Dear Kids,
I'm sitting at one of the open computers in the public library in Palmyra, New York. Chuck and Sharon and Seth are browsing around, and Charlie is sleeping in his stroller. The Hill Cumorah Pageant starts in 5 hours, and some people go early to set up their lawn chairs and save their places, but we're happy here in the library, where it's air conditioned. But it's not as bad as yesterday. We felt like we were walking around in a steam bath. Chuck and I came out of the Sacred Grove about four in the afternoon, and we saw a nice-looking man sitting at a table under an umbrella, with his water bottle. He was one of the many volunteers who come here to help. He had a name tag that said he was "Brother Norton." I thought he looked familiar, maybe from high school, but Chuck figured it out right away. He asked the nice man, "What temperature will we get up to today?" Brother Norton said, "Probably 95 or 96, with 90 percent humidity." Of course it was Kent Norton, the TV weatherman. He and his wife are here for the week as volunteers.
Chuck and I are here for the week, too, but we've been all over the place. Saturday afternoon, after my cousins' reunion at Sugarhouse Park, we flew to Detroit, where Seth picked us up at 1:00 in the morning. We slept over in Sharon and Seth's beautiful little townhouse, which they just moved into, and then Sunday morning we went to Church with them. I bypassed the grownup meetings and spent my time in the nursery with Charlie. I got lots of new ideas for singing time, for when I get home. It was great.
Sunday afternoon Seth had to go to the university to monitor some experiments, but about 4 in the afternoon, we left for Buffalo, New York. The shortest route is through Canada, and it took way longer than we figured, but we finally got to Amber and Cathy's house about 10 pm. Their house was sweltering hot, like everywhere, but Chuck and I slept in the basement, on a blow-up mattress. Sharon and Seth and Charlie slept in the living room, with a fan blowing on them. Monday morning Cathy and Amber both had to go to work, but Chuck, Sharon, Seth, Charlie, and I drove to Palmyra. The most important thing we wanted to see was the Smith farmhouse and the Sacred Grove, so we went there first. And in spite of the heat, we really enjoyed it. Later on, we climbed up the Hill Cumorah, still in the sweltering heat, and I decided Moroni probably buried the plates at the bottom. No way would he have made that climb holding those heavy plates, unless maybe it was in the winter. Later, when it was starting to cool off, we drove to the temple and the Whitmer home, where I ate a green apple off one of the trees.
We spent the night in a motel in Victor, about 12 miles from Palmyra, and this morning we went to the Grandin print shop (my very favorite place, except for the sacred grove,) and then to a park, where the Erie Canal passes through. We watched the locks open and close, to let a cruise boat through. I think that was one of Chuck's favoite things.
There's a little eatery called the "Chill and Grill," or maybe it's the "Kill and Chill," or the "Kill and Grill." A sign outside says, "Welcome, LDS. We Have Fry Sauce." Yesterday we had the greasy-spoon specials, and this afternoon we ate ice cream there. With all the other Mormons. We've overrun the town.
What else is happening? I've totally lost track of time and place, which you've all experienced when you go on a trip, so I can't even think of the news at home. I'll do better next time. I love you all!
Mom
Monday, July 10, 2006
Dear Kids,
I’m way behind schedule writing my letter, or way ahead, since we’re already into a new week. But it’s July, and I’ve been at the cabin for days. Let’s see–last time I wrote, Nora was having her baby. Now little Paige is 11 days old and doing well. She has really long fingers and toes, but otherwise she looks a lot like Addie. She’s starting to learn the difference between day and night, which makes it a little easier for Nora.
The night Paige was born, I was at Symphony Hall listening to the Bachauer finals, and Dad was home watching Addie and Ben. I called home at intermission, and Dad said Nora was getting close to delivery. So I went back in to listen to the first part of the last number, because it was the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto. And I sat down by Marla! Which wasn’t really a surprise, since I expected her to be there. After about 10 minutes, I got feeling really jumpy, so I whispered to her, “I’ve gotta leave right now! Nora’s at the hospital having her baby!” Marla looked really startled, and I said “I’ll call you later,” and I ran out, and jumped on Trax. I was going to go straight to the hospital, but when I called Dad, he persuaded me to come home first and get Addie and Ben, and take them with me, so he could go to bed. So I did. That was fun. The baby was in the nursery when we got there, so James and Addie and Ben and I trooped down there so James could give her a bath. Addie and Ben were fascinated. Ben said, “We have to tell Mom about the baby!”
The next day, Friday, I went to the cabin to do some work. John and his family were there, and I had agreed to tend the kids while he and Heather celebrated their anniversary, so I had a lot of fun doing that. I went home Saturday afternoon. The next Monday morning Dad and I drove to Heber for another load of log siding, and then on to the cabin. Tom and Kim and their kids had joined the cabin party by then–they were on their way home from Green River, Wyoming, where Jake and Dierdre had blessed their baby. They left soon after we got there, though. But the next day, the 4th of July, Nora and James and all their kids came, and we had a barbecue. And they left Addie and Ben, because I’d offered to tend them for a couple of days, while we worked on our projects. So Dad and I traded off. Then, Thursday night, Dad drove them back home, but Friday morning, Allen and Missy and their kids arrived for their scheduled weekend. And their friends started arriving too. So we had more fun. And ate more good food. I had packed enough food to feed myself and Dad for a week, but we hardly touched it, we had such a good time eating everybody else’s stuff. So at the end of Dad’s vacation week, we had eaten a ton, worked a ton, and watched a lot of kids. We came home exhausted. We need a vacation from our vacation.
Sunday night Dad and I went to visit Grandma Allen. She’s been moved to Orchard Park, Justin’s care center. She can’t go home because her legs won’t heal. They bleed all the time, and when the nurses change the bandages, it’s just excruciating for her. She takes coumadin, a blood thinner, because her regular doctor thought she was in danger of a heart attack or a stroke. But the coumadin makes her bleed so easily, she’s had big hematomas (they look like big bruises) on her legs for a long time now. That’s why her skin broke through so easily. And why it won’t heal. They were going to have a conference with her doctors today, and she had about decided to tell them she wasn’t going to take any more blood thinners. I hope so. Meanwhile, she just has to lie in bed at the care center. It’s located at 780 North, 300 East, in Orem, if any of you want to go visit her. Grandpa’s usually there, too.
Next Saturday afternoon, the 15th, Dad and I are flying to Michigan to visit Sharon and Seth and Charlie. We’ll be coming home on the 24th, late at night, but the next morning I’m going back to the cabin to work with Tom on the deck, and I’ll be there playing with his kids and working hard for the rest of that week. So if I write any family letters, I’ll just upload them to my blog at ackerson.org. I sure won’t be around envelopes and stamps.
Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it. I am. Lots of love, Mom
I’m way behind schedule writing my letter, or way ahead, since we’re already into a new week. But it’s July, and I’ve been at the cabin for days. Let’s see–last time I wrote, Nora was having her baby. Now little Paige is 11 days old and doing well. She has really long fingers and toes, but otherwise she looks a lot like Addie. She’s starting to learn the difference between day and night, which makes it a little easier for Nora.
The night Paige was born, I was at Symphony Hall listening to the Bachauer finals, and Dad was home watching Addie and Ben. I called home at intermission, and Dad said Nora was getting close to delivery. So I went back in to listen to the first part of the last number, because it was the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto. And I sat down by Marla! Which wasn’t really a surprise, since I expected her to be there. After about 10 minutes, I got feeling really jumpy, so I whispered to her, “I’ve gotta leave right now! Nora’s at the hospital having her baby!” Marla looked really startled, and I said “I’ll call you later,” and I ran out, and jumped on Trax. I was going to go straight to the hospital, but when I called Dad, he persuaded me to come home first and get Addie and Ben, and take them with me, so he could go to bed. So I did. That was fun. The baby was in the nursery when we got there, so James and Addie and Ben and I trooped down there so James could give her a bath. Addie and Ben were fascinated. Ben said, “We have to tell Mom about the baby!”
The next day, Friday, I went to the cabin to do some work. John and his family were there, and I had agreed to tend the kids while he and Heather celebrated their anniversary, so I had a lot of fun doing that. I went home Saturday afternoon. The next Monday morning Dad and I drove to Heber for another load of log siding, and then on to the cabin. Tom and Kim and their kids had joined the cabin party by then–they were on their way home from Green River, Wyoming, where Jake and Dierdre had blessed their baby. They left soon after we got there, though. But the next day, the 4th of July, Nora and James and all their kids came, and we had a barbecue. And they left Addie and Ben, because I’d offered to tend them for a couple of days, while we worked on our projects. So Dad and I traded off. Then, Thursday night, Dad drove them back home, but Friday morning, Allen and Missy and their kids arrived for their scheduled weekend. And their friends started arriving too. So we had more fun. And ate more good food. I had packed enough food to feed myself and Dad for a week, but we hardly touched it, we had such a good time eating everybody else’s stuff. So at the end of Dad’s vacation week, we had eaten a ton, worked a ton, and watched a lot of kids. We came home exhausted. We need a vacation from our vacation.
Sunday night Dad and I went to visit Grandma Allen. She’s been moved to Orchard Park, Justin’s care center. She can’t go home because her legs won’t heal. They bleed all the time, and when the nurses change the bandages, it’s just excruciating for her. She takes coumadin, a blood thinner, because her regular doctor thought she was in danger of a heart attack or a stroke. But the coumadin makes her bleed so easily, she’s had big hematomas (they look like big bruises) on her legs for a long time now. That’s why her skin broke through so easily. And why it won’t heal. They were going to have a conference with her doctors today, and she had about decided to tell them she wasn’t going to take any more blood thinners. I hope so. Meanwhile, she just has to lie in bed at the care center. It’s located at 780 North, 300 East, in Orem, if any of you want to go visit her. Grandpa’s usually there, too.
Next Saturday afternoon, the 15th, Dad and I are flying to Michigan to visit Sharon and Seth and Charlie. We’ll be coming home on the 24th, late at night, but the next morning I’m going back to the cabin to work with Tom on the deck, and I’ll be there playing with his kids and working hard for the rest of that week. So if I write any family letters, I’ll just upload them to my blog at ackerson.org. I sure won’t be around envelopes and stamps.
Hope you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it. I am. Lots of love, Mom
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Dear Kids,
Nora’s at the hospital right now having her baby. I’m tending the kids. Ben is watching “Trucks and Big Machines,” and Addie is eating her lunch. She just described to me, in great detail, what the baby will be wearing when she comes home from the hospital, including the “jammies” and little socks. We’re waiting with great excitement and hoping everything goes OK.
And of course, speaking of babies, we’ve also learned that Heather and Sharon are expecting, January 28th and February 14th. Congratulations! When all the babies are born and weddings take place, we’ll have 37 people in our family.
Grandma Allen is doing a lot better. When I wrote last week, I thought she was doing fine, but she wasn’t. Her surgery went OK, but afterwards, somebody was lifting her onto an X-ray table, and they scraped the fronts of her legs against the bar. She bleeds really easily, and her skin is really thin, so she bled until she could get a nurse to come, and later on they needed a surgeon to work on her legs. It’s been terribly painful for her, sort of like how they treat severe burns, by scraping the exposed area. She was in so much pain she couldn’t get up for several days, so she got pneumonia. When Dad and I visited her last Saturday, her face was really gray, and she could hardly breathe. But now she’s doing better. Our prayers are being answered. In a couple of days, they might transfer her to Orchard Care Center, where Justin can watch over her.
Bonnie said I needed to come and get Grandma’s cat, because he was suffering from loneliness and biting out chunks of his fur, but Grandpa said he’s OK. I think he keeps Grandpa company when he’s home alone at night. Normally grandpa likes to get rid of cats, so he must really like this one. They call him Henry.
Jasmine is keeping her food storage (dead mice and birds) under the deck. It’s starting to smell. Yesterday I hauled out a fat decomposing mouse, and threw him over the fence. But most of them are farther in, and I can’t get them. Rat Cat and Xena are loving it, though, and I hardly ever have to put out cat food for them. Jasmine provides for everybody.
Our ward had its Youth Conference last weekend, and they stayed at our cabin Friday night. There were 40 people, counting the leaders, but it worked out fine! It was really hot when they first got there, so they played water games out in back. Then, when it got dark and cooled off, they had a bonfire. They pitched tents in the very back for the boys, and the girls slept in the greenhouse, on camping mattresses. The leaders got the bedrooms. It was midnight before everybody went to bed, and Dad and I were sleeping out. I thought it would be pretty quiet, but the girls kept sneaking out of the greenhouse and pulling down the boys’ tents. At 6:30 in the morning Steve Jester stomped into the greenhouse and shouted at all the girls to get up. He made them fix the tents, even though they were just going to take them down again. The kids needed to do a service project, so I had them work on the sledding hill. It always needs work! Between the deer and the spring runoff, it’s always hashed. But they got it smoothed out, and they chopped away all the weeds. They cleaned the cabin, too, and left behind lots of their food, so Dad and I had no complaints.
Last night Donna and I went to visit Grandma again, and she told us that Emily Allen is engaged to a boy named Hank, who’s from a family of 14 or 15 kids. Grandma said to Donna, “Her wedding date is the same as yours.” Donna said, “When’s that?” Grandma said “September 23rd.” That was news to Donna. We’ve heard rumors about December, but nothing about September. We all decided it must be somebody else in the family getting married on September 23rd, but we racked our brains and couldn’t come up with anything. Do any of you know about any other weddings coming up?
I’ve gotta go. I love you all! Mom
Nora’s at the hospital right now having her baby. I’m tending the kids. Ben is watching “Trucks and Big Machines,” and Addie is eating her lunch. She just described to me, in great detail, what the baby will be wearing when she comes home from the hospital, including the “jammies” and little socks. We’re waiting with great excitement and hoping everything goes OK.
And of course, speaking of babies, we’ve also learned that Heather and Sharon are expecting, January 28th and February 14th. Congratulations! When all the babies are born and weddings take place, we’ll have 37 people in our family.
Grandma Allen is doing a lot better. When I wrote last week, I thought she was doing fine, but she wasn’t. Her surgery went OK, but afterwards, somebody was lifting her onto an X-ray table, and they scraped the fronts of her legs against the bar. She bleeds really easily, and her skin is really thin, so she bled until she could get a nurse to come, and later on they needed a surgeon to work on her legs. It’s been terribly painful for her, sort of like how they treat severe burns, by scraping the exposed area. She was in so much pain she couldn’t get up for several days, so she got pneumonia. When Dad and I visited her last Saturday, her face was really gray, and she could hardly breathe. But now she’s doing better. Our prayers are being answered. In a couple of days, they might transfer her to Orchard Care Center, where Justin can watch over her.
Bonnie said I needed to come and get Grandma’s cat, because he was suffering from loneliness and biting out chunks of his fur, but Grandpa said he’s OK. I think he keeps Grandpa company when he’s home alone at night. Normally grandpa likes to get rid of cats, so he must really like this one. They call him Henry.
Jasmine is keeping her food storage (dead mice and birds) under the deck. It’s starting to smell. Yesterday I hauled out a fat decomposing mouse, and threw him over the fence. But most of them are farther in, and I can’t get them. Rat Cat and Xena are loving it, though, and I hardly ever have to put out cat food for them. Jasmine provides for everybody.
Our ward had its Youth Conference last weekend, and they stayed at our cabin Friday night. There were 40 people, counting the leaders, but it worked out fine! It was really hot when they first got there, so they played water games out in back. Then, when it got dark and cooled off, they had a bonfire. They pitched tents in the very back for the boys, and the girls slept in the greenhouse, on camping mattresses. The leaders got the bedrooms. It was midnight before everybody went to bed, and Dad and I were sleeping out. I thought it would be pretty quiet, but the girls kept sneaking out of the greenhouse and pulling down the boys’ tents. At 6:30 in the morning Steve Jester stomped into the greenhouse and shouted at all the girls to get up. He made them fix the tents, even though they were just going to take them down again. The kids needed to do a service project, so I had them work on the sledding hill. It always needs work! Between the deer and the spring runoff, it’s always hashed. But they got it smoothed out, and they chopped away all the weeds. They cleaned the cabin, too, and left behind lots of their food, so Dad and I had no complaints.
Last night Donna and I went to visit Grandma again, and she told us that Emily Allen is engaged to a boy named Hank, who’s from a family of 14 or 15 kids. Grandma said to Donna, “Her wedding date is the same as yours.” Donna said, “When’s that?” Grandma said “September 23rd.” That was news to Donna. We’ve heard rumors about December, but nothing about September. We all decided it must be somebody else in the family getting married on September 23rd, but we racked our brains and couldn’t come up with anything. Do any of you know about any other weddings coming up?
I’ve gotta go. I love you all! Mom
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Dear Kids,
When I wrote last week, I was going to be picking up the Russians at the airport that night. And I did. I stood where the passengers come out, holding a sign that said “Ulugbek Palvanov,” just like a scene from a movie. But I knew I would recognize them, because who could overlook two Russians? Ulugbek is very Mongolian-looking, with long black curls, dark skin, and big white teeth. Stasi, his teacher, is very European, with little round glasses. While they were getting their luggage, Ulug told me that Stasi won the Van Cliburn piano competition in 2001, and I was duly impressed. Then we waited while Stasi rented a SUV and Ulug smoked out on the sidewalk. I drove Ulug to our house, while Stasi followed later on. Ulug speaks hardly any English, but he’s fluent in Russian and German, so we spoke German. Stasi speaks Russian, English, and several other languages, so he and I spoke English. And of course Ulug and Stasi spoke to each other in Russian. So it was a 3-ring circus, with somebody always left out, nodding and pretending like they understood. The two of them slept at our house that night, and Ulug practiced on our piano the next day, but then they split and went to stay with their millionaire friend in Deer Valley. I wasn’t surprised. Then the Guest Host Director of the Bachauer called me, very upset, to find out why Ulug left. She said, “He can’t just run off to Park City! We have to know where he is all the time!” I was sorry, but these guys were grownups, after all!
From all that, we have tickets to the Bachauer finals Thursday and Friday night, the 29th and 30th, but Nora might be having her baby one of those two days. She went in to see her doctor yesterday, and they scheduled her for the 29th, but the baby hasn’t dropped yet, so it’s sort of dependant on that. I’m sure she’ll keep everybody posted.
I called Sharon on the 21st to wish her a happy birthday, and they were in the middle of packing and moving. They painted the week before, and they were pretty excited to get their stuff moved in. Besides, they had a deadline to get out of their apartment–it was that night. I’m sure they made it. Dad and I are going to be visiting them the week of July 16-23. I’m excited to see Michigan, Charlie, the townhouse, and of course, Sharon and Seth. We’re also planning to go to Buffalo, New York, to visit Amber and Cathy, if that works out.
Paul has settled in at the T-shirt shop at Jackson Lake Lodge. He called Friday night with a list of things he needed, and since Dave Michelson was in Ogden for the weekend, and Nora and James were going up there for Fathers Day, I was able to send everything with them. (Only problem was, I was packing a duffle bag with Paul’s stuff, but when I put in his big size 14 Rockport mission shoes, I wasn’t sure I could fit in anything else. It worked, though.)
Monica called on Fathers Day, and said it was 107 in Tucson. They only have a swamp cooler, so Ramona was stretched out very long, trying to keep cool. Monica might have her shaved again. Monica and Neal are going to move into a house that Neal’s parents are buying there in Tucson, but it’s too old for central air, so even there, they’ll still be using a swamp cooler. But the great thing about a place like Tucson, if you can make it through the summer, the weather is so fabulous the rest of the year.
Grandma Allen had surgery for gallstones on Tuesday, but I need to call and find out if everything went OK. I’m sure it did, or we would have heard. I was at the cabin for two days, so my brain tuned out of everything.
I love you all! Mom
When I wrote last week, I was going to be picking up the Russians at the airport that night. And I did. I stood where the passengers come out, holding a sign that said “Ulugbek Palvanov,” just like a scene from a movie. But I knew I would recognize them, because who could overlook two Russians? Ulugbek is very Mongolian-looking, with long black curls, dark skin, and big white teeth. Stasi, his teacher, is very European, with little round glasses. While they were getting their luggage, Ulug told me that Stasi won the Van Cliburn piano competition in 2001, and I was duly impressed. Then we waited while Stasi rented a SUV and Ulug smoked out on the sidewalk. I drove Ulug to our house, while Stasi followed later on. Ulug speaks hardly any English, but he’s fluent in Russian and German, so we spoke German. Stasi speaks Russian, English, and several other languages, so he and I spoke English. And of course Ulug and Stasi spoke to each other in Russian. So it was a 3-ring circus, with somebody always left out, nodding and pretending like they understood. The two of them slept at our house that night, and Ulug practiced on our piano the next day, but then they split and went to stay with their millionaire friend in Deer Valley. I wasn’t surprised. Then the Guest Host Director of the Bachauer called me, very upset, to find out why Ulug left. She said, “He can’t just run off to Park City! We have to know where he is all the time!” I was sorry, but these guys were grownups, after all!
From all that, we have tickets to the Bachauer finals Thursday and Friday night, the 29th and 30th, but Nora might be having her baby one of those two days. She went in to see her doctor yesterday, and they scheduled her for the 29th, but the baby hasn’t dropped yet, so it’s sort of dependant on that. I’m sure she’ll keep everybody posted.
I called Sharon on the 21st to wish her a happy birthday, and they were in the middle of packing and moving. They painted the week before, and they were pretty excited to get their stuff moved in. Besides, they had a deadline to get out of their apartment–it was that night. I’m sure they made it. Dad and I are going to be visiting them the week of July 16-23. I’m excited to see Michigan, Charlie, the townhouse, and of course, Sharon and Seth. We’re also planning to go to Buffalo, New York, to visit Amber and Cathy, if that works out.
Paul has settled in at the T-shirt shop at Jackson Lake Lodge. He called Friday night with a list of things he needed, and since Dave Michelson was in Ogden for the weekend, and Nora and James were going up there for Fathers Day, I was able to send everything with them. (Only problem was, I was packing a duffle bag with Paul’s stuff, but when I put in his big size 14 Rockport mission shoes, I wasn’t sure I could fit in anything else. It worked, though.)
Monica called on Fathers Day, and said it was 107 in Tucson. They only have a swamp cooler, so Ramona was stretched out very long, trying to keep cool. Monica might have her shaved again. Monica and Neal are going to move into a house that Neal’s parents are buying there in Tucson, but it’s too old for central air, so even there, they’ll still be using a swamp cooler. But the great thing about a place like Tucson, if you can make it through the summer, the weather is so fabulous the rest of the year.
Grandma Allen had surgery for gallstones on Tuesday, but I need to call and find out if everything went OK. I’m sure it did, or we would have heard. I was at the cabin for two days, so my brain tuned out of everything.
I love you all! Mom
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Dear Kids,
I didn’t write a letter last week because I saw you all, and besides, there was so much going on! Now things are a lot quieter, and a lot more boring. Sharon and Seth and Charlie left for home this morning. They spent a week in Upalco, and then they came here last night and partied at Nora’s house till late. At least Charlie partied. He had a lot of fun running after Ben. Addie lay on the floor and whined every time they stepped on her. I was asleep when they got here last night, but this morning I drove them to the airport. I assume their trip will be pleasant. Charlie ought to sleep the whole way, he played so hard while he was here.
And Paul is in the Tetons! Monday morning I drove him as far as Ogden, where he met up with Dave Michelson, who was taking him along the rest of the way. Paul called that night and said he had a job working in the gift shop. A kid had just quit that day, so Paul was able to take his place. Paul had also been to his first family home evening. Go, Paul. He’s going to have a summer of adventure. I wish I could go to the Tetons and work. I’d like to play that big grand piano in Jackson Lake Lodge.
Dad rode his bike to work on Monday. He said it took him 28 minutes to get to UTA, pedaling fast, and 30 minutes to get home, pedaling slowly. He took the bike again yesterday, but when I got up this morning, I saw he’d taken the truck. I hope it’s just a fluke, because he wants to save money and get lots of exercise. He invested in a helmet and two lights for his bike, so he has to at least save enough gas to pay for them. Donna nearly always takes her bike to work on the bus, and rides it home.
Since Donna’s been home, she’s been working like a beaver on the house and yard. Did all of you notice all the flowers planted in front? She did that. Yesterday she cleaned off the deck and got ready to stain it, but then it rained. Hopefully she’ll be able to do it today. The cherries are already starting to fall.
Our visitor from Uzbekistan is coming tonight. Actually, he’s coming from Missouri, where he’s been living, along with his teacher. The teacher will be staying with a friend in Deer Valley during the competition. I talked to him on the phone this morning. I really wanted to talk to Ulugbek, but he was “out.” I wanted to find out if he ever got my e-mail explaining that I wouldn’t be able to feed him and drive him around. The packet I received from the Bachauer competition explained that we should contact our competitors to find out their food preferences, so we could do all our shopping before they arrived. We were even supposed to find out what snacks they liked! Well, we’ll see what happens. The most important thing for the hosts to provide is a good piano for their competitors to practice on, and I’ve definitely got that!
Gosh, I really don’t have much news this week. But I love you all!
Mom
I didn’t write a letter last week because I saw you all, and besides, there was so much going on! Now things are a lot quieter, and a lot more boring. Sharon and Seth and Charlie left for home this morning. They spent a week in Upalco, and then they came here last night and partied at Nora’s house till late. At least Charlie partied. He had a lot of fun running after Ben. Addie lay on the floor and whined every time they stepped on her. I was asleep when they got here last night, but this morning I drove them to the airport. I assume their trip will be pleasant. Charlie ought to sleep the whole way, he played so hard while he was here.
And Paul is in the Tetons! Monday morning I drove him as far as Ogden, where he met up with Dave Michelson, who was taking him along the rest of the way. Paul called that night and said he had a job working in the gift shop. A kid had just quit that day, so Paul was able to take his place. Paul had also been to his first family home evening. Go, Paul. He’s going to have a summer of adventure. I wish I could go to the Tetons and work. I’d like to play that big grand piano in Jackson Lake Lodge.
Dad rode his bike to work on Monday. He said it took him 28 minutes to get to UTA, pedaling fast, and 30 minutes to get home, pedaling slowly. He took the bike again yesterday, but when I got up this morning, I saw he’d taken the truck. I hope it’s just a fluke, because he wants to save money and get lots of exercise. He invested in a helmet and two lights for his bike, so he has to at least save enough gas to pay for them. Donna nearly always takes her bike to work on the bus, and rides it home.
Since Donna’s been home, she’s been working like a beaver on the house and yard. Did all of you notice all the flowers planted in front? She did that. Yesterday she cleaned off the deck and got ready to stain it, but then it rained. Hopefully she’ll be able to do it today. The cherries are already starting to fall.
Our visitor from Uzbekistan is coming tonight. Actually, he’s coming from Missouri, where he’s been living, along with his teacher. The teacher will be staying with a friend in Deer Valley during the competition. I talked to him on the phone this morning. I really wanted to talk to Ulugbek, but he was “out.” I wanted to find out if he ever got my e-mail explaining that I wouldn’t be able to feed him and drive him around. The packet I received from the Bachauer competition explained that we should contact our competitors to find out their food preferences, so we could do all our shopping before they arrived. We were even supposed to find out what snacks they liked! Well, we’ll see what happens. The most important thing for the hosts to provide is a good piano for their competitors to practice on, and I’ve definitely got that!
Gosh, I really don’t have much news this week. But I love you all!
Mom
Thursday, June 1, 2006
Dear Kids,
The big news, of course, is that Paul will be coming home tomorrow morning, and by the time you get this letter, he’ll already be here. The big question is, will he be his old normal self, or will he keep up the super missionary image? We’ll see.
Here’s some more news: Monica is officially engaged! She has a ring that’s a topaz will two little diamonds on each side. She says the wedding will probably be next summer, possibly in August. Congratulations, Monica and Neal!! Monica’s other news is that she wrecked her truck, in the parking lot of Walmart. Luckily it was the other guy’s fault, so she’s driving a rental car, courtesy of his insurance.
Sharon and Charlie came late last night, on a Frontier Airlines flight that arrived at 11:15 pm. Donna went to get them. They didn’t get home until nearly 2:00 am, because one of Sharon’s bags didn’t arrive, and Donna was calling around, trying to get some help. Hopefully the bag will get here today. Sharon thought Frontier would apologize, or at least act sorry that her luggage was lost, but they were very nonchalant about it.
Vanessa reports that their retaining wall has finally been built! The rocks were dropped off last fall, but it was hard finding somebody to actually do the work. The crew that came did a really good job, but Sterling called them pirates. He said, “Mom, pirates are building our wall!” They didn’t wear shirts, had rags tied around their heads, and were chain smoking. Sterling was totally enthralled. He’s very much into pirates right now. Trent started his football season as a coach, to Vanessa’s great relief, but now he’s back out on the field, because his brother Troy sprained his ankle. Somebody had to take his place! Go, Trent! Vanessa sent some new pictures of Meg, and I’m going to put them up on Ackerson.org today, if I have time.
Jake and Dierdre had a baby girl on May 20th. Her name is Isabelle Mae, and she weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz.. They sent a picture with the birth announcement, but it’s hard to tell if she looks more like Jake or Dierdre. Hopefully Dierdre.
We had a fun birthday party for Dad and Grandma Allen at the cabin last Saturday, only it was so cold, we were mostly inside, crouched around the fire. My pneumonia was still pretty bad, and I thought I was going to die that afternoon. Just stop breathing and give up the ghost. Later, in the evening, Dad and I went on a Yerf Dog ride, and it was cool and misty. I breathed in and out, really deep, and I started feeling better. Monday and Tuesday I was climbing up and down the scaffolding, like a monkey, all day, and that really helped. Who knows why? We got quite a few more pieces of siding put up, and you can see it on Tom’s photo gallery, on Ackerson.org. It’s the slide show called “Updated!!! Cabin work.” You can tell which siding we just did, because it’s lighter. Al and Missy and their kids were there from Sunday night until Tuesday morning, and Al helped Dad put up the third layer of scaffolding. So we were standing 18 feet off the ground. Which doesn’t sound very high, until you’re up there. Any, it was a lot of fun. And I feel a lot better than I did last week.
Can you stand any more news about Jasmine? Rat Cat has shown her how to go out to the field, and she’s been hanging out with him on Bunker Hill. She came streaking into the yard yesterday, clutching a little mouse in her teeth. (It was still squeaking.) Xena came running to help with the kill. I just looked the other way.
Does anybody want to feel old? We’ve received high school graduation announcements from Austin James, David Tregaskis, and Matt Allen. It doesn’t seem that long ago when they were all blessed on the same Sunday, wearing their little matching baseball outfits. How did they grow up so soon?
I love you all! Mom
The big news, of course, is that Paul will be coming home tomorrow morning, and by the time you get this letter, he’ll already be here. The big question is, will he be his old normal self, or will he keep up the super missionary image? We’ll see.
Here’s some more news: Monica is officially engaged! She has a ring that’s a topaz will two little diamonds on each side. She says the wedding will probably be next summer, possibly in August. Congratulations, Monica and Neal!! Monica’s other news is that she wrecked her truck, in the parking lot of Walmart. Luckily it was the other guy’s fault, so she’s driving a rental car, courtesy of his insurance.
Sharon and Charlie came late last night, on a Frontier Airlines flight that arrived at 11:15 pm. Donna went to get them. They didn’t get home until nearly 2:00 am, because one of Sharon’s bags didn’t arrive, and Donna was calling around, trying to get some help. Hopefully the bag will get here today. Sharon thought Frontier would apologize, or at least act sorry that her luggage was lost, but they were very nonchalant about it.
Vanessa reports that their retaining wall has finally been built! The rocks were dropped off last fall, but it was hard finding somebody to actually do the work. The crew that came did a really good job, but Sterling called them pirates. He said, “Mom, pirates are building our wall!” They didn’t wear shirts, had rags tied around their heads, and were chain smoking. Sterling was totally enthralled. He’s very much into pirates right now. Trent started his football season as a coach, to Vanessa’s great relief, but now he’s back out on the field, because his brother Troy sprained his ankle. Somebody had to take his place! Go, Trent! Vanessa sent some new pictures of Meg, and I’m going to put them up on Ackerson.org today, if I have time.
Jake and Dierdre had a baby girl on May 20th. Her name is Isabelle Mae, and she weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz.. They sent a picture with the birth announcement, but it’s hard to tell if she looks more like Jake or Dierdre. Hopefully Dierdre.
We had a fun birthday party for Dad and Grandma Allen at the cabin last Saturday, only it was so cold, we were mostly inside, crouched around the fire. My pneumonia was still pretty bad, and I thought I was going to die that afternoon. Just stop breathing and give up the ghost. Later, in the evening, Dad and I went on a Yerf Dog ride, and it was cool and misty. I breathed in and out, really deep, and I started feeling better. Monday and Tuesday I was climbing up and down the scaffolding, like a monkey, all day, and that really helped. Who knows why? We got quite a few more pieces of siding put up, and you can see it on Tom’s photo gallery, on Ackerson.org. It’s the slide show called “Updated!!! Cabin work.” You can tell which siding we just did, because it’s lighter. Al and Missy and their kids were there from Sunday night until Tuesday morning, and Al helped Dad put up the third layer of scaffolding. So we were standing 18 feet off the ground. Which doesn’t sound very high, until you’re up there. Any, it was a lot of fun. And I feel a lot better than I did last week.
Can you stand any more news about Jasmine? Rat Cat has shown her how to go out to the field, and she’s been hanging out with him on Bunker Hill. She came streaking into the yard yesterday, clutching a little mouse in her teeth. (It was still squeaking.) Xena came running to help with the kill. I just looked the other way.
Does anybody want to feel old? We’ve received high school graduation announcements from Austin James, David Tregaskis, and Matt Allen. It doesn’t seem that long ago when they were all blessed on the same Sunday, wearing their little matching baseball outfits. How did they grow up so soon?
I love you all! Mom
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Dear Kids,
I’m still sick, or at least I still can’t breathe. Except at the cabin, where I feel fine. I went up there Tuesday morning and stayed until Wednesday afternoon, when I had to come home. But it’s so beautiful at the cabin this time of the year! Everything is green, and the air is so clean. Wednesday morning I went outside to work in the front yard, and it was 38°. I breathed in that clean mountain air while I raked rocks and shoveled dirt. I felt wonderful, because I could actually breathe. Now, back here in Salt Lake, I’m a miserable gasping creature, like I’ve been for the last two weeks. But I’m looking forward to going back to the cabin tomorrow afternoon. Dad and I are staying four days, for the whole Memorial Day weekend, plus Tuesday. We’re looking forward to seeing some of you on Saturday, Dad’s birthday, and maybe on Monday. Or for any part of the weekend. Grandma and Grandpa are coming Saturday afternoon, because it’s Grandma’s birthday, too. Of course it won’t be as exciting as last year, when we rolled out the dune buggy and Dad flipped his lid, but it will still be fun.
Speaking of the dune buggy, Dad tried for months to get new ball joints from the Yerf Dog company, but they never answered their phone or their e-mails. Dad looked online, and saw several posts that said they were going out of business, but he also found a site where somebody showed how you could weld big washers onto the front “legs,” and then use normal ball joints. So he disassembled the dune buggy and bought the washers and had them welded on. I think he’s actually more excited than if he’d gone the standard route. He’s eager to put the dune buggy back together and get it running again. He’s also been putting new brakes on the truck, so his last few days have been pretty exciting.
Donna bought a new “road bike,” which looks to me just like the old-fashioned ten-speed, but it costs ten times more. The tires are really skinny. It’s funny that we went from the thin 10-speed tires to the fat mountain bike tires, and now it’s the ultra skinny road bike tires. Oh, well. Whatever’s trendy. She took her bike to work on the express bus, and she’s going to ride it home this afternoon. What a career girl! At work, she’s working on the irrigation system for the North Davis County sewage treatment plant. They even did an on-site inspection! “Irrigation systems” are just high-tech sprinkler systems, with state-of-the art components. Here at home, I buy the 87¢ sprinkler heads from Home Depot, when my old ones get cut off by the lawn mower. Or there’s my portable sprinkler system at the cabin, made of a rubbermaid tote, a washing machine hose, valves, garden hoses, and ordinary sprinklers. It works.
Our new cat Jasmine is still delightful. She’s obsessed with birds. She was stalking a robin the other day, and when she got within about ten feet, the bird took off and flew over her head. She leaped into the air to try to bring it down. I’ve never seen that before. Most cats give up when the bird takes off. She also eats worms in the garden.
Nora says Ben is having trouble with crayons. When he draws something he doesn’t like, he asks Nora to “take it off.” Then he’s mad when she won’t do it. Good thing he isn’t using permanent markers yet.
What a great family we have! Love, Mom
I’m still sick, or at least I still can’t breathe. Except at the cabin, where I feel fine. I went up there Tuesday morning and stayed until Wednesday afternoon, when I had to come home. But it’s so beautiful at the cabin this time of the year! Everything is green, and the air is so clean. Wednesday morning I went outside to work in the front yard, and it was 38°. I breathed in that clean mountain air while I raked rocks and shoveled dirt. I felt wonderful, because I could actually breathe. Now, back here in Salt Lake, I’m a miserable gasping creature, like I’ve been for the last two weeks. But I’m looking forward to going back to the cabin tomorrow afternoon. Dad and I are staying four days, for the whole Memorial Day weekend, plus Tuesday. We’re looking forward to seeing some of you on Saturday, Dad’s birthday, and maybe on Monday. Or for any part of the weekend. Grandma and Grandpa are coming Saturday afternoon, because it’s Grandma’s birthday, too. Of course it won’t be as exciting as last year, when we rolled out the dune buggy and Dad flipped his lid, but it will still be fun.
Speaking of the dune buggy, Dad tried for months to get new ball joints from the Yerf Dog company, but they never answered their phone or their e-mails. Dad looked online, and saw several posts that said they were going out of business, but he also found a site where somebody showed how you could weld big washers onto the front “legs,” and then use normal ball joints. So he disassembled the dune buggy and bought the washers and had them welded on. I think he’s actually more excited than if he’d gone the standard route. He’s eager to put the dune buggy back together and get it running again. He’s also been putting new brakes on the truck, so his last few days have been pretty exciting.
Donna bought a new “road bike,” which looks to me just like the old-fashioned ten-speed, but it costs ten times more. The tires are really skinny. It’s funny that we went from the thin 10-speed tires to the fat mountain bike tires, and now it’s the ultra skinny road bike tires. Oh, well. Whatever’s trendy. She took her bike to work on the express bus, and she’s going to ride it home this afternoon. What a career girl! At work, she’s working on the irrigation system for the North Davis County sewage treatment plant. They even did an on-site inspection! “Irrigation systems” are just high-tech sprinkler systems, with state-of-the art components. Here at home, I buy the 87¢ sprinkler heads from Home Depot, when my old ones get cut off by the lawn mower. Or there’s my portable sprinkler system at the cabin, made of a rubbermaid tote, a washing machine hose, valves, garden hoses, and ordinary sprinklers. It works.
Our new cat Jasmine is still delightful. She’s obsessed with birds. She was stalking a robin the other day, and when she got within about ten feet, the bird took off and flew over her head. She leaped into the air to try to bring it down. I’ve never seen that before. Most cats give up when the bird takes off. She also eats worms in the garden.
Nora says Ben is having trouble with crayons. When he draws something he doesn’t like, he asks Nora to “take it off.” Then he’s mad when she won’t do it. Good thing he isn’t using permanent markers yet.
What a great family we have! Love, Mom
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