Victor, Idaho
April 6, 1936

Dearest Mother & Dad

Your long letter of Apr. 2 came today so will answer + get Lois to write tonight. Just mailed you a card.  

We took some snaps of Lois in grad dress + Norman yesterday which ought to be good.  Her dress is lovely + memory modest in design.  She wont use a jacket I guess.

I think it will be warm enough to wear her white coat in SL.  Otherwise I guess she should take her brown as blue is too small + faded.  Lois is up to my average weight + has longer feet.

She will do without hat but I will use a white purse with the silk dress if you feel able to make one as you suggested. The blue silk blouse is getting tight across the shoulders so Lois is leaving that for June too,

The thought she would be so tired of skirts + waists, that a white dress for general wear would please June but I hope I am not doing wrong in getting it.  I got 3 1/2 yds but am afraid you are not well enough to do that much sewing.  Could have you needed.  If you don't feel sewing now, leave i till Lois is home to help.

If your back still bothers you I don't see how you could stand the trip here if Maria doesn't come you would have to find another cheap way by car.

I can see it isn't as good thing as send June alone + unless she has as good a chance to come as Lois I don't think she ought to leave alone.  She could stay at Clark's or some other relative in S.L. until we sent for her + we were hoping to be able to take her home ourselves next Summer + she could help entertain the kids on the way.  I don't suppose will have much saved up to travel with next year either (probably not enough for school)  but if you don't come here this Aug. I feel like we'll have to go anyway That may depend on whether he gets a good job lined up before we go.

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I don't think June should come alone by bus & am perfectly willing that she doesn't come as will have a more modern house & not so much work (carrying water, hand washing etc.) as I have this winter & can get along fine, altho of course if conditions were all around favorable it would be a pleasure to have her company & Ells would like me to have her. He is waiting word from his Father about going selling with him before he decides what to do. Will try to know in a wk or two. We

We will leave Victor around May 8 or 9th & stop at Georgetown as we'd have to rent apt. etc. & if he comes right back to go selling there's nothing for me to go down for, save visiting, altho I'd like to be there with Lois. Lois expects to stay right with Vera I think & doesn't even care to attend a public dance like Coconut Grove since that death episode, only a school dance or so with Vera if S.L. schools aren't out. We have talked lately of this case & similar dangers & she seems definitely affected by it & I don't think she'd take a chance like that.

Norman's eczema hardly shows but he still scratches if left alone too long & we have to salve his face. Bowels are a little better when I use prunes & 1 teasp mineral oil a day, but occasionally there is some blood in stools. Is that very dangerous? I have used prune pulp but not juice & he has orange or tomatoe juice with water 3 times a day. Won't drink water straight so I dilute the juices a lot to get him to take the water he needs.

Drinks form a cup occasionally but usually from bottle.

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Tues. Apr. 7/36

Last night I took Norman to P.T.A. social as Lois was in chorus on program which was given by teachers. It was his first public appearance in Victor & first night out. I was proud of his behavior & people made quite a fuss over him. Many of them were surprised to know I had a baby at all as they'd never seen him. He is taller & larger than many babies here for his age & in certainly getting husky & displaying a brilliant mind. (ahem!)

The strength in his back seems extraordinary even when his blanket is pinned down on both sides of him he squirms up a ways in bed & over with his arms held stuff in cardboard cuffs he attains a sitting position merely thru the pull in his back & if you push him over he's right back up again like a bouncing ball.

It's hard to get him off-balance when sitting & he is good at standing too. Lois will be raving about him to you when she comes home & will probably mention things I don't think of.

He'll soon be "wearing the pants" in the family as I am making a blue coat for him from Ells serge suit. Easter Sun the three men teachers & wives will get together at Smith's place & Lois is invited to a girl friend's. We've hardly ever been home along for any of the holidays.

I sent Winnie the waist for Easter & I know she will get lots of use out of it.

If you don't come this Aug. & even if June doesn't come we can both save more money in 

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the long run, for a trip next year & there would be more of an incentive to go East if you don't get to see the baby this year.

Looking at it that way it may be best to call everything off for this year & centralize on means & effort on going East next yr. & that way you will be saving more for the boys this winter, too and you'll certainly need it.

Lois things she'll need that white rayon slip I started to wear with the white suit, as her cotton is too short. She can wear my shite slip while here but thot she'd need it in S.L.C. If you could send the slip then, but don't make purse if you're not able to sit enough. We'll finish slip.

Lois didn't get her letter finished so I'll post this anyway.

Love,

Dorothy