Dearest Family, Happy belated Independance Day!! Personal independance has taken on whole new meaning this year. I've never appreciated it more. Melissa your so kind, did you know how much this entire family loves you right back?!!!Anne and I will be so disappointed if you and Sam don't come to Carp, it'll be forever until we see each other again if you don't come! Tell Sam Gram says that you get way dirtier in the mountains than you do at the beach!
Well I've just finnished weeding,and feeding my plants,seems thats where I'd been the last time I caught up! I"m declaring war on the rabbits for sure. They've eatten my sweet peas clear down to sticks!! and they had just finally started to climb! This was the last straw! I can see why my dad was shooting at them regularly! I don't think I'll be doing any shooting but you can bet I'm going do do something....If any one has any ideas I'd really appreciate it. I am really ticked off!! I can just hear my brother laughing,but it's not funny,I work hard out there!
Katie, it sounds like a really fun trip you and Danny have planned. I'm glad you and Anne will be spending some time together, I know she is really looking forward to seeing you. And I too am so looking forward to our time at the beach and while it's going to be a really nice break for you I'm sorry to miss your children. Anne said they were just darling, and so agreeable,but that doesn't suprise me much. I'll bet your a great mother!
Well Bub, tomorrow should be interesting. This guy from our ward (I don't really know him) is going to pick up Dad and bring him to Sacrament Meeting. Mom took some clothes down and I guess he's going to dress him,and the whole bit! I told Mom to make sure he has a pill before he leaves or for sure he'll be miserable. It will be nice having him there if he's able to enjoy himself. He was the person I missed the most when I first went back to church,wierd huh? There are some songs that I can just hear him singing parts to...it makes me feel really sad. I went with Mom to visit him the other day and told him all about this computer and your pictures of the rainbow, he immediately wanted to know if you'd killed it, and how big it was. I always try to remember stuff that I know he would like to know,sometimes I have a terrible saddness come over me the way he looks at me so intently, as if to take it all in. I'm thankful even moreso for this blogger, It gives me alot more to tell him about now. Thank You.
Love You All, Mary

Happy Independence day! Especially to you Mary! One year, that is an amazing accomplishment, talk about independence!!! Has anyone ever noticed that when a person wants to make a big change, and important change, that obstacles start coming out of the wood work? I sure have. Way to face them, and overcome them.
This has to be one of my favorite holidays. I'm so grateful to live in the United States. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. We will be celebrating at my dad's house tonight. It will be nice, I haven't seen that part of my family in a while.

I hope the Nydegger's have a safe and fun trip to Newport this week. I called Katie and suggested that us grown-up, married kids have an all day Lagoon Day before she moves (without the kidlets). She seemed to think that was fun, so how about it? Is there a day that you married folks could take off to go to Lagoon? Let me know.

Have I mentioned lately how grateful I am to be a part of the Carter Family? I've never met anyone who loves their in-law family as much as I do!

Have a fantastic holiday!!!
Melissa

Dear Ones, This has been a great day. It is Mary's one year birthday. I'm so proud of her and thankful that she has made it. It surely hasn't been easy. You wouldn't believe how many stumbling blocks have been trying to trip her along the way. What a wonderful independence day!!!! My recovery is coming along slowly. I cleaned out the fridge yesterday and it proved to be quite exhausting. I'm sure if I did it more regularly it wouldn't have been near the task. Katie, I can't believe your Danny. As much as everyone knew how I loved swimming in the ocean, I don't ever remember anyone offering to tend my kids so I could take a dip./ Each of your spouses is so wonderful. Well, I'm off to bed. Have a great day tomorrow.Love, Grandma.

gee, Danny, you made me burst out with the loudest laugh of the week I'm sure:) You guys write so well and I love catching up with you.

Well, another load of laundry is in and my bed is still unmade....not good when it is calling for me to hop back in. It is already 85 degrees outside and Joe is weeding. Dave is off to work with a couple of sandwiches and an apple. I made four pumpkin pies yesterday and we still have mostly three left...so if you have a hankering for some of Davey's 'billy boy' come on over.

Violet is watching intently as I type. She has missed her mistress who will be home this afternoon. She just hopped onto the keyboard and made the screen look a little different. Laurel is off to Kim's house today and it should be fun for her. We keep our fingers crossed for good clean fun!

We took Dave and Joe for a birthday dinner at the Macaroni Grill. Oh, if you could have seen Dave blush at the Italian version of 'Happy Birthday.' He kept rubbing his right eye and grinning and looking at the very loud 'songbird.' Yes, he had his hair reduced by one inch or a little more. No, he did not make it for school pics because he needed to go to work.

I love you all; you make me smile. And laugh!

Happy birthday Dave!!! Wow, 18, time sure flies by doesn't it? I wondered why the heck your hair was so long!! hope you had a GREAT day
love you,mary

Dear Davey, The first time that I saw you was in your Mom's arms getting off the plane in Dan Diego. You were arriving for the family reunion in DelMar. Your were such a darling baby and soooo good. I was a little worried about your Mom bringing you, because you had been on oxygen at home. But you thrived at sea level. When the reunion was over and I took you to the airport I couldn't stand to go back to the condo to that empty portacrib. I drove around until after dark and so missed that darling little boy. I hope that your day was great and that your 18th year will be wonderful. Your have so much to look forward to this year----Sr Prom, graduation etc. Love your so much , Davey and see you soon Grandma

Happy Birthday Dave! Hope it was a good one. How is your hair looking these days? Did you manage to keep it long for the pictures?

I forgot that we had planned a Cherry Hill trip tonight, so that's what our little family did. We saw Rachael there, as bronzed and cute as can be. We also ran into my sister Rikki (and family), so you can imagine how delighted Eddie was to have Bronson to play with.

I saw a woman with triplets. At Cherry Hill. They weren't more than 9 months old. She had a stroller for 4 (didn't even know that made 'em that big)!!! Now that is a mother dedicated to family fun. Goes to show, just when you think you have it tough, someone or something suddenly appears and sets you straight.

Hope all is well. I sure love reading the blogs. Keep it up y'all! (Valerie, you're getting me hooked on that word!)

Happy Birhtday, Dave! Ed came over this morning shortly after 7 to take Dave to his new job at the auto auction. Cristie and I enjoyed seeing our boys go off to work together. I'm proud of my boys.

Eighteen years ago today was quite a day. Cristie and I had been at the hospital all night; Cristie having contractions and me helpless. After sunrise the doctor told us the baby was in stress and he was concerned. I went to call a rep to tell him I wouldn't be working with him that day and as I was coming back, the nurse met me in the hallway to tell me they needed to do an emergency c-section. Before I knew it, Cristie was being wheeled into the OR, and after they put her under they came and got me. I watched David come in to the world. They whisked him off to pediatric intensive care, which is where he stayed for the next several days.

The kids and I went to the park and watched fireworks on the 4th of July without Cristie and Dave.

A few weeks later, fireworks hit our house again in the form of a lightning bolt. Little baby Dave had been sleeping in the bedroom that was hit, but Cristie had taken him in to our bedroom just before lightning struck. It was a good thing. The room was damaged, and Dave could've been hurt.

It's hard for me to believe that was all 18 years ago. Dave's been a lot of fun and a barrel of laughs. Happy Birthday, Dave!

Ed I'm glad your lesson went well. It does not surprise me that some of the Saviors final words were in regards to the comforter, for I would surely be lost without it! I just had some news that I'm not thrilled about. They're taking yet another one of my favorite families from us. Kent Hart, you know his family Bub, was called to the Singles Ward. Kent was a counselor in our Bishopric AND our home teacher, plus his wife sang Alto with me in the choir! I'm EXTREMELY bummed! They just took another fantastic, fun, hilarious person from our choir last month! There are other wards for cryin' out loud!!! geez!!! How many people do they need over there anyway! .....I am seriously murmuring now. Speaking of, at our Stake Conference during the business,callings and such,when they went through the brethren in the presidency and asked that question,All in favor,All opposed...Well I just happeded to be sitting on the stand with the choir and was shocked to see this little Oriental man go stiff and shoot his little arm in the air! It kinda caused a pause in the whole thing too, but I thought the Stake Clerk recovered nicely by turning to the President saying, we have one opposed, and President Huckvale actually made a mark on something he was holding..I of course have never seen any thing like that so I was in shock and wanted very much to say out loud, DID YOU SEE THAT?!....BUT I didn't. Mother said she once opposed a change in the Ward boundaries but no one paid any attention to her...so that was the end of that!

I had a very nice visit with Laurel yesterday, we're both thankful for our freedom. She also expressed her difficulty in finding a job that did'nt need computer skills, I suggested a class like one that I'm considering and she thought that might be a more productive way to spend all of the free time she has right now. She sounded good.

I'm glad the Trekers are home safe but sorry to hear Dave wasn't feeling well. I didn't quite get the part on lizzies upset,whether it was "violet" or "violent" and how Ed could be mixed up in it either but I'm sure it all worked itself out anyway.

I'm lovin' all this for sure! Later, Mary



Just a short PS from me. Everyone here is getting excited about Carpenteria. Al was here checking on dates today. I wish that I was as computer litterte as he is. We still aren't hooked up to the other phone line. I 'll get some help with it from Dick this week. Nancy and family had a nice time at Del Mar. She was surprised at the changes in TJ. Love to all, Grama Loie

Mary it is so good to hear from you. Welcome to the family site! I look forward to all that Sunday brings and feel blessed to belong to such a wonderful family. The boys are back from the trek...none worse for the wear and I dare say blessed for their participation. Dave was under the weather yesterday but he seems to be well enough to be the youth speaker today in Sacrament meeting. Liz had another Violet upset yesterday and tried to make Ed a part of it but lucky for him he was busy downtown going to school. I'll let her bring you up to speed on that account. Ali and Doug will be returning from Jackson Hole today and I will be interested to hear how their trip went.
Today I share the sentiments of the pioneer season, 'and should be die before our journey's through, happy day all is well. We then are free from toil and sorrow too, with the just we shall dwell' my love to you all...mom

What Mary didn't say in her message below is how much of a help she was to my mother after her surgery. Loie said Mary always knew just what to do to make her feel better. So....she's inherited that compassionate streak from her mother. Welcome to our family site, Mary. We'll look forward to hearing from you regularly. Heaven knows you have stories to tell!