Dear Kids,

John’s tonsillectomy on Friday turned out fine.  He bought 160 otter pops to get him through, and he said the ice felt good in the back of his mouth.  Heather made the doctor tell him he can’t push any wheelbarrows of dirt until a week has gone by, so he’s having to put his grass planting on hold for now.

The Allen family reunion is this coming Saturday, July 9, at Laurie’s house.  Here’s the info:  The reunion will start at 10 am in Laurie’s back yard.  Bring your own food, drinks, and yard games.  There is a pool and Laurie wanted me to say that if young children will be swimming in the pool, their parents need to be in the pool with them.  There is a park nearby that has pickle ball courts. Laurie’s address is 2273 S.  Lookout Ridge Drive, Mapleton, Utah 84664.

Bonnie sent out another note saying that it will be pretty hot that day, so the main activity will be the swimming.  And visiting.  You might want to bring camp chairs so there will be enough seating.  See you there!

And our family book club will be next Sunday at 5 pm here at our house.  I’ve read Flat Stanley twice now, and it’s really good.  It seems like everyone but me was familiar with the story already.  It’s short, so there’s still time to read it.  Be there or be square.  

Jana McGettigan was here from Monday until Wednesday, because Glenn was out of town helping Brett move.  We went down to the bird refuge at Rock Cliff park, but a storm was brewing, and when it hit, we had to run back to the car.  When we got home it was absolutely pouring, and Scout was walking down the road in the rain.  Dad called him over, and he was so wet we had to dry him with a towel.  He enjoyed the attention.

I’m starting chemo on Tuesday, and I’ll wear my pump until Thursday.  I’m anxious to get going with it, because the pressure is building in my lungs.  The scan showed that my tumors are on the march again, but I’m confident the chemo (and the avastin) will knock them down, like it’s done before.  I appreciate all your prayers on my behalf.

I woke up yesterday morning to a chorus of dog howls and cat meows.  It must have been Harley, the Alaskan Husky next door, along with Scout and Sonia.  They weren’t exactly harmonizing, but they had a very plaintive song going.  I wish I could have recorded it.  I’ve heard lots of cat yowling at night, but never before with dog accompaniment. 

Life is good.  I love you all.  Mom 

 Dear Kids,

It’s Super Sunday!  We’re meeting at 4 pm at Nora’s house, even though Allen is in charge.  Bring whatever you want!  Don’t worry if  it’s crazy.  The food you bring is always delicious!

Bentley has his travel plans!  Who could believe his mission would be over so fast?  He’ll be arriving home July 20, but he won’t be speaking in church until August 14, because of family reunions and fast Sunday.  I’m sure we’re all excited to see him again, and hear all he has to say.  He certainly won’t say it all in church–he’ll be talking about his mission for the rest of his life, just like the rest of us have been doing.

Donna and Anna went to camp last week, and Donna was the official camp cook.  She had 21 girls to feed, as well as leaders.  She says it was hard but fun.  They were at the Heber Valley camp, so they weren’t too far from home, but camp is camp.  I’m glad they both had a good time.

I got Flat Stanley from the library and read it in less than an hour.  I really liked it.  We’ll be talking about it at book club on July 10, here at our house.  Emma will lead the discussion.   Be there or be square!  There are lots of copies of the book at all the libraries. 

And the Allen reunion is a week from Saturday.  I put all the information in my last letter, and I’ll include it again next week.  It’s always fun to see all our far-flung cousins.  Laurie has a great yard, and there will be plenty to do. 

I’ve been trying to get rid of the ground squirrels at the cabin–the ones around the big moose.  I want to plant some shrubs and flowers there and I don’t want those squirrels eating the roots.  I bought a 5lb container of cayenne pepper from Amazon, and I dumped some of it down each one of their holes.  I hope it makes them scram.

I had a cat scan of my lungs last Monday, and I’ll be meeting with Dr. Lewis tomorrow afternoon.  I’ll be interested in what he has to say.  I’ve been feeling pressure when I try to breathe, so it’s probably time to go back on chemo.  Whatever.  I’ve had a great vacation from the stuff.

Life is good!  I love you all!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

Congratulations and Happy Father’s Day to all you fine sons and sons-in-law of mine.  I really appreciate how well you are taking care of your families, and the good examples you set for them.  Keep it up, you great guys!

It’s Super Sunday next week, June 26.  Al is in charge, but we’ll be meeting at Nora’s.  4pm, bring whatever you like, and we’ll have our usual mad bash.  

Yesterday afternoon I tagged along with Dad and Al and Jenny to Dad’s birthday dinner and movie. We saw Top Gun Maverik at the Gateway theater, and it was fantastic, but probably too much tension for old people like me. We also checked in with Del and her sidewalk art, because she was participating in the competition there at the Gateway. Her entry was really good, but Dad and I didn’t stick around for the awards, so we don’t know how she did. Go, Del!

Thanks to all of you who participated in book club last Sunday.  Our next official meeting will be July 10, and we’re reading Flat Stanley.  Emma suggested it, so we’ll nominate her to lead the discussion.  I haven’t read it yet, but I have it on hold at the library.

Here’s a heads-up regarding the Allen family reunion on July 9, which is less than 3 weeks away: The reunion will start at 10 am in Laurie’s back yard.  Bring your own food, drinks, and yard games.  There is a pool and Laurie wanted me to say that if young children will be swimming in the pool, their parents need to be in the pool with them.  There is a park nearby that has pickle ball courts. Laurie’s address is 2273 S.  Lookout Ridge Drive, Mapleton, Utah 84664.

Dallin shot a ground squirrel at the cabin.  He got a bb gun for his 9th birthday, and he’s been itching to shoot things.  He wondered if he could collect the $5 bounty that I offer for magpies but I had to tell him no.  Magpies are way harder to shoot, especially with a bb gun.  The ground squirrels have taken over the dirt hill around the moose in the front yard, and I’m going to try using cayenne pepper to urge them to move.  A last resort will be poison.  It would be too gruesome to have Dallin shoot them all.

Paul’s entire family has covid.  Paul caught it from one of the guys he works with, and evidently Stefanie and Josh and Chloe caught it from him.  I hope they all get well soon.  Paul said it gave him the worst sore throat he’s ever had. 

I hope you’re all lovin’ summer!  Have fun with all your goings-on!  Love, Mom 

Dear Kids,

Don’t forget book club is this afternoon at 5pm, here at our house. We’ll be talking about The BFG, and if you didn’t get around to reading it, come anyway.  Donna got a cartoon BFG video from the library, and she’s going to show it after our discussion.  She has made “Human Beans” for refreshments, and I’ve made Gally Gelumpigans. It’ll be fun.  

And two weeks from today we’ll have Super Sunday, courtesy of Al.  I’m not sure yet where it’s going to be, but I’ll let you know in plenty of time.  I assume it will be at a park, like last year.  It’s always great when our family gets together.  

Vanessa started the Squaw Peak 50 mile trail run yesterday at 4 am, but she wasn’t feeling very good.  Trent had had some flu-like symptoms, and she was hoping she wouldn’t get it, but it was already setting in.  Can you believe she made 25 miles anyway?  What a woman of iron!  She had Sarah pick her up at Hobble Creek canyon, at the half-way point.  She was very disappointed because she had trained so hard, and she had plenty of water and food, and everything was going to be better than last year.  But I had been wondering if the heat was going to be a problem.  I’d had visions of her collapsing and passing out from the heat, so I was very relieved to hear that she’d dropped out.  But I’m sorry it didn’t work out for her.  Maybe next year!

John’s having his tonsils and adenoids out on July 1.  We hope it’ll go well.  You think of it as a kids’ operation, but John said it’s actually pretty dangerous.  People tend to collapse and stop breathing two days later.  I wish I didn’t know that!  I’m sure all our prayers will be with him.

My breathing is still fine, and it’s been 2 months since I’ve had chemo!   I’ve had a lot of fun working at the cabin, pruning bushes and putting dirt back around the fire pit.  My good times probably won’t last forever, but I’ve really been enjoying every day.   I have a cat scan scheduled for a week from tomorrow, to see how my tumors are doing.  If I have to go back on chemo, I can handle it.

I appreciate all your prayers for me, and the really good people that you are.  Love, Mom 

 Dear Kids,

Thanks to all of you for making our anniversary party so wonderful!  Thanks to Sharon and Monica for flying in for the occasion.  Thanks to Kim for picking up the food!  Thanks to Sharon and Dad for decorating.  Thanks to all of you especially for coming!  It was truly a fantastic occasion.  

The next morning we drove to Pocatello for Sarah’s graduation, and it was great.  It lasted less than an hour!  They do graduations right in Pocatello.  Dad and I left before the after-party really got going, but I was way tired from the day before.  Still, we could see that a ton of hamburgers and hot dogs were going to be grilled.

Friday afternoon we drove to Alpine for Morgan James’s wedding, and it was a gorgeous occasion.  There were eight bridesmaids and nine groomsmen!  All my siblings were there except for Ben and Mark, so we had a lot of fun visiting.  I know some of you came to the reception later, where the next generation hung out.

Now Dad and I are playing catch-up.  We finished the fire pit at the cabin yesterday morning, and it was nice to put in the perma sand and spray it down, after having that project underway for so long.  My friend Lisa Elms is borrowing the cabin for her family reunion June 16-18, so I didn’t want to have such a big unfinished project in the way of all those visitors.

Coming events: Family book club will be here at our house next Sunday night, June 12.  We’re reading The BFG.  I finished it in record time because it was so good.  Be there or be square!   The Allen family reunion is barely a month away, on July 9 at Laurie’s house.  Her address is 2273 South Lookout Ridge Drive in Mapleton.  I’ll pass on any new information as it gets closer.  And of course our Ackerson reunion is July 28-31 at Bear Lake.  Monica is in charge, and she’ll get out our assignments in plenty of time.  

Look, my whole letter has been taken up with events.  What else is there?  Oh, our cats, who demand a lot of attention.  Scout has trimmed down by eating mice, and his fur is nice and glossy.  Sonia isn’t really into grasshopper season yet, but she catches flies and spiders around the house.

I know you’re all doin’ great and lovin’ it!  Mom

 Dear Kids,

What a busy and crazy and fun week we’ve had!  Well, actually, most of the craziness was on Friday.  It was Dad’s and Dallin’s birthdays, and Del’s and Ben’s graduations.  Ben’s ceremony was at 7 pm, though, which would have gotten us home around 10, so we went to his seminary graduation last Sunday night instead.  It was really nice, and they called on him to bear his testimony, along with some other kids.  Hey, it worked.  And then Friday morning early we drove to Ogden for Del’s graduation, which started at 8 am.  We met Allen and Jen and Nora there, and it was a great ceremony.  And guess whose name was called out first?  It helps to be an Ackerson!  (If there aren’t any Abbots in your group.)

Dad and I got home just in time for him to go meet John at the airport and help him put his glider together.  John had a great flight.  He went all the way to Evanston.  Meanwhile I was at the cabin trying to finish up my fire pit remodel.  I was all ready to put down the perma sand when I read the directions, which said it shouldn’t be rained on for at least 24 hours, and it shouldn’t be subject to freezing temperatures for 2 days.  Both of those things were forecasted to happen, so I covered it all with a tarp and went home.  We’ve planned hot dogs for the little kids at our anniversary party Wednesday, but there’s other ways to cook them.  

Dad hasn’t had a birthday cake yet, so Donna’s bringing one to our house tonight.  Thanks, Donna!  You’re all welcome to come help celebrate.  Dallin had his party yesterday, I think.

And then Wednesday is our anniversary party, and we’ll start eating at 5 pm.  I already ordered the food from Bam Bams, and it should taste fabulous.  Just like last summer.  The cabin is up for it!  We’re not sending out formal invitations, but if you’re reading this, you’re invited.  I’m expecting us all to have a great time.  Sharon and Monica are flying in, so all you 9 kids will be there together.

And then two weeks from today, on the 12th, is our family book club.  I’m already reading The BFG.  It’s scrumdiddilyicious.  The story moves fast, so you’ve all got plenty of time.

Allen broke his tailbone skydiving.  He’ll have to tell you the details.  There’s no stoppin’ the fun!

Lots of love, Mom

 Dear Kids,

I’m excited for Super Sunday this afternoon, especially since we’re going to honor the high school graduates: Aaron, Ben, Sarah, Emma, and Del.  I’m not sure if all of them will be there, and I’m not exactly sure what the agenda is, but I know it will be fun.  Nora has done way more than her share of the planning, so thanks, Nora.  Be there or be square.  4 pm, Nora’s house.

Thursday night Dad and I went to Aaron and Emma’s graduation in Heber.  It was loud and crazy and fun.  The names of the graduates were read off in alphabetical order, so Aaron and Emma were first and second, out of more than 500 kids.  I was very proud of them.

We’re also incredibly proud of Sharon, whose graduation was the very same day.  Too bad we couldn’t have been there, too!  Sharon can now add some more initials after her name: RN and BSN.  Her courses and practicums were tough, but she made it, and we’re sure she’ll have a wonderful career as a nurse.

Oh, yes, and we’re also very proud of Julie and Spencer for graduating from UVU.  But their graduation ceremony was a drive-through, because of covid, you know, so we weren’t part of that.  We congratulate them, anyway!

Last week I wrote that the dinner time for our anniversary party on June 1 would probably be around 6, but we’ve had to change that to 5.  If you can’t make it by then, just come when you can.  I’m hoping we’ll have plenty of food, and I’m trying to calculate everything as well as possible.  Kim suggested that we get hot dogs for the little kids since they might not appreciate Bam Bam barbecue, and I think that’s a good idea.  If I can finish the fire pit remodel, they can roast them outside.  If not, we’ll just cook them.   

I know there’s still a lot on your calendars, but don’t forget our next family book club will  be on June 12 at our house.  We’re reading The BFG by Roald Dahl.  It’s a great book, although there’s one scary part.  Well, maybe there are a lot of scary parts, but if the kids can handle it, I can.

Lots of love, Mom