Newsy Letter Sent to Greg

Dear Greg, Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Good Morning! How are you this fine day? Probably not much new on your end, since you do pretty much the same thing every day! How is the Italian? How is your nose? What else about MTC life can you share with us?

Well, here is what has happened over the last week:

Matthew got his top retainer/splitter. It is a retainer that is split down the middle allowing us to “turn the screw” so that is gradually opens up to widen his jaw and create more room for his permanent teeth. He is pretty good about wearing it, and after five days has finally figured out how not to “sluuurrrrrrrp”!

We went to our homeschooling end of the year party. It was cold, but the kids had fun ice blocking on a small hill anyway. We are going to have to find a better hill. I enjoyed visiting with some of the moms. Wednesday, Sarah went to the temple and did baptisms for the dead with the Young Women’s (Dad met them there to help). Then they met up at Gina Harris’ for a campfire/speaker/etc…it was a “Standard’s Day” She enjoyed it.

Friday was Callie’s birthday and she planned a big family party to celebrate! She had her family and ours..total of about 30 people. We were going to have it in our backyard, but the weather was cold and threatening rain, so we went to the church. She had made a pinata and all the kids loved it. They also play “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” Jason and family made it up, as well as Jon and Rachel. (They had planned a camping trip for the weekend, but it fell through, so they came up here and spent the weekend with us!) Everyone had a great time at Callie’s Party!

While we were at the party, we got a call from Jared announcing the arrival of little Marissa! She and Laura are doing great! Grandbaby number ten!

Saturday we finally had some warmer, dryer weather so we could get outside and catch up on some work. We cultivated and weeded the goji berries, which they desperately needed! Jon and Dad took a trip to Smith and Edwards to look at 22’s, and that afternoon Dad, Matthew, Jon and Rachel went shooting the 22’s and 243’s. It was a nice evening, so we were out playing Bocci Ball on the lawn and had a fire. Dad and I went to bed around 10:00, but Alan and Robin stayed until about 11:30pm and Jon and Rachel and Brian and Callie stayed up visiting (seeing who could tell the best story) until after 1:00am. We had everyone over for dinner on Sunday and had a fun time. (Saturday was Elisabeth’s 7th birthday! They had a big day Saturday fishing at Cabela’s and going to the Children’s Museum.)

Sarah and Matthew are busy cleaning the rabbit cages we bought, mowing the lawn, watering the grapes and blackberries, some school work and playing with friends. Donel cut the hay/grass Saturday afternoon…the only problem is he ran over one of the risers (in the grass field). So last night for FHE we went down and dug it out. Dad will go up to Logan and get the pieces to rebuild it. We had the pumps pulled and checked out to see why we weren’t’ getting the pressure we used to. They checked them out and are putting them back in, but I don’t know if it will make any difference.

The garden is all planted and doing all right. We have lots of corn and beans coming up, the tomatoes look good, but the cucumbers and watermelons aren’t doing so well. I think the wind has just dried them out, in spite of keeping them watered. Oh well…we will just have to plant some more. I’m still looking for the cantaloupes, zucchini and a few other things I planed from seed to sprout. We have lots of broccoli, spinach, and swiss chard coming up!

We talked to Brenda and Rick and they are definitely planning on coming here in August and going to school! They will be moving in downstairs, so I need to get in there and finish cleaning up and packing your room! Because Jon and Rachel were coming, I finally got down there and cleaned up the den and the bathroom, but I just closed your door! It will get done eventually!

Well, other than that, life is pretty much the same! We love hearing from you every week! We can tell you are working hard and doing your best to be receptive to the spirit while you are learning “Preach My Gospel” and the discussions. Remember that we are praying for you! Have a great week and keep smiling and keep striving! (Why do I always say that??? I don’t know, I think it is because that is what my Mom always said at the end of her letters.

WE LOVE YOU!

Love, Dad and Mom


PS...do you have a favorite scripture, yet?????

Exchange Student (by Sarah)

Our newest news is that we are having a Japanese Exchange Student, a thirteen year old girl, come live with us for three weeks. Her name is Misaki, and we are going to pick her up on July 26th and take her back August 19th. I am very excited because I will be the one to host Misaki in our family and show her what American life is like.

STEVEN'S Update

Steven, right now is in Pittsburgh, Pennsilvania, installing security systems. Since he won't make his own blog, or update the one on our blog, we're doing it for him. I guess there's not that much to update, because that's just about it. When he gets back from Pennsilvania he's going to go to college at Utah State. Maybe when he gets back we can get him to make his own blog.

Update for GREG

Greg is currently serving a mission. Actually right now he's in the MTC learning how to speak Italian. Yes, there is a reason he's learning how to speak Italian. He got his mission call to Rome, Italy. If you want to read his letters you can go to his blog. Click the link, Elder Greg Daniels, on the side and you'll be there.

MATTHEW'S update (written by Sarah)

Matthew is now a new Cub Scout. He likes to go to the den meetings and learn new things. He helps outside mowing the lawn, planting the garden, moving pipe, and lately he's learning how to drive the tractor. He loves to play in the water, whether it be in a swimming pool, running in the sprinklers, or jumping on the wet trampoline. He is also getting his retainers in a couple days. Since he decided to have a spider be the decoration on his top retainer, he likes tell people that he's going to have a spider in his mouth. Here are a couple of new pictures of him.