Hi Kids,
Thanks for your letters--we enjoy hearing about your lives and being involved in your daily happenings. I just read an interesting article in the newspaper online, about not putting jobs etc., over family all the time (we have to sometimes), written by a Stanford Univ. Professor (his wife got so fed up with his preoccupation with work and not really listening to her, that she locked him in his office at home, saying apparently that's where he wanted to be!) It's a link if you can read it.
We were free Fri. night and invited Merrill and Lorrie over for games and strawberry shortcake.
We loved Conference weekend---it always ends way to soon for me. We worked in the yard some between conference sessions on Sat. Nice to be out in the sunshine. We had gone to Quality Nursery on the way home from our mission Wed. and purchased some perennials. We didn't get all of them planted yet--maybe today. We need to call the "tree" people and have them do some work for us. One quakie's roots are bending the fence.
A mama and daddy duck have been hanging out in our back yard and pond the past few days. Maybe we'll see a bunch of baby ducklings soon. One year there were 13!
Dad just got taxes finished. We owe $5,470 State and $3,216 Federal!
Emily's husband Dave was just on business trips to Japan and China. He thought Japan was nice and clean and the people nice. He thought China and the people there were so drab and depressed. Then he met Emily and the 3 kids in Hawaii for a vacation. Emily flew alone with their three kids--their youngest is Layla's age.
After Anderson is married in Japan, they will live there for about a year, while his wife gets papers to be able to move to the United States. I guess it takes a long time.
It will be fun to have Shane and Adria arrive Thurs. evening and I am trying to get organized for our flight to Calif. with them Mon. morning. Remember the family dinner at Red Robin on Sat. (8th) around 5. Chris and Kim's and D & D's family are coming. Scott and Amy and Jen and Gray: let us know in time for us to make reservations and try to get that separate room.
love ya, Mom
Betty Sollis called last night and said that Allison Mark was found dead when one of her children tried to wake her up and couldn't. Gina Mark's younger sister. She was married to Brian Bonnet in our ward here. Age 38. Betty didn't know any details. Sad. Jo Jackman's daughter, also 38, just died of cancer.
A couple came to see my pool this morning--she got in to try it out. We will get paid $200 if this couple buys a "water well" pool, like ours.
FYI: The Realtor, Robyn Nielson, came Tues. for Dad to sign papers to list the Rockport property again for 6 months. She said prices have gone up a little from last year. As we found out last year, Vic owned 1/3 and Lucille 2/3. The current asking/starting price is $70. If it sells for $60, it would end up about $10,000 each for Dad and his 3 siblings.
Today is my mom's birthday. I was playing word streak and there was her name Zada spelled across the bottom row---a little birthday message from my mom. Don't remember it ever coming up before.
Shane and Adria arrive about 8:45 to our house tonight.
Dad did his first mowing yesterday, after our Costco trip. Our yard is getting prettier every day, especially that slanted bed in front.
Anyone that wants to visit more with Shane and to see Adria, you are welcome to come here Sunday. evening for goodies and visiting.
Adria got picked up by their Lindon friends to go to the zoo and then she will stay with them through Sun. Church meetings. Shane will go down there to church from 1-4 to see old friends in the ward and then bring Adria back here.
Scott picked Shane and Adria up from the airport last night. Due to delays with their flight, they didn't get here until about 10:30 p.m. instead of 8:30. Scott will take us to the airport Mon. morning about 9:30 a.m.
We played lots of speed RummiKub this morning before Adria left and Shane did stuff on our "Honey Do" list.
For Red Robin, we have us and Shane, D & D's family, Scott and Taylee (maybe more?), and Chris and Jeni can give us a count for sure on how many from their families. Then I will call in a reservation.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Scott picked us up at the airport--thanks, Scott! Normally we would be hosting our Easter brunch and egg hunt right now. Our yard looks beautiful for Easter.
We had a wonderful time with Shane and Alicia and the kids. They took us many places to see the sights. We slept well on their sofa bed. They have a nice place. I don't dare get on the scale, as we ate well!
Since my last quick note: They took us out to an Italian restaurant---the kids stayed home this time.
Yesterday they took us to some lovely gardens to see the pretty flowers. Ice plants (about 10 times larger than our ice plants) are everywhere. We went to the beach at Half Moon Bay and to a light house, then we stopped at a Mexican restaurant.
We took a tour of Shane's work one night----------Derek will be envious of the laid-back atmosphere------scooters if you didn't want to walk from office to office--a small putting strip, arcade game, foosball (sp?), treadmill, another exercise thingy, 2 stocked kitchenettes..........Shane goes to work in teeshirt and jeans without having to shave... No, Derek, don't move there!
We watched the movie "Sing," which is cute if you haven't seen it--animated, fun music I want for my water aerobics. Last night we watched an episode of "Relative Finder" from Season 1. It is on BYU TV. A reality show/race finding relatives around the country (that you don't know you have).
We played lots of speed rummikub and a couple games of PR, plus other games. They love games like we do.
We had a wonderful time with them. Thanks Shane for taking a week of vacation this past week and for coming last week to do a long "honey-do" list last week and visit with us-----and fun to be with Adria one on one too--and for the escort back to "teach us the ropes" of airports, since we hadn't done it since Hawaii.
Now we are more likely to do it again and go places with my siblings.
We are going to Easter dinner tomorrow at Chris and Kim's.
I just found the photos and notes that Shane sent!
While we were just into security at the SF airport, we heard "Why, there's the Westras!" It was Kathy Hirst in our ward and New Haven neighborhood and we were on the same flight! She works for
Morris-Murdock Travel and was just returning from Singapore (18-hour flight!)
Our flight home seemed so quick! We discovered the flight tracking and Sudoko, etc. on the little screens. Happy Easter! Love you all, Mom and Dad
Hi Kids,
Thanks for your letters.
Yesterday would have been Kellie Sue's birthday.
Wendy, that's great that Janika got a job as an EFY counselor and gets to travel with it and go to Georgia, your mission state! Tell Josh congratulations on his achieving his Arrow of Light and performing with his chorus group. Fun that Keaton's poster came up when you were searching. Jeni passed on some soccer shoes and other shoes. I meant to have you look through them and see if any fit Josh, when you were here for Christmas. Dad had them in the garage and I forgot. Remind me next time we see you. Cayson took a pair or two that fit him.
Chris, Dad and our ward choir sang the song "Gethsemane" on Sunday also. The Piano Guy's little girl did the solo part and the choir did wonderful background. It was really beautiful. I wondered if it was available for others. Dad showed me the music and it said it was from a Deseret Book CD--can't remember the title. Gorgeous version for you choir people to check out.
Kim fixed Lamb for Easter dinner. She said her mother fixed it every Sunday as she was growing up. I can't remember when or if I have had it before, but it was very good and very tender.
Derek and Danielle: I know Derek is HC over missionary work and Danielle is a ward missionary. Two of our ward missionaries, Gary and Bonnie Lassen, called and asked if they could come over and give a 20 min. presentation. They brought us a nice fruit plate with a fruit dip for a FHE treat! They showed us a short Church video on their laptop and then talked a bit and gave us a couple papers to fill out and gave us a new regular B. of M. and one of the small ones also to give out if an opportunity arose. We could show you the papers sometime or scan them and send them. Does your ward or stake do something like this? They left on time and had other appts. set up. They are a nice couple who were in our empty-nesters group. Younger than us. They served an inner city mission. If I remember correctly, Gary said once that the Church spent $250,000 helping the people in the ward they worked in, trying to help people get better lives! Lassens are now going on a mission to work in the Boston Temple.
We worked in the yard in the beautiful weather yesterday. I was anxious to get back to my water aerobics, but Dad forgot to turn the pool up in time after our trip, so it wasn't warm enough to swim yesterday. We went for a short walk. Dad had to buy a new tire for his wheelbarrow for $39--half the price of a new wheelbarrow. The solid type that doesn't have air in. He first took the flat one to Big O, who usually fixes them for free, but they said it was unfixable. Dad uses his wheelbarrow sooo much, he can't get along without it.
I have a doctor appt. this afternoon. I guess the oxygen concentrator machine requires an annual review from my doctor in order to continue using it. Maybe the same thing will happen for the C-PAP machine----medicare requirements I assume.
Wendy, you'll have to teach us how you now insert your photos in your letters in different places and Shane, how you did yours in a group like that. Wendy, do you know how to take Shane's photos from our trip and put them in dropbox? Would you do that for us. Thanks!
Have a good day---looks like we are in for some rain this week. We're glad Chris got is long mountain run in and Gray and Scott got some mountain biking in. I did take that photo from facebook and put it in dropbox---thanks for posting it Jen (it was from Amy!) ;)
... Our fireplace glass just kind of exploded and broke in the family room! It was a heavy rain here tonight. About 3 inches in the bucket in our dining room where the ceiling leaks. Then I had the fireplace on and could hear some cold rain coming down the fireplace-----------and I guess the cold against the hot glass just shattered it! I guess maybe we should turn the gas off in that fireplace and then put a big piece of wood in front of it???
From Derek: Yikes! I can't believe that! Although I'm actually more concerned that you have a bucket collecting water in your dining room! A fireplace seems like an easy enough replace and fix, but the other is a big deal. Do you have someone to come repair that or do you need me to make some calls? Yes, I'd block off the fireplace front with whatever you can find until tomorrow. Sorry! The wind has been crazy here too. The other day we just watched from our main floor as fenced came down all around us. We did alright though and didn't have damage. Danielle was at a cooking class at Harmons tonight and I was afraid the car was going to get hit by debris. The other windstorm caused significant damage to the cars at Harmons. Lots of broken windows! Let me know how I can help! DerekThanks, Derek, for writing. We just have not known who to call about the leak problem. We trim the big tree dropping leaves and have had guys out to clean out the rain gutter several times. The tree people are supposed to come out and we are having the entire big limb cut off this time. Dad thinks the rain gutter overflows into the house. You can't get to that part of the attic from the main attic to check out the water damage. I worry about the ceiling caving in from constant water damage. But we just haven't known who to call that would really know what to do and what to fix and not "take us to the cleaners." It has leaked a little for several years during heavy storms, but this month has been the worst, with several inches into the bucket.
I asked Dad to write Uncle Kent and/or your cousin Randy Amann who manage a lot of properties in Utah County and see who they would suggest. Or, if Shane was comfortable asking his property manager for a name.
The rain gutter is too high there to reach with our extension ladder. Dad wonders if we could bend the gutter out, so it would overflow outwards instead of into the soffit or house. That seems like a good suggestion---wish he had thought of it years ago and had one of the rain gutter cleaning guys do that while up there. Dad says he can see into some of the rain gutters at the front part of the house from upstairs and can see that they are full, so the downspouts get blocked with leaves (or tennis balls), but the horizontal gutters must tip away from the house a little whereas the west wall of the dining room, closest to the kitchen, must tip towards the house and the overflow go into the soffit or something like that.
I don't know if new covered rain gutters could help or how much they would cost. It would probably be better to re-roof before taking that step.
Several repair people say they will check some things out, but then they never call back or come back--maybe thinking it not worth their bother.
Gray sent one of his men out a couple years ago. He didn't think our whole roof needed re-roofing quite yet, but it might by now. That might help some also, but Dad doesn't think that's the problem. Neighbors have paid about $30,000 or so for re-roofing their homes.
Yes, we would appreciate you making some calls, if you know who to call---or check out Kent or Randy or Shane's manager first.
My VT companion Marilyn Barton gave us the name of a handyman they have used, and Joen Humphreys gave us the name of one she has used, but I don't know how extensive their skills are.
We have had a young man in his 20's come out to get our fireplaces cleaned out now and again, after his regular job or college-------would he be the one to call first to see if he could order and replace the glass?
Thanks for any help.
20 April 2017 (this one was actually from Dad)
Hi kids, To bring you all up to date on the saga of the roof and fireplace problems, here is the latest status up to this morning:
Grayson and his roofer friend arrived at 8:00. I showed them the place where it was leaking, probably leaking down from a clogged rain gutter up above. The roofer got up on his big ladder and checked it out. He could see some holes in the roof, near the south wall, under the overhang where the rain gutter was up above. He took some caulk and patched those holes, and also climbed higher on the roof to our chimney, and put the top back on the chimney where it had blown off perhaps six months ago. He said that there was more damage to the shingles, and that perhaps a new roof was advisable. He had given us a bid a year or two previous, and will update the bid and send it to us again. Grayson checked the fireplace and took more pictures and called his fireplace man. I had also asked Grayson about a more decorative hood for the top of the chimney. He said he would send us some options. Grayson sent us some input on ornamental hoods for chimney tops. Thanks Gray! Dad
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