December 31, 1996 and January 1, 1997- 12 years old

12-31-‘96/1-1-’97 I just came from a New Years Party. It was fun. I played tag, football, and N64 with my friends. Happy New Years! Goodnight.

December 30, 1996- Twelve years old

12-30-’96 Tomorrow is New Years Eve! Today I went to Fly Away Home (the movie). It was a good movie. Then we (the kids, Grandmas and Ryan) went out to eat. I played football with Tom and Jacob. I also played video games. One more thing. Madilyn got an ID tag. Goodnight.

December 29, 1996 - 12 years old and Aaronic Preisthood

12-29-’96 There are 3 main orders of business I have to tell you. #1. I turned 12 years old on the 24^th of December. I got my Gospel in Action award today along with Mike Anderson. I graduated from primary and got ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood. The Priesthood is the most important. With it comes the responsibilities of writing in you, personally reading the scriptures, and more. #2. Is Christmas! I got 1. Bulldog stuff 2. A Lighting ball 3. Puzzles 4. Other trinkets. Michael got a N64 (the latest video game system) and a game called Pilotwings 64. With Christmas came a trip to Disneyworld and #3. Relatives, Brooke and her husband Steve (who proved to be a nice guy) came. So did Ryan from college, Grandmas, and a friend of Carolyn’s from Kearney. Well I have to go. Goodnight.

August 20, 1996 - 11 years old

8-20-’96 Not much happened. Goodnight.

August 18, 1996 - 11 years old

8-18-’96 Today is Sunday. I sent John a letter today. I went to church. Goodnight.

August 17, 1996 - 11 years old

8-17-’96 Yesterday I fell asleep early, so I couldn’t write in you. I finished the tree house with Jacob and Tom. I’m doing Oragami a lot lately. It’s fun. I went to the mall today. I bought some glow-in-the-dark stars. Goodnight.

August 15, 1996 - 11 years old

8-15-’96 I got a letter from John today. Me, Jacob, and Tom are making a tree house. Goodnight.

August 14, 1996-11 years old

8-14-’96 Today was a normal day. Almost. I read an article today. It was about life on Mars. Wouldn’t it be weird if they proved that life existed or did not exist on Mars? Oh well, I have to sleep. Goodnight.

August 13, 1996 - 11 years old

8-13-’96 My kink (the one in my neck) is gone. Other than that nothing of interest happened. Goodnight.

August 12, 1996 - 11 years old

8-12-’96 Nothing interesting happened. I still have that kink in my neck. Goodnight

August 11, 1996 - 11 years old

8-11-’96 I got a weird kink in my neck. It really hurts. I tried to get it out, but to no avail. I hope it goes away overnight. Well I have to go to sleep. Goodnight.

August 10, 1996 - 11 years old

8-10-’96 very little happened. I must sleep. Goodnight.

August 9, 1996 -11 years old

8-9-’96 Today was very dull. In fact I can’t think of anything I did that was new. I can’t think that you will let me waste paper, so, BRAINSTORM. I thought of two things new. 1.Dad is reading a book to us (a chapter a day). 2.I played dodgeball on the trampoline. Goodnight

August 8, 1996 -11 years old

8-8-’96 Jacob and my parents came home today. Jacob came home from vacation, and my parents came from visiting Brooke. Speaking of Brooke, she is getting married in October. I’m going to school this month. From what I’ve heard, school will be terrible. Oh well, I’ll have to adapt and change, again. You know, this is getting very annoying. I’m getting pulled around all over the U.S.A.! In fact, in October, I’m going to Utah and California for Brooke’s marriage and wedding reception! Also, Thomas and John owe me a letter. I think the mailman steals the letters. Oh well, I have to go. Goodnight.

August 7, 1996 - 11 years old

8-7-’96 I went swimming around 8:30p.m.-9:30p.m. at night. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Brooke is getting married! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I hope she has a baby. I don’t really like the guy she is marrying. I can’t think of anything else. Goodnight

August 6, 1996 - 11 years old

8-6-’96 I went swimming today. It was fun. Nothing else happened. Goodnight.

August 5, 1996- 11 years old (move to Wisconsin)

8-5-’96 I know, I know, I haven’t written in you for a long time. I’m on summer vacation. Next year I will be in 6^th grade! Time sure does fly! I stopped writing that Daniel’s log stuff because it takes up space. Are you ready for a shocker? I’m in Wisconsin! I hated moving and I still hate it here. We have a pool here. I guess the only reasons I don’t like it here is John isn’t here. Brett moved to Omaha, N.E., Thomas went to St. Louis, and John is the only one left in Kearney. I met some kids here; there names are Jacob, Tom, Mike, Marcus, Ken, and Paul. I can’t get over Kearney. I was born there. I hate moving. I’m writing John, Brett, and Thomas to keep in touch. Madeline is really spelled Madelyn. Speaking of Madelyn, the dog got a harness and a pooper-scooper. Tom (the one from Wisconsin) came over and swam today. Well, I have to go. ‘Bye. Oh, wait! I almost forgot to tell you some stuff. My Mom and Dad aren’t home so I have to take care of the dog and the bird. I’m also supposed to read Helaman 5 of the Book of Mormon Oh well, I have to go to sleep. Goodnight.

February 18, 1996 - 11 years old

2-18’96 Sorry I couldn’t write in you for a couple of months. The reason I needed today is my parents are thinking of moveing to Wisconsin. I really don’t want to move because I would leave John. See my problem? Oh well, I’ll figure it out. I’m 11 years old now. [1]That’s easier to read isn’t it? Maybe I should write like this more often. You may have noticed on the date that it is 1996. Time is moveing to fast. It’s Sunday Ryan became my teacher. Well I gotta go to church. Goodbye.  

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[1] At this point in my journal I changed my handwriting from a sloppy cursive to a slightly less sloppy print. 

November 7, 1995- 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 11-7-’95 Today was a very uninteresting day. I went to school lost a note that said I could have a snail. That’s about it. By the way my sister is to read you so brace yourself. Well I gotta go! See ya tomorrow!

November 6, 1995-10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 11-6-’95 Today is Monday. Monday is the first day of the school week. I watched “Gargolyes” on T.V. Want to hear a story? O.K. then. Once upon a time I woke up in the middle of the night. I saw something on the bed and thought it was my little brouther. I felt a scratch and grabbed what I thought was my little brothers hand, but it was a paw! I looked closer and figured out it was the family dog Madeline. Well it’s time for bed. Good-night!

November 5, 1995 - 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 11-5-’95 Sorry I haven’t written in you for a very long time. Carolyn got the bulldog and it’s name is Madeline. I’m in the 5^th grade now and studying invertebrates in science. Madeline got nudered so she can’t have pup’s. I made up an idea for a book. I’t’s about these monsters called Alpockie. When they scrach you you’ll turn into one of them. How they came to be is an ancient Zeco (that’s a wizard) put a taboo (that’s a kind of curse) on an island village that turned them into alpockies. Soon the whole island was full of alpockies. When scientist discover the island thousands of years later the alpockies get on a ship that brings them to America. A boy finds out three ways to get rid of them 1. To get viniger into there blood 2. Dogs 3. Drowning them. The story goes on and they end up getting rid of them. By the way, Halloween was fun. I was road kill. I got a new Sunday school teacher named Brother Wait. Today was church and it was fun. Well I have to go. See ya tommorrow! Oh wait I play an isternent called the French Horn that reminds me I got to go practice. ‘Bye!

May 25, 1995- 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 5-25-’95 Today is the last day of school Plus it’s Carolyn birthday. She’s getting a Bulldog. Well I gotta go!

May 21, 1995 - 10 year old

Daniel’s log Stardate 5-21-’95 I couldn’t find you for over a month. Ebcot was great. I bought a new toy called Mr. Balzac. My favorite ride was Spaceship earth. Magic Kingdom was even better! I bought a stuffed Mickey mouse. It was great at the fancy motels. I’m now studying the human body in science. I started reading “Where The Red Fern Grows.” Brooke graduated from high school. My family had a big party. Today was warm and I’m helping make a video in science. Well I gotta go. Go-o-o-o-o-o-dbye! 

April 13, 1995 - 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-13-’95 I’m on the road to disney world! Well I’m tired goodnite

April 12, 1995- 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-12-’95. TOMARROW is the day I go to Disney World! I’m so happy, so very happy! Also the missionarys ate over. So leave my presence.

April 11, 1995- 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-11-’95 John and Brett came over. We made a game called spit-darts. It’s were you have a suction cup dart and you spit it out and try to make it stick on the wall. I helped Michael put a Light Bright picture together. Goodbye.

April 10, 1995 -10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-10-’95 Today is Monday. I went to school and I am sill on my giant panda report. By the way a Joke a day keeps the boring parties away. Laugh all you want and laugh more for all I care! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Little bo is indigo! Ha, ha, ha! Wait. Take a breath, Ok. Now that I’m back on earth again. Goodbye.

April 9, 1995- 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-9-’95 Spencer is watching me write in you. I’m about to tickle him. Ha, ha, he, ho. (laughing) Today was church and I went to John’s house. We made a tent and John’s little brother Jacob ruined it. Well I gotta tickle Spencer now goodbye. I’m back um I played the game of life goodbye um again. Yeah that’s it again. Well goodbye, again. Just goodbye ok goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. It’s a good thing I can spell goodbye. Huh? Well goodbye then. And that’s final.

April 8, 1995 - 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-8-’95 John came over to play. I also watched Star Trek. Well ‘Bye. 

April 7, 1995 - 10 years old

Daniel’s Log Stardate 4-7-’95 I got out of school for the weekend. I’m spending the night at Brett’s house.