Step 1

Oh hi Poe,

I hope things are working out with you and elder Gromit, but if not, just think, you could be here sitting with mom on the couch watching the Taylor Swift Eras Tour video on Disney + with your mother. Ben lasted about a minute, Jacob gave it 15, and the only way I’ve made this far is by starting this letter.

So this is not where we expected to be last Sunday. I was hoping that maybe mom could be coming home today. But as it stands she won’t even be going back till late Thursday afternoon. Things feel normal, almost a little disturbingly so. But mom is her normal bubbly, energetic self. She has claimed her spot as the most popular member of the ward, she’s back to work and has an interview for an administrative internship at the school district. She’s a miracle. She’s one of the small handful of the over 300 people that applied that landed an interview. I’ll be much more surprised if she doesn’t get it than if she does. Not because it’s not hard, but because I know how freaking amazing she is. That’s tomorrow.

Early in the week when she was in the hospital the weather was cold and snowing and windy. Since she’s been home spring has begun to blossom, so much so that I stopped for some Step  1 a day after work. I haven’t applied it yet. That night I dug up the crabgrass clumps and other major weeds. I plan on thatching before I put it down. I hope it rains one day this week so I can put it down, but if not I’ll just hose it down.

Yesterday was a chore day. I have to admit that the older I get the more I enjoy chore days. We started the day by going to IKEA to return this bench I got to put my turntable in the movie room (I miss my old music room, I’m not going to lie). I don’t dare disturb your music room, even though your bros don’t really use it much these days. I’ve never really gotten it setup in the game room. The one I got was way too big. Mom and I walked out of there with a a smaller stand and three giant wardrobes. It’s something she’s been wanting for a while because apparently our closet isn’t big enough. Fortunately, she convinced your brothers to carry the 12 heavy and awkward boxes in and they even built one of the three. I wondered if you could do it better on your own, but I didn’t say that out loud.

While they were doing that I was changing the oil on Ben’s car. I hadn’t changed it before and they are going to take it on their SF trip. I like to maintain our cars to see what kind of condition they are in. This time, I could tell Ben had taken his car Off road and busted him. No damage though, just big clumps of dirt and weeds in the underside. Otherwise, everything was good.

Speaking of cars, we haven’t heard anything about Jacob’s yet from the insurance. I’m not expecting much for it. But I’m not going to worry too much about it either.

We took a break after that and went to tryout this fish and chips place I heard about in Murray. It was pretty good, but mom threw one of those really scary silent fits when we got the bill. Wow, I don’t think I’ll be suggesting that again.

When we got home the boys went back to work on the wardrobe and I rotated the tires on my 4Runner. I was happy to find the source of a rattle that developed on our trip. It was an easy fix and I became even more impressed by the quality of my Toyota. It’s pretty solid.

When I finally came in our bedroom was all changed around. The boys had finished one of the wardrobes, they moved the bed against the wall opposite the windows. The dresser with the tv against the wall with the windows. For some reason your mother gained three new wardrobes and I get to get rid of my dresser and bookshelves. Prepare yourself for marriage my boy.

Right now mom is finishing the fanciest cheesecake ever known to man and Ben’s helping. We had tostadas for dinner. It’s nice outside and life is good. I’m planning on giving your mother a blessing tonight for her interview. It almost seems like the whole open-heart-surgery thing was a dream. It’s not, just delayed. I’ll send updates this week just like last week. 

Sure love you kid,

Pops 

P.s. sorry this is getting to you so late. I had this finished this afternoon but then I had mom come with me to pass out fliers for stake and ward Easter activities. Then in return I spent 3 hours assembling one of those ikea wardrobes. I’m only about 3/4 done with it. Im going to bed. Lyity