Oh! Hi! Oh!

Well, another month gone. Doing this e-mail makes me realize how short the months really are. Here is the news:

During the past month (August), I had some hotel points to use up, so on a whim, I took the family to DC. Turns out, we picked the wrong time to be there. It hit 108° F in the shade with 99% humidity. If any of you have ever seen that, you know that it is just miserable to be outside. So, needless to say we spent a lot of time in the Smithsonian buildings. We did make it to see the changing of the guard at Arlington, to see Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington memorials/monument and the DC Temple. We saw the White House from the front. I asked a policeman out front how a person could get a tour of the White House. He said, “You have to be sponsored by your Senator; however, if you hurry to the back right now, they are giving garden tours today.” So, we dashed to the back (as fast as you can dash in the heat with kids and a five-month pregnant wife). Much to our pleasure, we were given tickets (the ranger had some spares still) and put right in line. We spent the next 45 minutes touring the White House gardens and got to stand on the back steps of the White House. We drove the Cumberland Gap to get to Washington–it was outright beautiful. The “divide” stood at 2800 ft. A little shy of the norm for a Utahan, but it sure was green with wall-to-wall trees and the temperature was quite different from the DC temps. 

Now, the kids are back in school and here are the particular updates.

Michael

Michael was chosen as the teacher’s assistant for Art. His teacher called Amy today and thanked her for having such a thoughtful kid. She said he is the best TA she ever had and that he even anticipates what she wants (kinda Walter “Radar” O’Reilly’ish). The Secretaries in the main office have said that if he gets tired of being the TA for the Art teacher, then they want him to come and work in the office with them. Michael is taking choir (a break from the normal for Mr. Science) and he really enjoys it. As always, he is doing well in his classes and all his teachers thank us for having such a good kid. We finally got to the library and checked out some books. Michael averages six “chapter” books, every four weeks and he still finds time to cram in his Eye Witness science books.

Tyler

Tyler is in 2nd grade and is quite the reader. He reads this and that and everything between. He is learning a song on his own for his baptism that is coming up. Just a reminder for everyone that Tyler’s baptism will be on September 24th at the Nephi chapel. We are able to change the time back to 10am with a lunch following that at the chapel. Amy will be contacting everyone for his or her participation in the activity and to see if you are able to make it. Grandpa Trauntvein is going to do the baptism and Grandpa Gordon is going to do the confirmation. Tyler spoke in Sacrament meeting last week. He wrote the talk himself and delivered the talk. He did quite well. Tyler is also checking out his 10 book limit at the library each time the family goes and he really enjoys story time at night and then reading in bed for 30 minutes before going to sleep.

Emily

Emily is in First grade. She loves school. She and Tyler get to ride the bus, by choice. Amy asked her if she wants her to take her to school (6 blocks from our house), or not and Emily said she wants to go on the bus. So, each morning, they stand out there for the bus to come. It takes them directly to school–a 5-minute ride. The ride home takes about 45 minutes. Both she and Tyler like the ride home, because they do their homework on the bus. When they get home, they get right to the business of playing. Emily wanted to learn to ride a two wheeler like her best friend Alex. So, I ran up and down the sidewalk with her a number of times. Each time I let go of the bike, she laid it over in the grass. I came home from work two weeks ago–Emily was riding her bike on her own. She just decided enough was enough, went out, hopped on the bike and took off. Emily likes first grade. She has two good friends in her class and she plays with them and Tyler during lunch and recess.

Amy

What is there to say. She is the ruler of her castle, the crowning victor, the magistrate of the feudal lands Trauntvein! Oh, and she has been feeling better with the pregnancy as well. As a matter of fact, she painted Emily’s bedroom to match the coloring in the one she had just finished in Utah. It turned out really nice; she is getting to be quite the artisan with a three inch brush and a nice lamb’s wool roller. Of course, I helped her. I installed the chair rail. :) Amy gets to have a little time to herself these days between the hours of 9:00 am and 2:30 pm while the kids are at school. That will end. We can’t have that. Who ever thought of a Mom who had time to think, clean and enjoy some quiet? I didn’t think so. She is adjusting well to Ohio. She doesn’t get lost anymore, but she does go through a lot more gas here than she did in American Fork. WalMart and Target here are 15 miles from home. In AF, they were a mere mile at the most.

Todd

Not much to say about that one. Working and working. When it isn’t work, it is church. When it isn’t church, it is work. Not much has changed there.

As mentioned above, the family spoke in Sacrament Meeting on 08/25. Each person picked their topic and wrote their own talk–Dad typed them up, but the kids wrote them. Each of them did a wonderful job and so did Amy. The 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency was there that day and he sent the children a thank you note for their talks and wrote specifically to each of them. That was a first for me.

I missed being on the Labor Day campout this year. You all know that I never missed one and I was there for all nights of the campout. Some of you think I did it out of mere desire to support my parents in an activity. I want you all to know that I did it out of love for each of you. I love having the family together. You all know I am a watcher of people. I liked sitting there and watching you all chat with each other and catch up on the goings-on with each other. That is the reason I invited you all to my home a few times a year. Heck! If were going to spend the eternities together, we better make darn sure we are friends right now. I love you. I miss you. And I know you miss me driving you crazy with my matter-of-fact attitude and my polar-positions on ALL issues , but know that I love you. I always have and I miss having you around. I was happy to hear that so many were able to make it to the campout this year and that Eric was finally able to get some time off. Too bad about the rain, but that too is a blessing.

Here is a suggestion that you all ought to take advantage of over the next couple of years while the ability exists. Do the “Trauntvein Roadshow”. Take off from Utah, and go to Kirsten’s. Stay a couple of days with her. Drive from there to Ohio and stay with us for a couple more. Then drive to Melanie and stay with her for a couple more. Fly home from Boston. Meals are free, lodging is free. You would have to pay for a rental, gas and a flight. Not too shabby.

Well, I love you all. I look forward to reading what you write. Love, Todd.