February 29, 1988 Orem, Utah
Dearest Johnny; Roy & Patrice; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura & Brett; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
Happy Leap Year!!!! Johnny said this morning that he really felt bad for all the babies born today - Ha! He has surely had a fun weekend with all the leap year activities. I believe he went with Sasha to a dance on Friday night and then on Saturday his friend Pam took him to dinner in Salt Lake and then four of them went to one of their friends' condominiums there and watched videos - he said they had a Jacuzzi hot tub on the roof of the condominium building and they didn't get in it but he said the view of Salt Lake was really pretty. His ward had Stake Conference yesterday and after their meetings they took sandwiches up Provo canyon. It is getting Spring in Utah and everyone is enjoying the warm weather but they tell us that we really need more moisture!!!!
Roy left on Friday afternoon and we have missed him already - we really loved having him here and just wish Patrice could have come too. He said he had had a good relaxing vacation - I would have been worn out if I had done all the skiing he had done. They planned the meetings so they were finished by noon and could ski after that. Roy, Johnny & Ron went skiing all day on Thursday and then Ann fixed dinner for all of us and that was so much fun!!!! I have the most wonderful feeling when I think that the next time Roy & Patrice come visit us they will bring their little baby - Roy says they don't plan to come until Christmas but we'll try to change their minds about that!!!! It would be impossible for us to go nine months before we see that baby!!! We were looking at our calendar and we don't have any birthdays to celebrate in February or March so we're hoping for a March baby - Roy says to not count on that.
We appreciate your phone calls so much Bob and we are SO happy that Claire is doing better. There is absolutely nothing more frustrating than to have a lot to do and then have to stay in bed. We wish so much that we were closer so we could help you - I'll bet Bob & Alice will soon be there and that will be wonderful for all of you. I'm sure you would love to have a March baby!!!!
Daddy is feeling good - we go to see both Dr. Brown and Dr. Middleton on Thursday and I hope we get good reports. I don't know that they will do anything. His cough is a lot better - really the only time he coughs now is in the late afternoon and early evening - can anyone explain that??? It really hurts his hernia when he coughs - it will be interesting to see what Dr. Middleton has to say about that - he wears an elastic belt to support it and he says that helps.
We talked to Jeannie last night and she said they are all doing fine. Roy & Daddy & I went up to see them on Wednesday - we went to see the new home they are considering buying. It is really a beautiful home but all I could see is a whole lot of work in getting it in shape. I guess I am kinda' burned out on fixing up homes and Daddy LOVES to do that sort of thing!!!!! Our home had so much work to do on it and Daddy worked constantly and Rick doesn't have that kind of time - Daddy would love to help all of you fix up your yards and homes, etc., but he isn't up to that now. The Weinerts' home is one of the most beautiful homes I have ever been in and I just hate to think of them not having something a whole lot better if they decide to move. Rick had to go to Lake Tahoe last week and Jeannie joined him on Friday - she said they had a wonderful time skiing and just having fun - I'm so glad she got to go too. It was SO good to see the children - it has been a long time since we have seen them!!!!
The Woolleys had a water problem again on Thursday. Ann called about noon and I answered the phone - all she said was, "Mother, I need to talk to Daddy". I couldn't imagine what was wrong!!! We grabbed some towels and went to see if we could help - she said she thinks the water hose came loose from her washing machine right at the beginning of the cycle because it was worse than before. The water came through their ceiling - the first thing she said to me was, "Ron is going to cry". He didn't cry but he said it was his fault because he hadn't wired in the hose. They will be able to get their ceiling and carpets all fixed and you will never be able to notice it and that's all part of living!!! Ann & the children came to visit us on Saturday - Ron had to work all day to make up for his skiing trip - Ha!!!
Friday afternoon when we came home from taking you to the airport Roy, Daddy went outside to water his pansies. He couldn't figure out why there was so much water on the patio and when he looked further he discovered the water was coming from the base of the house. You guessed it - the water pipe had frozen and was broken inside the wall. He chiseled the brick out around the faucet and was going to take out enough bricks to get to the pipe but first he decided to call the plumber. The plumber said he would have to go in from the inside of the house so this morning Daddy is cutting out a large enough area in our wall so the plumber will be able to replace the pipe - he is coming later this afternoon. I am so glad Daddy didn't take out more bricks - that would have been a major project and he is fixing it now so it will be easy and hardly noticeable. We are SLOWLY learning how to cope with this frigid weather - we should have unhooked our hose but have kept it hooked on so we could use that tap when we wanted to and the water has backed up and frozen!!!!! Daddy caught the leak so soon that our carpet was hardly wet - we took it up and put the pad outside to get dry!!!!
Hans had his ears cropped last Monday - they put a little tiny hat on him and then taped his ears to it. He has done just great - much easier than with those collars we used to have.
We love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU!!!!!!