IZZIE GETS A SISTER

Dear Family,

While we were out of town, Doug and Kristina had a new baby. We drove up last night to see the new arrival and met Izzie in the driveway. She is their fully charged three year old.

"We have a new sister!", she hollered, "It's a girl!" This is their eighth child and there is a good mix of four boys and four girls. We think this is our 74th grandchild but the official tally is not in yet.

The baby will be named Ellen Stephanie. She was pretty much on time and weighed 8 pounds. Everyone thinks she looks like her sister Becky but I see other family resemblances as well. Everyone is doing very well and there is joy in that home. Here is a picture of Izzie and little Ellen. I am not sure Izzie is jealous yet but she certainly is a little more demonstrative of what she wants. She loves her little sister.

We had a Family Home Evening there last night and Doug was getting warmed up on his High Council speaking assignment. They were assigned the subject of the Church's Family Proclamation and this was like a laboratory on the subject. Doug did a good job and all the kids sang and participated.

I think that the new little baby will get a lot of attention with the older sisters and brothers. Here is a picture of Becky holding the new little one with Nate looking on during Family Night.

I had to remark what a great help our kids were to their younger brothers and sisters as they were growing up in the East. Without their help with the little ones, we could not have made it through 17 children. It is so great to observe how they continue to care for each other and stand by and support each other with their own families. Doug went up to Heber to pick up the bassinet from Rebecca and was reminded that it belonged to Cheryl originally. The hymn is so correct, "There is beauty all around when there's love at home"

School has started here in Utah, Good luck all, we love y ou,

Dad and Mom