February 1983

2/1/1983: Mommy went to a restaurant for lunch the some Faculty wives. The boys went to Benjamin Ilmer’s house. They were fascinated by Baby Ruth and Benjamin’s “General Lee” car.
2/2/1983: Mommy and the boys went with some other Mommies & kids to the zoo. We had a good time running from animal to animal. Then we had lunch at Connie Schroeder’s house.
2/4/1983: Daddy took the boys to the park to fly the kite. They are really a little too young to enjoy it, but they did have fun holding the string once it was up.
2/6/1983: We went over to Darryl & Michelle Hein’s home for lunch after church. It was very enjoyable and the boys were very good till right near the end. Then they got tires and were ready for their nap.
2/7/1983: Jon’s Birthday
2/9/1893: It was a beautiful day so we went to the park. It’s a good opportunity for the boys to run off a lot of energy.
2/10/1983: Michael has decided to be a “baby dolly” today. He puts on a shining voice and says “Mommy hold Baby Dolly” or “Mommy put Baby Dolly in bed” (instead of climbing in himself). I wonder if I haven’t been paying enough attention lately?
2/13/1983: We joined the church today. It doesn’t seem like that big of a deal but I was shaking all over when we stood up front. It feels good to have finally made a commitment to a particular church again.
2/20/1983: Sarah’s Birthday
I knew that we would be called on to work with the kids at church now that we have joined but I didn’t expect it quite so soon. I’ve been asked to work in the nursery today.
2/21/1983: Michael fell off the back of the couch today and suffered a mild concussion. I suppose I should get used to this kind of thing but I don’t think I ever will.
2/24/1983: 7:00 Jim Richardson
2/26/1983: Stephen went to a California Agriculture Teachers Assoc. meeting today. He had to leave here at 5:00 and didn’t get home till late afternoon.
2/27/1983: We stayed for a pot luck after church today. It was given by one of the older classes for the college students. Since Stephen is faculty advisor for the Campus Ambassadors we were invited.

January 1983

1/1/1983: Daddy took the boys out to wash the car today and then decided to take the out to McDonald’s for lunch. He really enjoys going out with his boys.
1/4/1983: The boys are destroying the image of boys. They got an empty shampoo bottle into the tub and the residue made bubbles. They started saying “I like soap.” Michael didn’t even want to get out of the tub and fought like a wildcat to get back in!
1/10/1983: 9:30 AM Dr. Miller
The boys are changing personalities again. It was Michael who put up the greatest fuss at the doctor today. Peter wasn’t really happy about it but he behaved much better than Michael.
1/13/1983: Aunt Cindy has come to visit for a few days. The boys were very excited to see her – especially when they say that she had a box of goodies for them.
1/15/1983: The boys have had the sniffles for the past few days but today it seems to have developed into a full fledged cold.
Aunt Cindy went home this afternoon.
1/16/1983: Mommy was fine when she went to bed last night but this morning she woke up with a terrible cold. Daddy had to stay home from church to watch the boys.
1/19/1983: Mommy was getting better but today she took a turn for the worse. Her throat got so sore and swollen that she lost her voice entirely.
1/21/1983: The assistant pastor and the music minister from Memorial Baptist came to visit today and answered our questions about the church.
1/22/1983: Grandpa and Cindy came to visit today. Daddy and Grandpa watched a football game!
1/23/1983: Daddy & the boys went to church today. Mommy is still sick.
1/24/1983: Daddy went to Bakersfield today for an Ag-One banquet tonight. He didn’t get home till 1:30. The boys missed him.
1/25/1983: Today was Stephen’s first day of classes for the semester. He has a really good student in on of his classes which has got him excited about the semester.
1/27/1983: Mom’s Birthday

December 1982

12/4/1982: Tonight was the holiday ball. Stephen & I got all dressed up and went to enjoy ourselves. My goal for next year is to be able to dance.
12/5/1982: Daddy & the boys were playing hide & seek tonight. Daddy would hide in their room and the boys would try to find him. It was really fun to watch because they would always go to the last place Daddy had hidden. Sometimes I had to help them. They were always so excited when they found him.
12/6/1982: Michael pedaled the hot wheels tonight for the first time. He knew it was a great accomplishment and called my attention to it.
12/7/1982: Lately the boys have been unhappy about having to come home from the sitter’s. What a switch. Today they were at Sean’s and they really threw a fit about leaving.
12/9/1982: Peter told me he had to go potty before he went today. What an accomplishment!
12/10/1982: 7:30 Nancy’s
12/11/1982: Grandpa came today and the boys were really excited about it.
12/13/1982: Peter did it again! He told me he needed to go before he actually went. Maybe we will be able to get them potty trained after all!
12/14/1982: 9:15 Nancy’s
12/17/1982: 9:15 Nancy’s
12/21/1982: Grandma & Grandpa Ott arrived today, a day earlier than anticipated. Daddy was sure surprised when he got home.
12/22/1982: We had a terrible storm today. There was flooding and power failures up and down the state. We were only without power for about 45 min. Good thing Grandma & Grandpa got in yesterday.
12/24/1982: We drove up to King’s Canyon today. We weren’t able to go into the park because we didn’t have chains but it was a beautiful drive up there. It’s all the snow we’ll have for Christmas.
12/25/1982: The boys had a great time this morning. As soon as they’d got one gift opened they asked for another. They remind me of their Aunt Cindy.
12/26/1982: Grandma & Grandpa left today after going to church and taking us to lunch. They have a friend in L.A. they want to see.

November 1982

11/8/1982: Peter learned to do buttons tonight. He used the big buttons on Mommy’s sweater and did it over and over again. He was certainly proud of his accomplishment!
11/17/1982: I about killed the boys today. They took off their diapers when they were supposed to be napping. They messed and then spread it all over everything. They even took clothes out of their drawers and got them messed up too. It took me all afternoon to get everything cleaned up.
11/19/1982: The boys did it again! They know exactly what they are doing and, except for the spanking, they think it is great fun. How can I convince them it is not fun?
11/20/1982: Grandpa Barr came to visit and took us to the zoo. The boys especially liked Saggy Baggy (the elephant) and the seals.
11/25/1982: Dad’s Birthday
11/28/1982: We are beginning to have some success with the potty chair. The boys always try to do something when they sit on it although they don’t yet tell us they need to go before they wet their diapers.

September - October 1982

9/25/1982: Grandpa came to visit and took us back to the house he is staying at. We picked up his car and brought it back with us.

10/4/1982: Michael has learned to say Peter’s name. He sounds very British when he says it Pet-uh.
10/5/1982: We took Peter to the doctor today. He had been complaining about his ear since Sunday. He has two infections in the same ear – both an inner and an outer ear infection.
10/7/1982: 10:45 Boehm
10/15/1982: Miller 9:10
10/17/1982: Michael and Peter went into Sunday School without fussing today! Of course the fact that there was a live hamster they could play with may have helped.
10/29/1982: Grandma and Grandpa Barr came tonight. The boys were very excited to see them.
10/31/1982: The boys went trick-or-treating tonite. The were upset when they had to come in.

August 1982

8/1/1982: Philip’s Birthday
8/1-8/14/1982: MOVED TO CALIFORNIA
We didn’t have enough room in the trailer. Had to repack and delay a day. The boys deadbolted us out of the motel room and rifted the suitcases. Michael shaved with Mommy’s razor. All kinds of trouble with the tarp. The brake line on the trailer broke. A tire on the truck separated. The heat was unbearable. The truck radiation sprang a leak. Going over a dip, the spare tire on the truck fell off – thought we’d never get it back on. More trouble with the radiator going through Utah. Had to put new shocks on the car. Finally some good news – it rained and was very comfortable across the desert.
8/29/1982: Our first Sunday at a new church and Michael falls and gashes his head! Fortunately it only required a butterfly but it gave us quite a scare. The nursery attendants called the paramedics and they brought a big fire truck.
8/31/1982: Today was Stephen’s first day of teaching.

July 1982

7/9/1982: Prayer Breakfast
7/10/1982: 8:00 Perm
7/17/1982: Sarah home
7/21/1982: 11:15 Freno