Dear Kids,
         The most stupendous news of the week, of course, was the birth of Tom and Kim’s baby boy last night around 8:00 pm. Tom put on facebook that his name is Frederick Barbarossa Ackerson, but of course it was April Fools day, so we’re waiting to hear for sure on that one. He’s 22" long and weighs 8 lbs 11 oz. We’re very excited about the arrival of this little guy!
           Friday night, Allen and Carson and Dad and I went to Ellie’s performance of Jungle Book at Centerpoint Theater. It was really good–probably the best production we’ve seen there. Ellie played several parts and the kids seemed to have a lot of fun throwing coconuts and bananas at each other. It was probably Ellie’s last production there–Allen says she needs more time for school work–but we’ve enjoyed all her productions, as well as the plays and musicals of the other grandkids. It makes a great social calendar for us!
          Going down to Centerville Friday night, Dad and I rode with Allen. He turned his blue tooth onto the classical piano music he listens to now (even when he’s out hiking in the wilderness!) and I enjoyed scrolling through and finding piano pieces I really like. He said he always has the music going, even in his cop car, especially when he’s transporting somebody to jail. His cop car camera records everything, so when they play video clips in court, there’s his criminal, with classical piano music playing in the background. He calls it "Go to jail with Mozart."
          I keep mentioning Xena in my letters, how she’s winding down, and it won’t be more than another day or two before she goes to the Heavyside Layer. Maybe even today, although it’s Sunday, since the Heber animal shelter is open this morning. (I just checked on Google.) Her belly has swollen terribly over the last couple of days, and she seems to be very uncomfortable, so we’ll kiss her goodbye and send her off. We’ve really enjoyed her, these last 17 years.
          Life is hard, but life is good. We love you all!
          Mom