Re-reading letters

A couple of Christmases ago my mom gave me two binders full of letters that I had written to her over the years. It is quite an interesting compilation of history. I don't even remember many of the things that I describe happening.
Here are some excerpts:

May 1973

"Chaplin Palmer knows many Apostles because of his line of work. It just so happened that he knew one really well who was there Saturday. [Nauvoo- we went over for the dedication of the new Visitor's Center.] It was Brother Gordon B Hinckley, so he told Brother Hinckley that he would appreciate it if the apostles (4 of them) would come and speak to we service people. So I sat in a type of fireside with 4 apostles of the Lord. Four prophets actually.... I sat one foot away from Marion G. Romney, who incidentally was my favorite, two feet from Delbert L. Stapley, 3 from Spencer W. Kimball, and 4 from Gordon B. Hinckley. They talked to us and spoke to us individually."

October 1973

"Robert also gets off swing [shift] Friday. We've gotten so used to this, I just hope we'll like days again. Robert is all interested in "All My Children."

December 1979

"Jared has plans to open a toy shop. Handmade toys from wood. In our garage at first and eventually getting his own place. After his mission he's going to drive a cement truck until he saves enough money to start it up. [I guess the toy shop.] It's about all he talks about anymore. Something will catch his eye and he'll tell me how he's going to use it in his shop. He's going to buy used post office trucks for deliveries. It's all planned."

"Mandy is very popular with the girls in her age group. She's in that holding hands stage and she usually has one friend on each hand. She's always being invited over or having them here. People are starting to ask me where I found my twin."

Jan 1988

"Sara is completing her science project. It's a peanut butter taste test. Between Jiff and a No-name brand. -- Sara got an A+ on her science project and she gets to go to the school competition. She was really excited."

June 1983

"Beth has stopped sleeping in the crib. She is very excited about her birthday. She says, "Don't tell me about my presents! Then it won't be a prize!" But she says she only needs two candles. I baked a cake and she was convinced it was hers. She took a handful out of it and Sara came and told. Beth said, "Well! It's my birthday cake!"

July 1984

"Leslie has started to walk quite a bit now. With the walking she has started to carry things around the house, like books, small garbage cans, her bottles and of course toys. She can say a few words now: Hi, Momma, eat, and amen! She also yells at the kids and shakes her finger at them."

May 1996

"Spencer is going to participate in the National Junior Olympic trails. He was so excited on Saturday when we got home....He received a silver medal and took it to church yesterday and wore it. Today he took it to school. He had a job for two weeks. He rode along with this little kid down the street to school. He earned a dollar a day, but last night I learned that he had been laid off. The mother's student teaching ended and she didn't need him any more. He was all excited to be earning his own money."