Dear Kids,
          We all enjoyed Stuart’s baptism yesterday, and all the fun and food at Nora’s house afterwards. I know the actual baptism was the most important part, but it sure was fun to see you all! (And we missed those of you who couldn’t come!)
          I finally finished spreading all the sand on our playground. Other people would have been glad to help me, but I wanted every cubic foot put in the right place. Then Dad helped me straighten out the railroad ties that were pushed aside by the dump truck, and I made wooden blocks to put under the legs of the bench (so it wouldn’t keep sinking into the sand), and now I call the playground completely finished. Donna’s kids came on Monday and tried it out. They ran from one thing to another, and finally they ended up digging in the sand. Oh, well, I’m sure lots of kids will play on the swings and airplane and slide and sand digger, in time.
          On Friday Dad cut our new grass for the first time. The grass didn’t really need it yet, but the weeds did. It looked really nice when he was done. I wasn’t feeling very good that day, (minor flu bug, probably) so I just sat in the pergola and read a book and looked at the scenery. After all our work, it was nice just to sit and enjoy it all.
           Our next yard project is getting bark to put around our trees and shrubs. I had figured we could take the truck to Thompson Logging’s mulching pit and bring back a load, until I figured out how much we need. 2,000 square feet, to start with, at 3" thick, makes 500 cubic feet, or 18.5 cubic yards, when our truck can haul, at most, a yard at a time. I guess we’ll be calling another dump truck. Or two. Every project seems to multiply itself. 
           We hope you and all your families are doin’ great and lovin’ it!
           Mom