Lindsey has some great friends that live near her and her favorite thing to do is spend Heath’s money. The second favorite thing she loves to do is meet her girl friends and tear up Kathy’s basement, especially after Kathy has just cleaned it. That is when she can find all her toys and put them all back where they are stored; strewn about the basement. Lindsey is doing great in school. She loves art and math and is especially talented in the license plate shop. We are looking forward to her parole in 2019. We have nice visits with her now and again when she exhibits good behavior and the warden allows it. The nights she does spend at home are always fun.  Heath and his family welcomes visitors but are forced to carry on the conversation with visitors either through an open window or though the door since they don’t have a door knob on the front of the house. This makes for great home and visiting teaching visits however. If it is snowing, the home teachers are really motivated to get out of there because reading the Ensign article through the window or door just does not seem that important when it is 25 degrees outside. The visiting teachers still stay for at least an hour! Heath, Kathy and Lindsey report that they are blessed to live in a Free Nation, have plenty of food to eat and clean water to drink, and have a roof over their heads to keep them safe and warm. They love each other and love all family members. They all report how wonderful it is to have a Heavenly Father and Savior who loves them and they love Him too. Stay happy.
• Kirt: Kirt is 33.  Jerry is 38.  That’s a little too close to 40.  They live in an uber-cool downtown loft, very near about four homeless shelters.  Stella (Kirt’s amazing Chihuahua) is breathtakingly beautiful.  Stanley (Jerry’s annoying Min Pin) has allergies and is covered in sores.  Laverne and Shirley (the cats, not Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall) are hairy.  Kirt works as the Executive Director of Davis Arts Council in Layton and Jerry is Producing Director of Plan-B Theatre (yes, we’re still doing the draaama).  Jerry lost his mother this year to cancer, which was very difficult.  But we were able to spend many great trips with her in Arizona before she left.  Kirt spent 6 weeks performing in Gutenberg! The Musical! in Florida in September.  T’was awesome.  Trouble with big family:  when Kirt decided to give his first nephew Jared $50 for graduation, he foolishly did not think through just how many nieces and nephews he had.  How many you ask?  About a thousand dollars worth. 
• Brent: Brent still works as the Utah State Property Rights Ombudsman, and Terri still teaches engineering part-time at BYU. Zoe is a marching band nut (trumpet). Sam is a sports nut (baseball). Daisy is nuts (certifiably). And Jeffrey hates nuts (almonds). The family recently returned from their first-ever trip to Disneyland, and their consensus reaction was a resounding "meh." At a recent visit to the Bay Area in California, the family attended an Oakland A's game and Daisy was shown dancing her little heart out                            on the big stadium scoreboard screen no less than five times.
• Alison:  Curtis still manages an insulation company, and due to the downturn in the economy, esp. construction, things have not been so great for a while.  But they are turning around a little.  Alison is still the secretary at the Cornville Elementary and is also the media specialist (we used to call those guys librarians).  Jared is working in Sedona.  He lived here in Utah for a bit but has moved back to warm and cozy Arizona.  Ben lives in Flagstaff and is working several jobs, some of which are independent consulting.  Katie is a CAN at a nursing home in Cottonwood.  She loves her work.  Her missionary is on the downhill slope.  That’s in time, not behavior!  Megan just graduated from high school, also with a CAN.  She has a missionary out but she still maintains a very busy social life.   

Wayne and RaNae: Not too much has changed for me over the year, but a few very significant events should be revealed. First of all I’m a new Grandfather again. His name is Wyatt Dean. Notice that he is named for a famous gunfighter and a father who is and was dear to us all. Second, is that two of my children are expecting babies, too (I’m having a good year!!).  Third, I have two of my children living with and taking care of my house and myself. (I told them all that I’d take all of them in if it was needed; they believed me.) Fourth, I have, like so many others, begun hoarding bullet launchers again. I have acquired some rare enough breeds to make even Heath a little crazy. I had to sell the first collection to feed all the crumb grabbers that lived here several years ago.(sob) I will, I hope begin reloading this year. Jeff and Josh are going to help me, but I believe I shall put up a Tuff Shed as a powder room first. I am sure Sandy City will have plenty to say (if they find out), but this is still in the planning stage. Lemme see, lemme see, what else? Oh, yeah. I married off Amy and Natalie since our last party so I have two new sons-in-law. Very important. Frank (new) and Brett (also, new) have added to my ranks. Frank is in school. So are Natalie and Nathan and Jeff and Julie (she works waaaaaaaaay too hard). If I ever run for world emperor I shall have several “sure thing” votes. I had my heart checked out last week. I have the heart of an 18-year-old. Sort of. I, like each member of the family, have good and bad days, but having my kids and grandchildren around me helps A LOT!! Not much left to say.  I’m going to have my foot welded this fall and spend the Turkey Day holiday with Camille and Dustin.

• Amy:  Amy and Frank welcomed a new addition to their family just three weeks ago.  The little tiger weighted in right at 7 lbs. and is called Wyatt Dean Rasmussen.  Zachary is the proud big brother and takes special care with his little brother.  Cody loves biology and is really a science nerd.  They are living in Sugarhouse.  

• Camille:  Dustin is a Co-manager for Walmart and has been transferred to the brand new Hurricane store, which brings us back to Utah, finally. We sold our house in Casper despite the current market, and we are currently waiting to close on our new home in La Verkin. I continue to be Mom and I get a break from daycare because we are in limbo for a time. Kalie is nine now going on twenty. She continues to be a great help and a good big sister. She loves school especially science and history. Cassidy is six. She is reading and loves it, and is our up and coming artist, she always has a picture to draw and a story to tell about it. If there is an empty space on the fridge she will fill it. She also learned to ride a two-wheeler bike this spring, a feat she is extremely proud of. Emily will be three on July 25th. She is full of a million questions, and her favorite thing to do is sing with Grandpa Bateman on the phone. He sings the songs wrong and she tells Him "Papa that's not right." Also we excited to announce we are expecting a new addition to our family. I am twelve weeks along and recently found out I am due on December 24th. Merry Christmas to us. Dustin and I are so excited, Emily insists it is a boy and Kalie continues to hope for a girl. Cassidy says it doesn't matter. Either way we will be happy.
• Melissa: Robert is still working at EWS as quality control supervisor. He is also attending school full time working towards his bachelors degree in criminal justice. He is getting great grades and we are all very proud of him. He is the best father and husband and works hard for us everyday.
  I am still PTA president for Grayson's school and love the time I get to spend at the school with him. I have also been asked to be the Utah Autism Parent Partner which is a great opportunity to do something I am passionate about. I have the chance to help other families that are new to the autism world. I stay very busy between the school, work and therapy for Grayson but I truly love every minute of it. Grayson is still attending the Pingree School for Autism and making huge strides everyday. He is reading, writing, and talking like crazy. He is so smart and we are so proud of him and how far he has come. He is our little fish as well, swimming is his favorite thing to do.
• Natalie: Brett and Natalie were married March, 14th 2009. Expecting November, 27 2009. Brett is working on the road crew at Geneva Rock and loves it. I will start work for Chad and Venus in July and I can’t wait! We spent the month of May in Monroe on the turkey hunt and we are proud to say lucky Brett filled his turkey tag. Next, will be the deer hunt in Aug. and Brett and I and his family couldn't be more excited! As for me, I have yet to take hunters safety so…no hunting for me yet, but give me time and I will catch up with my new family.  We are doing great and love the married life, and can’t wait to be parents!
• Julie: Jeff and I are going to SLCC right now, Jeff for teaching and Julie for the medical field. Brittney is just starting up in swimming again, Sydney is being a great sister to Thomas, who is a typical boy. One bad thing that has happened. Jeff was opening a new chain saw and trying to cut away the zip tie with a knife. The knife slipped and severed the medial nerve that controls his thumb and first two fingers. Wayne gave him a priesthood blessing, but it is very serious and the doctors give him less than 30% chance of being able to use or feel with it.  Won’t know for 9-10 months.  But it is healing.  
• Joshua: They are living with Wayne at his house also and doing well. Shellece is working at Joe's Crab Shack with me and the girls are loving the summer. Josh has been hit with the tough economic times, but is hoping to get back to work soon.  He loved the job of being a roughneck and hopes things will pick. Alexis is 10 and loves being the center of attention and school.  Serenity is six and will be going into the first grade this fall.  
• Chad: Chad had a very tough year health-wise, but is now back to work at Wells Fargo Bank. Venus was a trooper through everything and kept home and hearth together.  Her love and management are very admirable. Venus has moved jobs from Comcast to Ebay where she gets free sodas while on the job! The boys are doing great. Corbin will be going into 1st grade this year. Carson is 4 and is getting good at computer games.  Conner is 8 months and his job is to mess his pants and cry, both of which he is excelling at.  He is a very good boby.  
• Nathan: Nathan has a girlfriend (really I swear) named Melissa and they are both attending SLCC. Nathan is trying very hard to get a landscape company going. He owns a horse.  

Brenda and Gary: Our lives have settled into such a routine we are thinking of taking off on a journey to South America with no itinerary or purpose--perhaps we could find a stone to romance--just to have new things to think about!  Gary turned sixty-five a few months ago, but retirement is not being considered.  He is currently working north of Ogden (Slatersville!) on a two-year waste-water treatment plant; we do feel blessed to have the promise of a job for two years, since there have been some lay-offs in the construction industry, including at Bodell.  No matter the economy, people still produce waste-water, it seems. The one drawback, though, is the hour's drive both ways. Gary drives it in a Bodell truck with another guy, which helps--and, it's not Cheyenne or Vernal!  Gary is also still working with the eleven-year-old scouts, now combined with two other wards (our whole stake is aging!).  The boys like and respect him, and he is still able to do the activities, including the sleepovers here in the yard or at camp.  He is stationary in this position, maybe, because they can't find another man who will accept the job; an eleven-year-old boy is a species all its own. I am still teaching at Elk Ridge Middle School, but I'm pretty confident 2009-10 will be my last year.  (I've said this before.)  My school year was quite satisfactory; two projects I did with my students earned us a little notoriety on KSL-TV and in the Deseret News.  I'm a little worried I will fall into the doldrums if I don't have to get up and go to work everyday--and don't suggest volunteering, please!  If I'm going to volunteer somewhere just to keep myself busy, I may as well be getting paid for "volunteering" at Elk Ridge.  My nieces and nephews might not understand exactly what I'm talking about, but I know my siblings do.  If we're bored, there's always the fridge or the pantry to stand in front of, thinking. . .   I'm enrolled in the ranks of YW advisors, my second year.  I've been switched from Beehives to combined Mia-Maids and Laurels (thank goodness).  I don't love it, don't feel the same passion for it I did twenty years ago when I was president, but I still try to look happy in front of the girls!  No new babies on the horizon, no weddings, no graduations, etc.  Just a steady line-up of baptisms, and that's good!  We are blessed and we know it and express it often, how sweet it is to have our five children close to us in relationships, and to have all seventeen grandchildren being raised with earnest effort and spirituality in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  That one thing overshadows all the detail of our otherwise absolutely normal, unexciting, day-to-day existence!  We are looking forward to seeing all of you soon.  

• Brad: Brad has finally succeeded in growing a summer garden in Phoenix: watermelon, beans, carrots, corn (the cobs have matured at about 4-inches long...they're not supposed to get any bigger, right??). He has also done a couple of triathlons and won...(90th place...they said the ribbon is in the mail...but I'm beginning to wonder). Myrissa has decided to take swimming lessons as she says she's drowning in laundry and kids. She ran a marathon this spring, but forgot that her secret plan was to keep running and never return. She directed a play in a theatre festival and has written a few plays that she hopes to enter in a contest. She's a very talented writer.  Logan, Gabriel, Addison and Tanner are excelling in school, swimming, karate, talking way too loud and hand-to-hand brotherly combat. Anyone coming to Phoenix is welcome to visit!

• Christopher: We are all doing great and loving the freedom of summer.  We have high hopes for getting lots of playing done in the next few months.  Chris has re-found his love of running and is currently training for the Top of Utah Marathon.  Ethan and Dalton are really enjoying scouts and can't wait for camp this year.  Seth has finished his kindergarten year and misses his teacher soooo bad!  Allyson is just trying to keep it all together.  As the boys get older we understand more and
  more how fast time goes and we are trying to not miss a minute of it. 
• Holly: (Editor’s note:  I’m absolutely sure Holly and Lee are still alive and living in Richfield and being a stay at home mom and something important in the BLM, respectively, but Holly forgot to mention that.) Nathan, 12 years old, has hit the pre-teen stage, and along with all the charming qualities of a young scout and deacon, also posses some "know-it-all" attitude!  He has a lawn mowing business this summer and is saving up to buy an electric scooter...a car..a 4-wheeler...it changes frequently!  He also attended a week-long leadership scout camp called "Timberline"  (we kind of enjoyed the break as well!).Abbie, 9 years old, has a passion for animals.  She has a goal of being a wildlife biologist in the Galapagos Islands. She rescued abandoned robin eggs this spring and tried to incubate them in her room but they never hatched.  She has also watched her hamster pass out on the vet's examination table.  Even though she has witnessed harsh realities of animal life, she is determined to do all she dreams of for the animal kingdom! Nicholas, 7 years old, teaches Luke, 2 years old, how to make funny sounds in the tub and tunnels in the sand and many other things, not all approved of!  Luke mimics Nicholas right down to the facial expressions and the sound effects as they play trucks and throw baseballs!  Nicholas loves to experiment in the kitchen with frozen recipes where food coloring is a key ingredient!  The taste testers always seem to have stained lips!  Luke loves to "help" around the house and throws a tantrum if he can't scoot a chair up to the sink to wash dishes with me or have a turn to vacuum.  He loves to wipe up the floor after he has spilled something.  Why does the fascination with house work wear off by the time they are old enough to really help?
• Neal: We are still in Eagle Mountain and are loving it. Neal only has one year left of his Masters (Wahoo!) and he just changed seminaries and is now teaching at Alta. I am loving staying home with the kids and am currently obsessed with coupons! Meg will start her third and final year of preschool in the fall and Kate just loves being herself. She is a crack up. We love playing, working, and hanging out together outside. We feel so blessed! Yep. That will do. Nothing all that eventful but good enough for us!
• Jennifer:  Jennifer and Randall are still living in Okinawa, Japan, where Randall works for the Air Force in F-16 avionics.  They're planning to be there for another year, and then return to their home in Cache Valley.  They're learning new things, making new friends and exploring lots of beautiful places.  They spend lots of time hiking and snorkeling together; they love the ocean and the culture and the people, and are having an all-around great time!  Randall is serving as the district clerk, Jennifer as a counselor in the district Relief Society presidency and a Cub Scout den leader.  Their kids (Madison 13, Jacob 11, Jonathan 8, and Levi 4) are all doing well in school, scouts, church, swimming, basketball, music, etc. and are great kids!  Jonathan was recently baptized in The East China Sea; Jennifer and Levi are teaching English together once a week at a Japanese preschool; their family is serving as a host family for Japanese students who are studying English, and Jennifer recently took at a trip to Tokyo with her friend.  For some fun pictures, see their family blog at http://cheney6.blogspot.com. 

Diana and Ralph: Ralph is still working for the church and Diana is still teaching school and putting on two plays a year with Ralph’s support. Ralph is teaching Sunday School and Diana is RS president.  Took Grandma/Mom to California to see Lois.  Three weeks later went to California to Sea World with Sara and Dustin and Parker.  Flew there and back and spent the day at Sea World and did it in 48 hours.  One of those “three day, two nite” free vacations that cost you $95.  But we got our money’s worth and had a wonderful time and Parker loved it. Ask for the “How they try to talk you out of it if you won’t upgrade” story.  Diana has to have surgery on her foot.  6 weeks totally off the foot. She wore out her ligament.  That is not happening until late fall, she refuses to miss another summer.  Ten grandkids, only two girls!  Help!  There will be a new playhouse in the back yard this year if it ever stops raining!  We love each other, our children and grandchildren and the Lord.  We are blessed.

• Anne: Mike—Doing very well in his CFP (certified financial planner) classes, hard to resist when work pays for it.  Anne—Pretty much every spare moment is taken doing laundry, wiping the crumbs from under the kitchen stools, running the home owners association, journaling, photographizing (wow, that might be a real word, it’s not underlined in red!), (editor’s note: it is in the real word processing program; Word. What can you expect from Wordperfect, Wayne and Anne?) and everything else a stay-at-home mother could possibly cram in her day.  The parents in this family are going to a Monday Night Miami Dolphins Game IN Miami in October!  Daniel—finished kindergarten, reading voraciously, wavers between wanting to start a business making life better for worms, becoming a geographer, and whatever else he’s reading about.  Jonathan (4)—beginning to read.  Wants to live in or visit Kansas so that he can see a real tornado.   Ella—loves her cousin Hunter and has him, as well as every other person who knows her, wrapped around her little finger.  She’s speaking very well.  Both boys played soccer this year and had a ton of fun!
• Mark:  As most of you know, Mark was divorced this year.  It has been very difficult, but one of the great blessings we’ve seen is the love and dedication of his brothers and sisters.  He has joint custody of his kids and has them all Sundays and they are attending their neighborhood school.  They are adjusting as well as might be hoped.  That is due in large part to the fact that Anne is doing the daycare for Hunter, Sara for Colin and Robyn helping where she can with the twins.  Braxton and Kaitlyn have finished kindergarten.  They are both good little swimmers and played soccer this year.  Hunter has learned to spell and write his name. He can also snap his fingers and whistle and he played soccer. Colin is due to be potty trained and is stringing three words together to express himself.  Mark is doing very well in his employment and has really learned the importance of fatherhood.
• Michael: All things considered, Michael and Robyn are doing very well. The universe works in funny ways, good balancing bad and all. While their savings account for a commercial trip to space has seen no progress this year (danged economy!), they have managed to add to their ranks a wonderful little sleeper named Matthew Joseph Parker. We’ll call that a net gain for first quarter. The yard is finally in, which is great, and thanks to Paul for helping out on that front, however, to offset that triumph, the rear passenger power window motor on their car is broken and the window won’t stay up. This, you might think, is a small price to pay for a new yard, but as it happens, this is the THIRD window on the car to fail. Let me remind you that it only has FOUR windows! All we can do now is hope for something positive in June to keep second quarter in the black (those investors are rabid)!  Robyn is really working hard on her cosmetologist services and does a great job (Diana added this) on hair, pedicures, waxing, etc. She is also gearing up for a triathlon in the middle of June!
• Sara: The biggest news that we have is that I am pregnant with our second baby. Dustin is generous about not mentioning the bald spots on my head where I pull my hair out when Parker says "Ma-Ma" the 832nd time within the hour. This past year I ran a triathlon. They called it a sprint distance. Two hours isn't a sprint for me (as evidenced by the fact that I came in dead last!) Dustin continues to work, go to school, study and help around the house, but he only feels truly picked on when he has to teach Elders Quorum and Gospel Doctrine on the same week. Last winter we got an exciting phone call. It wasn't quite the Publishers Clearing House, but it WAS an old mission companion of Dustin's that was about to be married to an English girl and move over there for a year. He invited us to stay with them and so we ordered passports, got a couple sitters for Parker and spent spring break learning to drive on the wrong side of roads that were only slightly less narrow than what we would consider a walking path. Frank, the cat, continues to live out his life on his half of our bed, and ignore the advice of doctors, that obesity kills.

Lynn and Gail: Life in Levan is great.  Deer eat our trees, squirrels live in our basement entry, a herd of cows seem to think Kent’s yard is great place to have a sleep over, the mosquitoes are plentiful and think we are dinner, and the hay in the field is now turning to slime from all the rain.  We love milking cows and taking a loss every month thanks to the government and their great price setting skills. Life goes on and we don't seem to be getting any younger.  We love the time we spend with our family.  We now have 16 grandchildren. What a joy they are!  We have taken several camping trips this past year with our children and have been reminded of the great times our children had camping with their cousins at Flaming Gorge.  We are trying to recreate some of the same memories with our grandchildren.  Lynn is still the fire chief for Levan and is becoming better trained each year. He set 2 goals when he became the Fire Chief.  The first was to get a new Fire Station build, that was completed last fall.  The second is to obtain a new truck to put in the Fire Station.  That may turn out to be pipe dream and never happen, but he is still trying. He has completed a lot of schooling, and is a certified instructor.  He is also the High Priest Group Leader in the ward.  My church calling is in the Family History Center as a consultant.  Manti Temple District was chosen to be one of the first in Utah to have access to the New Family Search.  What a difference, it makes family history so much easier.  I am working at Juab Title and is studying to take the test to be an escrow officer.  It is a struggle to learn and retain at this age.  It would have been much easier to accomplish a few years ago.  All in all we are well and happy.  We are surrounded by family and friends and feel the blessings of our Father in Heaven constantly. 

• Amanda: Greg managed to pass the 7th grade!  He is a true teenager- at 13 he is smart, but never turns in his homework...and no one can convince me that he isn't keeping a goat in his room due to the smell and the mess.  Despite that, he walked away with acceptable grades and an award in science.  Monica did exceptional in school. She is now 11 and a beautiful young lady.  She makes friends with everyone!  Jeff is 10.  He is incredibly creative.  I struggle to keep tape and glue in the house.  He is always building, creating, and moving.   Ruthanne is 3 and talking up a storm in 2 languages!  She has her own opinions and isn't afraid to give them to you. Thankfully, all my children love each other and you can find them playing together often.  With the blessing of my children, on June 26 I will be Amanda Bateman Mecham.  Jason and I have decided to get married.  All are invited to attend the open house.  We would love to have you celebrate with us as we assimilate Jason into our collective.  Jason is a carpet installer and despite the economy has managed to do ok.  I am still working at Lowe's in the Commercial Sales Department. 
• Paul: Although it didn’t seem possible last year at this time, Zachary and Emily have survived another year.  Emily completed kindergarten, Magna Cum Yipee, and Zach completed his first season of Soccer (“I DON’T WANNA PLAY!”…”But you said you DID want to play!”).  Elisa spent the year teaching young women, taking Zach to soccer, and being the only parent involved in Emily’s kindergarten class, all while holding down the home and making sure the kids’ noses are clean and Paul’s socks match.  She really is the glue that holds our family together.  Paul, on the other hand, has continued his globe-trotting exercises and academic exploits (Paul Who?).  There is a bright light, however, since he participated in commencement this spring and is currently completing his last three courses (YAY!).  All in all, things are well in the Bateman household.  The Lord is blessing us and helping us weather the storms of life, and for that, we are grateful.  (For a more complete update and some funny moments, you can check out Elisa's blog at http://batepeople.blogspot.com.)
• Kay: We are still in Levan and loving it!  We will never leave!  Ryan is working as a corrections officer at the Juab County Sheriff's office, as well as driving trucks 1-2 times per week to Henderson, Nevada.  Kay is working with kids as a personal slave, and mostly enjoying it.  She also makes cakes on the side.  Branden just finished 2nd grade and was one of the smartest ones in his class, and he has a hard time letting us forget that he is so smart!  Jace is growing into himself, and is a teriffic reader.  He was also at the top of his 1st grade class.  Ashton is 5 going on 15, and is eager to start Kindergarten next year.  He has already finished over half of his summer homework book and we are only 2 weeks into summer!  Keira is almost 1 and is the perfect picture of a spoiled baby.  Her brothers wait on her hand and foot, and she loves it.  She recently won the Cinderella Baby title in a Central Utah Pageant, and "Best Personality" at the State Pageant.  We are pretty sure that the judges were either blind or paid off!  She won as far as we're concerned! 
• Lori: Lori and Cory are staying busy with work and kids.  Cory is driving truck for Handy Truck Lines, and has had plenty of work lately.  He drives only as far as Lemington, Ut. so he is at home every night still. Cory recently got a motor for his small fishing boat, its name is "Owens", ha, ha. It doesn't move very fast, but we are looking forward to a whole summer of fishing and camping.  Lori is working at Ruby Tuesday in Park City, only part time. The commute is long enough for reflection on whether or not the commute is worth it. Most of the time it is.  Lori just finished another winter of working at Park City Mountain Resort as a Mountain Host, Cory and the two older kids all got season passes.  We had a wonderful winter!  Adam just finished his freshman year at Paradigm High School.  He took a guitar class, and has really picked it up.  He loves to play his guitar and spend time with friends, just the usual 15 year old stuff.  Sierra got all A's in school this year.  She also was awarded a certificate for the "Monster Math" competition. She received "wizard level", She is also looking forward to girl scout camp next month where she will be able to ride horses. She just finished the third grade.  Paige is growing up fast, she has a complete vocabulary, and isn't afraid to tell us what she thinks!  She is in a phase of doing everything by herself.  It's cute sometimes, but mostly just frustrating!
• Rebecca: McKell and I will be going on a vacation this next week to Cancun and it will be our first real big vacation (without kids of course)! We are really excited about this! McKell is still working at Wheeler Machinery. He has actually been welding along with the machining and is enjoying this.  I am working at Marv Jensen Rec. Center in the daycare, part time which I absolutely love!! I am able to take my kids and get paid to watch my kids along with a few others, doesn't get much better than that! Caleb is starting Kindergarten this year and is excited to go to "The Big School".  He talks a lot. Hard to get him stopped! Here is a funny story:  Caleb and I say prayers every night and ask to have good dreams and not bad dreams and to keep us safe etc. Well one night he said that he wanted to pray to Heavenly Father and ask him for a wrist watch. I tried to explain to him that Heavenly father doesn't work that way and he only gives us things that we really need.  Caleb's reply was "Well I really need a watch, Mom!" He prayed for the watch. The next morning he was totally devastated that he didn't get his watch from Heavenly Father. I had to call my dad to help console him and help explain why he didn't receive his watch.  Conner is almost 16 months and is talking like crazy already and is totally opposite of Caleb.  He is a really big boy and is already wearing 24 month clothes! He tries his hardest to keep up with all the big kids and I'm already having problems with him beating up on the older kids! He is going to be a challenge! That is our life right now and we just keep plugging away trying to make it in this crazy world. 

Well, I cut a bit on many of you, added a bit to some of you, and sincerely hope you enjoy the letter.  With 10 point font, we made it in just over 9 pages.  But with the internet that is not so bad.  I am so grateful to belong to this family.  Love, Aunt Diana