Richard Smith Ill

I just thought I'd let you know that Richard had an aneurysm in his abdomen rupture - and is in the hospital. The doctor was surprised he lived through the day but he is maybe surviving for a few more days - but is sedated and comfortable. We may bring him home tomorrow and have hospice help.

Love, Donnette

Erin's Card

Isn't it there yet? I sent one to Donovin also. They had money inside. Erin had $5 for a treat because she had surgery. Donovin had $2 inside because he had been sick. Love, M

From: "Barbara Anderson" 
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2006 10:15

Hey, and how are you. Rested up from your vacation by now.

Erin told me that you had sent her a card, but we have not gotten it yet. Was she correct?

Everyone is doing great here. Will write more later. You have a great day. You and Leonard will have to come down and see the kids' new home. We are all going to be very happy there. Things have really turned the corner this time.
Love you, Barbara

From: "Barbara Anderson" 
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2006 19:46:18 -0700
We got them on Friday. She was thrilled. So was Donovin. He had two, she "only" had one, so his feelings weren't hurt at all. I had to take Erin aside and assure her that her five was better than his two ones. She really didn't even care. She was just glad she had gotten your card and made me read it too her twice. I am really sick. Moving and working and taking care of the kids has wore me down. I will write more later.
Myrna: I am so glad the little ones got their cards. Now we know that it takes nearly a full week from Nephi to St. George.The Pony Express did better. At least they finally came. I am so glad they have you in their lives. It is nice that you could explain for this Grammy.

I am tired also. It seems to me that my age is getting to me. I am 65. I don't know. Maybe I got this tired when I had all the kids at home. I just don't remember. (I thought my grandmother was a source of never-ending energy when she was my age. I hope I was right. If not, I must have practically killed her with all my projects. She would have been 66 when I got married and she and I did all the sewing, preparing, etc.) Anyway, I have never been a good time zone change traveler. I just get used to it and then I am back home with jet lag. 

Take care of yourself. Get feeling better fast. Now I feel really bad because we could have come and helped you. David said you were hiring someone so we finished up helping AnnMarie get ready to paint her condo so she can rent it. They are going to try to hold onto it for family so that as the grandkids in the family go to school and marry they can have a place to live. They still have a few years to pay on the condo before it is free and clear. Hence the need to rent the place so that it can pay for itself.

Love, M

I learned something new.

Myrna wrote: Can one of you open this attachment from Bree? Love, Mom

Kimberly wrote: The only thing attached that I can see is a business card for Bree. It is an
attachment, but it only has contact information -- it is kind of a way to send business cards through email. Some programs will record all of the contact data on these cards and save them in the contacts/address book.

OK

Myrna wrote: I can't find a place to convert the file to a pdf folder. I think it must not be in my version of Word. Love, Mom

Todd wrote: File > print > print to file > specify file type as pdf
If it isn't there, then I could do it for you...I think. 

Myrna: Thanks! I found it.

Erin's Get Well Card

Hey, and how are you. Rested up from your vacation by now.

Erin told me that you had sent her a card, but we have not gotten it yet. Was she correct?

Everyone is doing great here. Will write more later. You have a great day. You and Leonard will have to come down and see the kids new home. We are all going to be very happy there. Things have really turned the corner this time.

Love you, Barbara



Myrna wrote: Isn't it there yet? I sent one to Donovin also. They had money inside. Erin had $5 for a treat because she had surgery. Donovin had $2 inside because he had been sick. Love, M


Barbara wrote: We got them on Friday. She was thrilled. So was Donovin. He had two, she "only" had one, so his feelings weren't hurt at all. I had to take Erin aside and assure her that her five was better than his two ones. She really didn't even care. She was just glad she had gotten your card and made me read it too her twice. I am really sick. Moving and working and taking care of the kids has wore me down. I will write more later.

The Late Waites

Forgot, sorry.  Will work on tonight or tomorrow  AM

Myrna writes: Which year was that? Love, M

Kirsten wrote: Hey, mom.  I did send you my newsletter copy.  Just a bit late.  I actually didn't know you would still be doing one for January since you were gone for most of the first of the month.  But, I did send it (see below).  Can't wait to see you in Orlando!

I always believed March was the only month that was supposed to come in opposite than it went out (like a lion, like a lamb).  Our December claimed that spot this year.
 
We were all in perfect order, running in perfect schedule, until two weeks before Christmas.  Then it all hit!  We each took our turn with the crazy stomach flu that hung on for three days, and was still contagious for four after.  That was quickly encored by a mad rush to send Christmas cards (which had to go out this year, and you all know why), Jared's new neice being born 16 days early (I still don't think that's fair for a first birth experience), and his 29-year-old, soldier cousin passing away, all within one day of each other.
 
We weren't terribly excited to make our sixth (Jared's fifth) trip to Utah within a 13-month time period (not because of you, just circumstances), but we were very grateful to spend time with those we did get to see this go around, especially during the holidays.
 
All went well with the funeral and the time with Jared's family.  I'd like to say that after that experience we now appreciate each day we have together a little more than before his cousin's sudden death, but there are still those "human" moments that make us forget how fragile life and our time on this earth really is.  I have realized how much more I need to teach my children and have tried to spend a little more time playing and enjoying time with them, than lecturing them and doing all that other "stuff" we sometimes think moms need to do.  In fact, our Christmas passed by in such a blur that I just finished taking down decorations and the tree four days ago (January 17).  That's the "stuff" I'm talking about, the "doing" of everything instead of enjoying things and taking pleasure in simple things.
 
Moving on, I have been sure that our little baby coming to the Waite household was going to be a girl.  I've had the same weird "Salvador Dali"-esque dreams about girl babies that I had with Whitney and Emaree.  Jared had even adjusted to the idea of having three girls around and had already started the architectural drawings for his shack/retreat to be built in a backyard somewhere about 10-years down the road.  Now, however, it looks like all was in vain; our ultrasound definitely showed signs of a baby brother.  At first we were both shocked, and happily surprised. (I say "happily,"  but I haven't seen that Chesire grin on Jared's face for a very long time.  He was glowing!)  Whitney and Emma have already suggested a few good names, including Chuck, booger-head, dinosaur, etc.  All sound really fine and "boyish," we just aren't sure if they go with the first name "John."  We're taking suggestions and advice.
   
Whitney had a wonderful fifth birthday, and enjoyed, even more, explaining the difference between her "real" birthday and her "friend" birthday, i.e. it's all about partying with friends from here on out.  She even noticed that on her birthday morning, she felt a year older and had already grown a little big for her new jammies.  She can also do a lot more by herself now that she's five.  It's a big step.
 
Now for another saga in the Jared, hair episode.  Someone else in our family has started to take notice of the "barber's mistakes" on the top of Jared's head.  As we were all cuddled up in bed yesterday morning, Emma leaned her head on her daddy's head then picked her head up and looked down.  Immediately a look of consternation overcame her, and in a very serious two-and-a-half year-old voice, she said, "Mommy, how tome daddy not have hair here (rubbing the top of his head)?"  I again snickered and tried to be matter of fact, Jared sighed and frowned.  I think he's getting more used to the idea that girls notice a little too much, and is looking that much more forward to having a little buddy around.
   
We leave the last week of January for our trip to Orlando with mom and dad and are looking forward to the whole thing.  We'll give you a report, after mom reminds me a few times, when we get back.  I'm so glad I married someone with a last name that rhymes with my habitual issue of tardiness.

Love,
The Late Waites

THE FANTASTIC FIVE

Another year to begin all years. Arbree and David spent the New Year in Encinada Mexico. David got to know all my co workers and was the hit of the Party. He wants to quit Charter and come work for me. Ha Ha. I told him I would not give up my free cable and internet.

Erin had her Tonsils out and adniods out on the 12th. They were massive in size and recessed so the doctor came out with a amazed expression on his face and could'nt believe that a girl so tiny had body parts that big. No wonder she was sick all the time.

Donovin has become the true red head of the family we can't decide if it's from my side or the Trauntvein side but its there. He is so smart and has learned that all he has to do is look at mom with those big gray eyes and tear up and I am putty in his hands.

Grandma is doing well and loves babysitting and her job working at home on the computer. Now that we have a much larger home we can all relax and go on our own seperate rampages without violating anyone elses boundries. We all have our own rooms.

Arbree's trying to win a trip to maui hawii and might come real close to doing it. Who knows but god.

We love all the family and look forward to this summer. God bless!!!


The St. George Trauntveins

Dane's Arrow of Light

Dane’s Arrow of Light
Next Wed, Jan 25th at 7 p.m.  At our Stake Center.

Church Signs--Okay, Don't Believe Everything You See

Melanie wrote: My brother is a real advocate for snopes.com. He sent me this just a few minutes ago:

 

From: "Todd Trauntvein" <ttrauntv@columbus.rr.com> 

Have you ever been to http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/  ?  We use it when we want to play around a little.

 

He was sent the same sign three times, then he decided to check out the web site to see if it was real. So, click on the website, it allows you to make your own sign. Some Mormon is out there generating laughs at the Baptist's expense.

 

Melanie

Just a few things

I need your new address. I need to change the newspaper (Nephi Times-News) to the new address right away.

No one told me you were moving until we called and talked to David last night. 

It sounds like a great place. If you all can afford the rent, it shouldn't be long until you can get a house. What great news! Thanks for helping the kids figure out finances. Building the credit rating back up shouldn't be too difficult.  

While we are talking money, Bree asked for a way to pay Jim and Julie back so that they could pay monthly payments and have it be a surprise. Julie actually has a credit union account at Nephi Credit Union. She has never bothered to have the name changed on it so it is still Julie Trauntvein. Judy could deposit into the account. Julie has not paid any attention to it because she only has something like $80 in it and has just held onto it for some reason. That may be a good way to do it.

Have the cards shown up yet? I can't understand why it has taken so long. Monday was a holiday, but I thought the mail should still move.  

By-the-way, we would have been happy to help move. We seem to be getting out of all the moving lately. We were gone while AnnMarie and Bradon moved. We had helped them box things up but then it looked like it would be the middle of January before all the construction work would be done. The crew pulled a couple of all-nighters and everything changed. We are to go up and help paint the old place so they can rent it. It has to be done by the first of February. 

Love, Myna