Monday - March 31, 1986 Lehi, Utah

Dearest Johnny; Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura & Brett; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, & LeeAnna:

I decided to include the Bob Mellors in the salutation because I wanted to see if I could still remember how to do it on the computer without retyping it! We are really having a wonderful visit with them and it is so neat to become better acquainted with Michael & Laura - they are just darling children and they love their cousins. Little Brett is adorable too and we can see him growing before our eyes - he should grow, it seems like he is eating every few minutes!! Michael is so much like Bob was and they understand each other so their personalities really blend - Laura is very independent and isn't as much a "people person" as Michael is - it's probably her age!!!

Johnny - your package came the same day as your letter! The box had been broken and there was a little explanation that it had been an accident. It didn't look to us like anything was missing - the things I would have thought they would have taken if they had taken anything were still there (like your sweaters and iron)- I'm sure you are getting loaded down with too much luggage for transfers - we'll take good care of the things you sent home. Your letter was so happy and enthusiastic and it sounds like you're doing great missionary work - WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! Your letter coat looks fantastic - I would like for Daddy to get one - we'll let you know. I really would like to have a hand knit cardigan sweater - let us know how you like the one you're having knit and also the colors that are available. Please eat some blackberries and figs for me - what a wonderful experience you're having and it makes us so happy - the country you are in now sounds so pretty and we hope you take advantage of every opportunity to see as much as you can.

Roy and Patrice it was great to talk to you yesterday - I'm sure we must have sounded mighty confusing. With eleven little children in this little house and trying to get them all fed I guess confusion is the least of our problems - Ha! I'm glad you take time out to go to things like the Celtic games Roy. Your weather for Easter sounded much like ours - beautiful!!! How was your trip to Ohio - as soon as I stopped talking to you I realized I had forgotten to ask you about it. We missed you and also Johnny at our family Easter parties on Saturday and Sunday.

The Weinerts came down on Saturday about one o'clock and we met the Woolleys at Scera Park - we just had a marvelous time. The park has a lot of playground equipment and the "cousins" played and played all day long - we also flew kites and played football and horseshoes. We had the most delicious food - Annie made wonderful salads and cupcakes, Jeannies' brownies were a big hit and then we just had hotdogs to go with it. I think I ate from the time I got there until I came home and enjoyed every minute of it.

When we came home from the park we colored Easter eggs and then went to bed. Sunday we all went to church where Daddy taught his lesson and I taught mine and Bob & Claire helped us - then we came home and hid the eggs so Laura & Michael could find them. Then the Weinerts and Woolleys came over and we had another delicious dinner - Daddy cooked the fish we had caught at Lake Powell - Annie made potatoes in the half shell - Jeannie brought orange rolls and then we filled in with leftovers from the day before. We hid A LOT of foil wrapped Easter eggs for the children to find and they just loved it. We played ball in "The Field", went to the park and also watched a little video of "Strawberry Shortcake" and by the end of the day we were all worn out. The Weinerts tell us that if they head their car in this direction it will come by itself - they have made a million trips and it gets old but we're surely happy they will do it.

We had a really fun time on Friday too. We met the Woolleys at their home about 3 o'clock and all drove up to "The Homestead" in Heber (Just about 45 minutes from Provo) where everyone but Daddy & I and little Brett swam in the warm pools. It is really a nice place and the children loved it. After the swim we went to a hamburger place to eat - I wish I could have had a video of the time we were there - try to imagine eleven children each wanting something different and each wanting to sit by someone special. It was fun and it will make us much more tolerant of other people when we find them in similar situations.

We went to Farmington one day last week and had lunch with Jeannie and the children (Rick was working) and Bob & Claire loved seeing where the Weinerts live. Little Michael is just overwhelmed with so many cousins and they all get along really well considering their age differences and everything. Some of Claire and Bobs' friends invited us all over for dessert one evening last week - Sister Wanlass served a delicious cherry cheesecake. We had gone out to West Canyon earlier in the day and Michael got to climb a "mountain" - that was one of the first things he asked us when he got here - he wanted to climb one of those big mountains - they don't have mountains like that in Tennessee. Daddy & Bob & Michael took the four-wheeler out to the meadow last week and had fun flying kites and riding it - Claire & I had gone to Provo where I had an eye doctor appointment while she & Laura & Brett played in the park. When we got home a friend of Claires from college came with her new little baby boy to visit.

We have spent most of today at our new home in Orem. I can't remember if I told you that the kitchen floor had to be replaced - the dishwasher leaked and before they discovered it, it had ruined the floor. We had to choose the floor covering and it was hard to make a decision - Claire & Ann helped us. You will all just love the home - it is so nice and exactly what we need. I can hardly wait to unpack some more of our boxes and have places to put things and you just wouldn't believe the closets in the master bedroom - they're wonderful! There are some changes we will want to make - I don't like the wallpaper in the dining room and little things like that but we can do those things at our own speed. Daddy really has a challenge with the yard but it will be fun for him and he is so good at things like that. After living in this Lehi house I really appreciate being able to look out of windows and see things - the views are beautiful. We already have a bedroom picked out for you Johnny. The downstairs is basically unfinished but there is a great workbench for Daddy and lots and lots of storage space. We'll take lots of pictures of the inside when we can and send them to you. We can't take possession until April 10th but we'll be able to go in and clean the carpets and do things like that before that.

Bob & Claire have gone into Salt Lake tonight - their children are all asleep and they wanted to look into some things. I believe I'm about out of space so I'll close for now. We love each one of you so very much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU!!!!

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