First Time to Church

My Handsome Little Man
who did great at Church.

Elizabeth and Daniel looked so cute in their matching outfits.

We Miss Grandma

Thanks for the visit and all the help.

Truman Madsen

Click on the above picture to see a very inspirational video of
"A LIFE LIVED IN CRESCENDO "

Grandpa C. came into dad's office yesterday and shared that he had just heard that Truman Madsen passed away. Truman was a notable teacher, scholar, author, authority on the Holy Land, the Savior, Church History and Joseph Smith, etc... etc... He and his wife Ann were good friends of Grandma & Grandpa C. and relatives -- as his brother Gorden is married to Grandpa C.'s sister - Carol Cornwall Madsen. We heard Truman's name often and Grandpa and Grandma C. went on several of his tours over the years and visited with him and Ann on regular occasion.

Our Newest Addition

EVERY 15 MINUTES

For the past 2 days at MHS Sarah has been involved in a program called Every 15 Minutes (which refers to the statistic that a person in the U.S. is killed every 15 minutes by a drinking driver). The activities have been many weeks in planning. The newspaper article from yesterday's Star News explains:
Sarah was one of those who were unexpectedly pulled out of class by a Grim Reaper every 15 minutes throughout the school day and their "obituary" read as a "living dead". Taken, these students spent the rest of the day, and night and next morning away from home and school, and friends with no contact (no cell phones even).
The next morning, Thursday, there was an assembly. After the first few minutes it was one of the most subdued high school assemblies ever. A video was shown of the crash scene and those who were "taken", etc... (put together by Tech overnight of what happened the day before - a great job). A few family members read letters they had been asked to write overnight, being without their departed child.

A few departed students read letters they had written the night before (which they had spent at a local church). Sarah was one of those few who read her letter to her family ... from "heaven" (a.k.a. the sound booth) while a looping slide show of pictures Sarah put together was shown. Sarah's reading starts at 5:46 into the video, and if you don't watch the whole production, which is snippets throughout the assembly, you will want to watch these last couple of minutes highlighting our Sarah.

The video is mostly for Mom. She would have been there with all the other parents to be part of the assembly and to be reunited with their child. (But Mom is in Portland, focused on the OTHER bookend event of mortality-- this one, wonderfully real.) Although the high school events were all staged, the emotions of many were very genuine.

p.s. Sarah's tee shirt in the last video picture says "CASEYS PLEDGE". This refers to a related program based on a young woman, by the name of Casey, who was killed a few years ago by an 18 year old drinking driver. Casey's mother was the keynote speaker at the assembly.

One Week Old

Today we celebrated Daniel's One Week Birthday.
Elizabeth even sang "Happy Birthday" to him.
We sure enjoy having him in our family.

Ta-Da

Today I got to pick up some of my supplies for Paris. THE backpack, and the paris walks book that outlines various routes we'll take while there.

It's Always Fun At Grandpa's House

It was memorable day... with the Kevin Cornwalls, the Alvords, the Chris Cornwalls, the Jon Cornwalls, (great) Grandpa C. and Dad and Sarah all at the annual Memorial Day swim party with grilled hamburgers and a ton of other good eats. (We did certainly miss Mom tho', but so glad for where she is.)

Birthday Birthday coming to earth day!

This one is long....but its just because there were so many fun pictures!
I know its been a little while but for my birthday Robbie woke me up with a delicious breakfast in bed and lots of gifts from him and many others. Thank you everyone! In addition, after school he brought me to get my first pedicure and he got me a manicure too (I had done that before!)
As you see, I look very relaxed in this picture! Because the chair also massaged my neck and back during the whole process. It was great!

Here is the finished product. Since it was a weekday, I got a free design on my toes! Nice huh?
These shoes are from Robbie for my birthday as well!
We went out to dinner at Macaroni Grill and I had a DELICIOUS SMOOTHIE! Oh my goodness, it was so good. It came in that tall cup! Yum!
Then Robbie, Rachel, Jeff and I went to the park to play with one of my birthday gifts....Bocce Ball! It was so fun and a great opportunity for me to snap some shots! Rachel took some too!I mean who could resist Rachel in this saucy outfit! Not me!

I love this one!

And look at the attractive genes in this family. Yikes!

Robbie also got me this cute shirt for my birthday. I am on the phone with my grandpa in this picture. I got lots of calls from lots of people! It made my day!
Then for dessert we had drumsticks! I was craving one so bad! I always had some sort of ice cream or ice cream cake for my birthday since the weather was just warming up. It was fun to keep the tradition alive! Robbie did so magnificent with all the details of the day! It was a wonderful birthday!

And here is a silly video of Rachel and Jeff. They are so fun! We are glad to be around them for the next few months! We love having a little backyard to spend time in!

RACHEL RETURNS

It sure was fun having Rachel (and her 2 very nice friends) home, from Provo, for the weekend.

First Days Home

Elizabeth's first peak at Daniel at home.

Couldn't you just kiss that face - don't worry I am.

He has the softest forehead EVER!!

Going for a drive

Getting used to the sleeping accommodations.

Boy is Grandma Cornwall having FUN!!!

I arrived Thursday afternoon to meet this darling adorable baby!! I was happy to see that mother, dad and baby were just fine with my own eyes. Thursday night Elizabeth and I had a sleepover at the apartment and were happy to be the welcoming committee for Baby Daniel on Friday. He is such a sweet tempered baby. We are having a great time!!

THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH

While Mom is in Portland taking care of daughter #1, granddaughter #2 and (newly arrived) grandson #1... daughter #3 & daughter #2 (with 2 BYU buddies visiting for the weekend) are making the best of it back at 336.

Here are a few pictures from day #1...
which was really just a half-a-day after the drive from Utah.

What could be more California than a swim in the Pacific Ocean at Huntington Beach then 5 burgers, animal fries and a neapolitan shake at In-N-Out on Beach Blvd.?!?!

What happened

The Setup

Katie’s due date was Saturday May 23rd. She had a doctor appointment on Wednesday May 20th

May 20th Timeline in review

2:40 Scheduled Dr. appointment at OBGYN office
3:00 Meet with Dr. Bair. Katie is still only dilated to a 2. Schedule to be induced on May 30th in case the baby doesn’t come.
3:30 while driving home from Dr. office Katie says “I may have just had a contraction”
3:30 -5:30 Shopping (returns and purchases)
5:30-6:00 Dinner
6:00 Call Bell’s to arrange care for Elizabeth
6:58 Drop Elizabeth off at the Bell’s home
7:00 Dallin Calls parents to tell them they are headed to the hospital
7:02 Dallin hangs up on parents because Katie is having rough contractions
7:06 Dallin and Katie get to the Freeway as they get on Katie says “I am having the urge to push.” Dallin and Katie try to breathe and relax with only limited success.
7:09 The RAV4 hits 84mph as Dallin tries to safely navigate a crowded freeway and 55mph speed limit
7:11 Katie expresses disappointment in the pain and circumstances by saying “I wanted an epidural”
7:13 Contractions are hard and constant. The car is very tense. Katie is very worried that the baby is coming. Dallin is trying to help Katie breathe but finds himself trying to slow his own breathing down.
7:14 Katie says “I can feel the head coming” and “I am dilating right now.”
7:15 Katie is screaming. She says that she is pushing and that the baby is coming. Dallin calls 911 but hangs up quickly as he sees the hospital exit is only 1.5 miles away.
7:17 Katie says she is going to have the baby right now that she can feel the head coming. Dallin and Katie try to keep breathing. Dallin reminds Katie that she can’t have the baby because her water hasn’t broken. He also reminds her that they had to break the water for Elizabeth and that Mom Cornwall had to have her water broken for all six kids. That we were going to make it to the hospital and be ok
7:18 The freeway exit appears Katie informs Dallin that her water just broke and that the baby is coming
7:19 Katie and Dallin run 3 (out of a total 4 possible, one light was green) red lights.
7:20 Dallin parks the car in front of the hospital doors turns on the hazard lights and runs to the passenger side. Random stranger asks if we need a wheel chair. Katie and Dallin both say yes. Said stranger runs to get the wheel chair.
7:21 Dallin pushes a screaming Katie through a very large and crowded lobby. As Dallin jogs past the lobby’s desk he tells a hospital employee his car is out front and that his wife is in labor. Dallin doesn’t leave time for a response as he jogs to the elevator that is being held for them by people who had heard Katie’s screams
7:22 Dallin and Katie get to the 3rd floor. Dallin tells the receptionist “We are preregistered. We are having the baby right now.” We follow the receptionist 20 yards to the nearest room
7:23 Dallin, Katie and the receptionist enter room 334. The receptionist says something about getting a Dr. Katie stands up and says “He is in my pants.” Dallin looks and sees that there appears to be a head between Katie’s legs. Dallin pulls down Katie’s pants and catches the baby (with his bare and unwashed hands). Dallin holds the baby and looks at the receptionist who says “I am not a nurse.”
7:24 Eight to ten nurses swarm the room. Dallin hands the baby off to a nurse. (Remember the baby is still attached by the umbilical cord). With the help of one of the nurses Dallin lifts Katie to the bed. A gentleman enters and says I heard screaming do you need help (a random OBGYN named Dr. Pennikas). The room is not a standard delivery room so there is a flurry of activity to get the needed supplies. Dallin cuts the umbilical cord and Daniel Morris Stratford starts flying solo.
7:25- we leave the hospital 40 hours later Katie receives no medication or IV (the doctor left before signing any forms and Katie felt fine). Katie’s recovery goes remarkably well. Katie and Daniel are doing great.

Picture Update

More Info to come