Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Dear Kids,
      Dad and I had great fun going to the ceremony where Al received his “Officer of the Year” award. It was at the Elks’ Lodge in Bountiful, and they were giving awards to the best officers and dispatchers in all of Davis County, so there were about ten cities. But the presentation for Allen was the best, because of the cool things they said about him (while he stood up in front, holding his award.) Did you all know that they call him “Spike?” That’s because of the time that a Farmington officer was chasing a suspect down into Centerville, and Allen was all ready for them. He threw down a spike strip to stop the suspect’s car, but he was too late, and he took out the tires on the officer’s car, instead. Funny, I never heard that story before. But in spite of that, they said that Allen is the kind of officer every chief wants to have on his force. During the rest of the program, we were more interested in whose radios were going off, and which officers suddenly got up and left. We could only wonder where they were headed. At the end of the program they had all the officers come up for one big picture, and Allen was definitely the handsomest of them all. And he looks the most like a cop.
      We’re looking forward to Ali’s blessing in Price this Sunday. The following Sunday, March 11th, will be Aubrey’s blessing in Heber. Sacrament meeting is at 1:00, in the Church on 5th North. Coming into Heber from the north, you turn left at Smiths, and it’s the first church on your left. (Don’t laugh–there’s another church just like it a couple of blocks farther down.) John says that they’ll have a dinner at 4:00, after the block. It should be fun.
      Last Friday Katie Rickett got married at our church, by Bishop Little, in the Relief Society room. Her new husband, Scott, seems like a really nice guy. They were going to Park City for their honeymoon, so Donna gave them free passes to ski at Deer Valley. Scott said, “Do I have to wear fur?” Donna helped me with the food, and she washed lots of dishes. Towards the end of the reception, Brittney Putnam and her mom came, so that was lots of fun for Donna. She and Katie and Brittney used to hang out a lot together. But of course the best thing about the reception was that all the Ricketts were there. Becky has a little girl about five who looks just like her. Ben talked to Dad about computers. Laurina looked the same, but not Matt–he’s bald and chunky. I wouldn’t have known who he was, except that he was holding a toddler that was definitely a Nixon. Jared’s wife Tammy did the decorations and the photography. Nate was there in a black shirt, but he was pleasant. Sandra and Chris looked very tired, and I think they were glad to have it over with.
      Nancy sent out an e-mail reminding us to send her our recipes for the new book. I have to get on the ball about that. I have lots of new recipes. If you haven’t sent yours in yet, please do it ASAP. Her e-mail is: treboss@comcast.net.
      I’m writing this letter at Grandma and Grandpa’s, and Grandma just demonstrated her new chair for me. She pushes a button, and it catapults her out of it. Well, not exactly, but it lifts up and tips her forward, so she can get out more easily. Isn’t technology great?
      I love you all! Mom

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Dear Kids,
      I came home from Michigan last night, and now I’m trying to remember what I was doing before I left. There were all sorts of important projects I left behind, but now I can’t remember what they were. All I can think of is laundry and putting stuff away. That’s no fun at all, compared with my stay in Michigan, where I played with Charlie and helped take care of Matthew. Oh, and I did crown molding, too. Sharon’s friend Mandy heard that I like home improvement projects, so she got the idea that when I came, we’d put up crown molding in Sharon’s living room, and then maybe do her house, too. So she borrowed all the tools, and they had their molding all painted when I got there. So Friday, we did Sharon’s living room. It was hard to figure out. When you think you’re cutting it right, then it’s always wrong. And if it looks wrong, then you’re probably cutting it right. We only wasted a couple of pieces, though, before we got it figured out. And Saturday, Mandy and I did her house, along with her husband, Eddie, who’s an anesthesiologist. But he likes to use power tools. It went really fast by then. So, if anybody wants crown molding, I know how to do it now.
      Tom and Kim are going to bless little Ali on March 4th at 9:00 am at their ward in Price. It’s the church next to Sessions, so everybody knows where that is. Dad and I will be going for sure, but we realize it’s pretty early in the morning for a trip to Price, so I don’t know how many of the rest of you will brave it. I think John and Heather will be blessing Aubrey pretty soon, too, but I’m sure they’ll let us all know the place and time.
      My sister Nancy sent us an e-mail about putting together a new family cookbook. She’s willing to do the work! She wants you to e-mail or send her any recipes that you want to include. (Her e-mail is: treboss@comcast.net) If any of us want our recipes from the old book to be included, we’re supposed to send them, too, but it looks like the new book is going to be sort of a supplement to the old one. We’re also supposed to send any fun family photos or other pictures for the book. I don’t know if there’s a deadline, yet. I got the e-mail from Nancy a couple of weeks ago.
      Monica’s still working on her wedding plans. There’ll be no stoppin’ the fun! By the way, we’ll want to have a big family picture taken (all 37 of us) sometime before the wedding, which will be Saturday afternoon, July 7th. So, should I schedule the picture for early Saturday morning, or would Friday night be better? Please let me know what your preference is. We haven’t had a real picture in years. Also, will you want Mike to take individual pictures of your families? If so, he’ll need more time. So let me know. I hope he isn’t already booked up. (Then, of course, we could call in our official family photographer, Tom, and he could set up his camera on a tripod, and run to get in the picture.) Either way, it’ll work.
      Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it. I am. Love, Mom

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Dear Kids,
      Sharon and Seth’s baby was born early this morning, about 1:00 am. So he’s a Valentine’s Boy. It will be easy to remember his birthday! Funny thing is, it was 11:00 pm Utah time, the night before, when he came. So if he’d been born in Utah, his birthday would be the 13th. And it probably wouldn’t have taken so long. It’s the university hospital here, so things are, well, different. They had agreed to start Sharon’s labor yesterday, and when she and Seth checked in, the doctor agreed she was ready to go, but he left for surgery without writing the order for pitocin. So they sat and sat. For hours. Nobody could do anything without that order. About nine in the evening, they finally got Sharon going, and things went fast after that. Too fast for her epidural to work. (Been there. Like some of you.) But it all turned out great. Little Matthew G. Thacker weighted 9 lbs. 8 oz, and according to Sharon, he doesn’t look anything like Charlie. I’m here at their house, and Seth just came home. He and Charlie and I are going back to the hospital later on to see the baby. It will be very good for Charlie, who has been very confused. Last night he was saying, “Mommy needs to feed the baby.” I told him Mommy had to wait until the baby was born, and he couldn’t figure it out. This morning I told him the baby was born now, and he still looked puzzled. So he’ll have to see for himself.
      Thursday, Feb. 15: First off, if you want to see pictures of Matthew, check out the slideshow on Sharon and Seth's Blog: http://thackersinmichigan.blogspot.com/
      I didn’t get a chance to finish my letter yesterday. Seth came home and picked us up, and we went back to the hospital to see baby Matthew. And Sharon. They both looked great. I’ll say this about Matthew: good thing he isn’t a girl. There’s nothing dainty about him. Sort of like Benjamin, when he was born. All boy. His feet are gigantic–maybe a size 2 already. And he’s 22" long. But he’s very placid, and doesn’t cry much.
      Meanwhile, it’s COLD here in Michingan. There’s lots of snow. Too bad we don’t have it in Utah. When my plane was coming in Tuesday night, I looked down at the interstate, and I could see it was mostly snow-covered, with cars off the road. Sharon’s friend Mandy picked me up at the airport, and we saw lots more slide-offs on our way home, and a few real smash-ups. I was glad to get here safely, and I’m content to sit here and not go anywhere. Besides, it’s only 6° this morning. And I’m having lots of fun with Charlie. Right now he’s watching “Trucks and Big Machines.”
      Last Monday, back at home, the big news was seeing Allen on the front page of the Tribune, standing in front of his cop car, with dark glasses on, looking very tough. I had seen the article online that morning, but the online picture wasn't very big. But later on in the day, Donna and Bevan and I were walking through Walmart, when we spotted the Tribune on a newspaper rack. You couldn’t miss Allen! I bought a copy of the paper, and I was sure to tell the check-out lady that that was my son, on the front page. The article was about how unaffordable housing is for cops in some communities. So of course they chose Allen for the picture, because he’s so tough looking. Or maybe because he’s officer of the year. (By the way, the ceremony is February 27th, not March 27th.) And how is it that Ackerson men are turning up in the news? First it was Dad on the front page of the Deseret news, back in December, and then in January it was Tom and his kids on the front page of the Summit County Fitness Center guide. And now Allen. So John, you’re next. Or Paul. You’ve gotta keep it going.
      By the way, does anyone want to get on a cell phone plan with Paul? I wish we could fit one more person on our plan, but there are four already. It’s really the cheapest way to go. And I recommend T-Mobile, so we can call each other free. Let me know, or let Paul know, OK?
      I’m going to upload this letter now, if I can. I won’t be mailing it, because it wouldn’t get to you until next week.
      Lots of love, Mom

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

      Missy just called and said that Allen is receiving a MAJOR AWARD! It’s a pretty big deal, because he’s been chosen officer of the year in Centerville. There’s a ceremony on March 27, when they’ll present it to him. Missy said it might be just a plaque, but maybe it’s even better–maybe money? Who knows. Dad and I will be on hand, for sure. I’ll let you know where and when, in a later letter, if other family members can come. Missy also said they’re planning to do an Easter picnic at their house again this year. Yay! I think Easter Saturday is April 7th.
      Sharon and Seth’s baby is due in six days, and Sharon says that they couldn’t have chosen a worse time, if they’d thrown darts at a board. It’s below zero every day, with a wind chill taking it down to the minus 20's or so, and their car won’t start. Besides that, Seth has a big project (or is it a presentation) due. But of course they’ll be happy to have the baby here, safe and healthy, no matter what else is going on. I’m flying to Michigan next Tuesday, and I’ll be staying a week, so in my next letter I’ll be able to report on the baby, and if things are still cold in Michigan.
     Jana McGettigan had surgery again last Friday, and this time they took her lymph nodes. She said that out of 18, only one had cancer, so hopefully her chemotherapy won’t be so severe. She’ll start the chemo in a couple of weeks, and it will last several months. Glen says the kids can pretty well take care of themselves, but I hope she’ll let me take them off her hands now and then.
      Dad and I went snowboarding last Friday night, and the main thing we learned is that you simply don’t go to a resort that hasn’t had snow for a month. (Unless maybe it’s Deer Valley, where they groom like crazy.) We went to Wolf Mountain, and it was solid ice with maybe an inch of man-made snow on the top. All we did was fall down. I felt sorry for the kids who were having lessons, first-timers who didn’t know any better. I wanted to shout at them, “Go home! It isn’t supposed to be like this.” But, of course, I didn’t. After an hour or so of minor falls, Dad took one really hard fall on his shoulder, so we quit. Will we get another chance, this year? It feels like spring outside, but who knows?
      Monica’s wedding plans are getting better and better. She wants to have “things to do” in the cabin yard, like badminton, horseshoes, and croquet. I said, “Oh, yeah, old guys like horseshoes, don’t they? Does Neil’s father do horseshoes?” She said, “Neil does horseshoes.”
      Ok, so much the better. He’ll know how to set up the posts. We’ll have to get out the cowboy golf, too, that Vanessa and Trent made. Monica wants to be sure people have lots to do. Her idea for a wedding cake is a cupcake tree, which is very trendy now. She says it will be less work for me, too. I already know where to get the stand.
      If you happen to go by Grandma and Grandpa Allen’s house, they have books out on their dining room table that anybody can take. They’re downsizing. I took a few. I also got lots of the cabin decor out of their family room in the basement. Bonnie said for me to take it, so of course I did. I’m using most of it at the cabin.
      Life is good! Love, Mom


Dear Kids,
      Missy just called and said that Allen is receiving a MAJOR AWARD! It’s a pretty big deal, because he’s been chosen officer of the year in Centerville. There’s a ceremony on March 27, when they’ll present it to him. Missy said it might be just a plaque, but maybe it’s even better–maybe money? Who knows. Dad and I will be on hand, for sure. I’ll let you know where and when, in a later letter, if other family members can come. Missy also said they’re planning to do an Easter picnic at their house again this year. Yay! I think Easter Saturday is April 7th.
      Sharon and Seth’s baby is due in six days, and Sharon says that they couldn’t have chosen a worse time, if they’d thrown darts at a board. It’s below zero every day, with a wind chill taking it down to the minus 20's or so, and their car won’t start. Besides that, Seth has a big project (or is it a presentation) due. But of course they’ll be happy to have the baby here, safe and healthy, no matter what else is going on. I’m flying to Michigan next Tuesday, and I’ll be staying a week, so in my next letter I’ll be able to report on the baby, and if things are still cold in Michigan.
     Jana McGettigan had surgery again last Friday, and this time they took her lymph nodes. She said that out of 18, only one had cancer, so hopefully her chemotherapy won’t be so severe. She’ll start the chemo in a couple of weeks, and it will last several months. Glen says the kids can pretty well take care of themselves, but I hope she’ll let me take them off her hands now and then.
      Dad and I went snowboarding last Friday night, and the main thing we learned is that you simply don’t go to a resort that hasn’t had snow for a month. (Unless maybe it’s Deer Valley, where they groom like crazy.) We went to Wolf Mountain, and it was solid ice with maybe an inch of man-made snow on the top. All we did was fall down. I felt sorry for the kids who were having lessons, first-timers who didn’t know any better. I wanted to shout at them, “Go home! It isn’t supposed to be like this.” But, of course, I didn’t. After an hour or so of minor falls, Dad took one really hard fall on his shoulder, so we quit. Will we get another chance, this year? It feels like spring outside, but who knows?
      Monica’s wedding plans are getting better and better. She wants to have “things to do” in the cabin yard, like badminton, horseshoes, and croquet. I said, “Oh, yeah, old guys like horseshoes, don’t they? Does Neil’s father do horseshoes?” She said, “Neil does horseshoes.”
      Ok, so much the better. He’ll know how to set up the posts. We’ll have to get out the cowboy golf, too, that Vanessa and Trent made. Monica wants to be sure people have lots to do. Her idea for a wedding cake is a cupcake tree, which is very trendy now. She says it will be less work for me, too. I already know where to get the stand.
      If you happen to go by Grandma and Grandpa Allen’s house, they have books out on their dining room table that anybody can take. They’re downsizing. I took a few. I also got lots of the cabin decor out of their family room in the basement. Bonnie said for me to take it, so of course I did. I’m using most of it at the cabin.
      Life is good! Love, Mom


Thursday, February 1, 2007

      The big news this week was the very speedy arrival of Aubrey Michelle Ackerson on Friday morning at 9:15. She weighted 7 lbs. 10 oz, and of course she’s very cute. She has quite a bit of hair, straight and sort of blondish brown, but of course that can change. I spent Friday at John’s house taking care of the older kids, while John was at the hospital with Heather. I had lots of fun. Lots of trips in the minivan, taking Julie to school and Jacob to preschool, where I got it wrong, you know, like in Mr. Mom–north to drop off, south to pick up. I was going the wrong direction, and Jacob’s teacher had to come out and explain that I was “doing it wrong.” So when I came to pick him up, I was careful to line up in the right direction with the rest of the minivans and SUV’s. Then, later on, we went and picked up Julie at her school. When we got home, I had Julie show me all the books she’s made, and her journals that she’s illustrated. She says she’s going to make a book about her whole life, with lots of pictures, like the green book I made about you kids. Go, Julie!
      I’m writing my weekly letter at Grandma and Grandpa’s again, because our computer is still down. After a week in the repair shop, it came back to us, and they said that the motherboard Dad bought last month is supposedly defective. So Dad took it out and sent it back to the company. I went to Sams Club and bought a laptop (my second one–the one I bought last week was defective, and I took it back.) All I want is to be able to sit down at a computer and do my work every day! Is that asking too much?
      Tom and Kim have moved their stuff from their rental house in Price to a storage unit. They’ve moved their selves to the Bentley’s house, and they’re still looking for a place to buy in Heber. If they don’t find a house by the end of May, Kim and the kids will move to the cabin with Tom. I don’t even want to count how many moves they will have made in the last couple of years, or how many more times they might have to load up their stuff. Let’s all hope they get settled soon.
      I’ve been having lots of fun working at the cabin lately. ( I’m doing more there, because I’m not going snowboarding these days–not enough snow.) One thing I’ve always needed to do was cut a hole in the ceiling over the wood-burning stove, up into the moose bedroom. The pioneers used to do that–you can see it in really old homes. Well, it’s a great idea! So I cut this hole, quite big (at least big enough for a kid to fall through), and I put a grate on it. And laid a box fan over that. So now, if you build a big hot fire in the stove, and go upstairs and turn on the fan, it pulls a blast of hot air into the bedroom. Last night it warmed up from 64° to 70° in an hour! Lots better than those little space heaters!
      I can’t think of any more news. Oh, Jimmy Simko’s finally getting married. June 9th. Who would’ve thought?
      Lots of love, Mom