Dear Kids,
      Sharon has some interesting news from Thackerland. If you check her blog, you can see ultrasound pictures from her doctor visit. It looks very much like a girl. Sharon’s having another ultrasound in three weeks, and they’ll know for sure, then. (She gets lots of ultrasounds because she’s participating in yet another study. I guess it’s part of university life.)
      The Allen family reunion last Saturday was a blast. I hope to get a copy of the mob picture and put it on our blog. There’s one on Carly’s blog, but it doesn’t enlarge very much. Maybe someone else will put up a link to a really good copy. Anyway, it was great to see all of you who were there, and we missed the rest of you. It was also great to see a gazillion neices and nephews and cousins and kids. I think Grandma and Grandpa Allen are going on 85 great grandchildren now. What a family!
      Meanwhile, we’re gearing up for our own wonderful 2nd annual Ackerson family reunion starting this Friday evening. All the details are in my last Mom letter. I’m sure it will be just as much fun as last year. And for next year, we’re hearing rumors of The Tetons. Wahoo!
      The Windstar died in disgrace in front of the Lighthouse Church on Sunday, but thanks to a towing to Bill and Randy’s, it’s up and running again. It was the fuel pump. So I was sidelined at home for a couple of days, when I was anxious to be at the cabin, working on the bunkhouse. Most of the outside is finished, including the windows and a door, but we need to have the metal roof done. (It’s too steep to tackle ourselves. Ask Dad. Ask him about the bruises and scrapes on his legs!)(I have a picture of him smiling and waving his hammer from the top of the roof, just before his fatal slide. But luckily he was able to catch himself before he fell all the way to the ground).
      I went out bike riding again this morning, for the first time in about a month. Wow, you can get out of shape really fast! Lots of training doesn’t do you much good if you quit for a month (even for something as exciting as a bunkhouse.) The river is really low now, and the ducks are gone. Maybe the DWR rounded them up. Maybe they’ve been served at a Chinese restaurant. Who knows? I had a fun ride, but I’m looking forward to cooler weather. The Great Utah Ride is still on. Charley and Richard and Andy are training hard. Let me know if you plan to be part of it. I’m starting Friday morning, Sept. 4th. Dad will join up that night. We’ll be home the evening of the 8th. There’s talk now of doing the ride in disconnected segments, and it might include a sleepover at Charley’s house in St. George.
      So much fun! So much family! I love you all! Mom