Dear Kids,
      Tom and Kim have announced that there will be another little Ackerson born around May 18, 2012. Congratulations! I’m assuming it will be a boy. Maybe he’ll come on the 17th, Tom’s birthday. Does anybody else have any announcements to make? I’m always happy to put them in the family letter!
      I wore my cowboy boots for the first time to 5th Ward book club on Tuesday night. I discovered it’s hard to drive with them on. You can’t feel the pedals. I’m sure you get used to it, though. After all, how do all those cowboys drive their trucks? I’m going to wear the boots to the Francis 2nd ward Trunk or Treat Saturday night, along with some other cowboy gear, but I don’t expect anybody there to recognize it as a costume. It’s clothing as usual in Kamas Valley.
      Last Sunday afternoon I went visiting teaching on my new route. I don’t have a companion, because, as the RS President told me, if I’m willing to go by myself, that’s four more women that can be visited. I said OK to that. I felt like a new missionary coming cold into a new area without a companion. I had a list of names and addresses, and no idea where any of the houses were. My GPS didn’t help much, either, since down in the river bottoms, they all have street addresses on Lower River Road. No telling where the house actually is. I found Billy Sue Mcneil and we had a good chat. She knows everybody who’s ever been in the ward, so I got the low down on everything. Her nephew went to school with John at Ohio State. It’s a small world after all.
      Remember, I’m cooking Sunday dinner day after tomorrow at 5:00 pm. Please let me know if you’re coming, if you haven’t already. I’m making 3-cheese macaroni, nice warm comfort food now that winter is setting in.
      John and Heather bought a deluxe queen-size mattress topper for the cabin. It’s under the bed in the moose bedroom, and everybody is welcome to use it. Thanks, John and Heather! Personally, I can sleep fine on the floor or in the bunkhouse, but I know other people really enjoy a downy soft bed.
      Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it! Mom