December 1, 1986 Orem, Utah

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

Wow!!! It's cold here this morning but the sun is out so pretty and bright and the weatherman says it is going to get warmer so it will be a gorgeous day. Daddy is out putting the Christmas lights on our house - this street looks like Temple Square with all the light at night and our house is one of the few that isn't decorated yet. Several of the homes turned their Christmas lights on the night after Thanksgiving - we're slow pokes, I guess.

Johnny - your BIG package came and I wanted to take a picture of the way you had wrapped it - we were so proud and relieved to see that it could not possibly have been broken or torn in any way. (He had put it in a heavy plastic bag and it was all sealed up.) It was like having a little bit of you home to unwrap it and see some of your things. We hope the two cardigan sweaters were for us because they are WONDERFUL - Daddy wore his all day yesterday. When we first saw them we were afraid they would be too small but they stretch out to fit so snug and warm and the colors are perfect!!! Thank you so much for having them made for us. We loved your jacket too and that wool "thing" will be great for you to use on your bed or whatever - that is really plush & pretty. You goat skin is neat too and the socks, etc. We didn't unwrap the wicker basket completely - we just took the lid off and we'll save it like that for you - what we could see of the basket was beautiful. We hope you will continue to get things you want and be sure to take a lot of pictures - Bob has enjoyed the slides he took and we have a great projector. Your package came the day before thanksgiving - we didn't get a letter from you last week.

Jeannie & Rick - we are still eating Thanksgiving dinner!!! Daddy and I went to their home Thursday morning and their dinner was just fabulous and served so elegantly in their beautiful dining room with lace cloth and napkins. China, crystal, etc. Ricky, Barji & Mary Ann had made gum drop turkeys for place cards and it was just heavenly to sit down and be waited on and have everything so good. They had a fresh turkey and it was really tender and good. They had made pumpkin, banana cream and coconut cream pies and of course we had to eat some of all three and then they sent us home with the rest. We ate and visited and then made plates of food and drove to Brigham City to see the Great Grandparents - that was kind of a fiasco (sp.?) - Grandpa Forrest slept all the time we were there and Grandmother was up but "out of sorts" so we didn't stay very long. Jeannie & I tried to curl Mother's hair and pamper her a little bit but all she wanted to do was go back to bed. It's so hard to see them that way - mainly because I'm afraid that's the way I'll be - ugh!!! I have never seen Jeannie so excited about their plans for the weekend - she and Rick had reservations in the Marriott hotel in Salt Lake and they had a babysitter for two days and they did their Christmas shopping - I'll bet they really had fun. We used to think the Little Rock people were crazy because they would go to Hot Springs for the weekend but when you have little children it just doesn't matter where you go if you can just get away.

Roy & Patrice - thank you for the beautiful Thanksgiving card - we loved it and we hope you had a Happy Day. Did you go to the Mom's home, Patrice? I'm betting Roy had to work so he could get off for Christmas. You have had some cold and stormy weather - our neighbors' daughter who is there on a mission wrote home for long underwear and a heavier coat so it must be colder than Utah!

Bob & Claire - thank you for the phone calls - we loved them. We are proud of you Bob for taking Michael to the hospital for the day so you could be together (actually Bob said they spent two nights in a little apartment they provide for them there). Claire - we know you are excited to have your folks come from Sweden is that ____ for the holidays. Michael sounds so grown up.

Annie & Ron went to Jerome for several days and they had a wonderful time but we saw a lot of them before and after. Annie and I have been in the "Candy making" business and then Ron got in it too and wouldn't you know that he improved on all our ideas. He bought more molds than we had (some we hadn't even seen) and we have had so much fun. We made chocolate turkeys, pilgrims and mayflowers. They brought us some of those marvelous Idaho potatoes and we'll all enjoy them during the holidays (Roy - I'll even make you some potato salad). Ann helped with Susanna's class party and she made Pilgrim stew for all the children and also chocolate turkeys. Jessie, Susanna and Russell have all had the "Fifth Disease" - they get a little rash all over their bodies and it itches. I'm hoping LeeAnna and Jimmy don't get it. They came over for a little while yesterday afternoon to report on their trip - you'll get a kick out of little LeeAnna - she is absolutely "full of it" - she has been the center of attention for a long time and is having problems with sharing it with Jimmy!

Daddy and I decided to wallpaper our dining room on Saturday. I don't believe that paper has bothered anyone but me but I thought it was the only ugly thing in this house. The paper we chose was a kind of silky background and quite heavy and it was really hard to put on. We started about 6:30 in the morning and didn't finish until about 8:00 p.m. - we were really in a mess with all the furniture scattered in the hallway and living room and some friends from Cody, Wyoming drove up. If they hadn't seen us from the dining room window I believe I would have pretended we weren't home. We loved visiting with them though - he was Stake President there and they were so good to us - they are building a home in Sandy. We think they are building it for speculation because it will have five bedrooms and it's a three story home and there are just the two of them. Their son is a contractor and he is helping them. We like our wallpaper - we think it is kind of "non-descript" and most people won't even notice that we have changed it but I think it is a million times prettier!

We are planning a buffet supper for our Lehi friends this coming Saturday. There will be twenty of them and it will be fun to see them again. We will show them how to make our butter mints - we gave them around over there last Christmas and they all wanted the recipe but as you all know there is more to them than just having the recipe. Speaking of recipes, I was watching television the other day and Mrs. Fields was demonstrating a new recipe of hers - I tried to copy it as she gave it but at the end of the program she said she would send it to anyone who would send in a self-addressed stamped envelope so I did - it came on Saturday and you wouldn't believe the ingredients it has in it. I am going to make it for a party at Ramona and Winston's this week and if it is as good as it sounds I'll copy it and send it to you.

Garic Power called about a week ago and asked if he could stay with us for a few days the first of December. He is going to work for Systematics here and didn't want to start until he starts school in January but they called him and said they needed him now. Dianne and Garry are buying a townhouse in Provo and it won't be ready until Dec. 15th so I believe he will stay with us until then. He and Brick came in Last night and spent the night but Brick will stay at Desert Towers from now on - I think!!! Bricks has really grown tall since we saw him last - Garic looks about the same but more mature. They are very nice young men. They asked about you Johnny and Roy and said to say Hello.

Our Relief Society is sponsoring a "Secret Sister" activity and it is driving me crazy. They assigned me to the Bishop's wife and I am supposed to take little treats to her once or twice a week from now until Dec. 10th and not let her know who I am. My Secret Sister gave me a beautiful cornucopia filled with treats for Thanksgiving. I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas!!!

That's all the news!!! We are SO PROUD of our family and love you so very much - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you !!!

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