May 23, 1988 Orem, Utah
Dearest Johnny; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
Another beautiful day in Orem - Daddy has been out weeding his garden and it really doesn't need to be weeded - Ha!!!! It was so funny - one day last week we were sitting in the kitchen looking out at the yard and we noticed a "toothpick" on the grass - Daddy hurried out to pick it up!!! That is how manicured our yard is. I want to just sit back now and enjoy it for the next four months and not worry about the weeds, etc. and I hope Daddy will do that. Have you ever known people who enjoyed "watching their grass grow" like we do????? We are in a funny situation - we should be doing something more worthwhile but we're not needed specifically in our ward and there isn't any sense in "making work" - it's wonderful that we have such a beautiful place to live and we appreciate that!!!!
The big news for this week is that Bob & Claire have sold their home - we REALLY loved your long and newsy letter Bob. We are so thrilled for you because we knew that you were worried about that and with everything else on your minds you didn't need that. We don't blame the new buyers for wanting your riding lawn mower - you have a killer of a lawn. It's their turn to work on it for awhile (Bob said he had taken it apart and replaced a broken piston rod but it still wouldn't work. We'll be SO happy when you are all moved and settled in your beautiful new home that you deserve SO much. We tried to find your home the other day on our way back from Brigham City but we couldn't - we kept running into dead-end streets. We found the general area and it is just gorgeous and we know you will love it!!!! We can just imagine how excited the children are - you won't see Michael from the first day you drive in - he'll be so busy exploring and making friends and spotting his tree for his tree fort. We hope we get to see your picture in the newspaper (Dr. Cox asked Bob to send a picture so he could announce his partnership in the paper) - Jeannie said she would keep an eye out for it. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU ALL!!!!!
Patrice - thank you so much for your wonderful letter - I LOVE LETTERS!!!! We think it is great that you & Roy have made such close friends that they all try to come see you - Rich was Roy's first roommate at Brown, wasn't he??? I hadn't thought about the friends you have in the Air Force changing each year but I guess that's the way it works. It's wonderful in a way though because you will end up having friends all over the world. You will be going to visit your Mother on my Father's 92nd birthday!!!! We just know you will have such a good time and that little Emily will not lack for attention - I envision all of you spending a lot of time in your Mother's beautiful back yard - please give everyone our love, including the Thomases. I'm SO glad we had the opportunity of going to your wedding and meeting them and all the others too - that was a special time for us.
The Weinerts are doing fine. Daddy & I went to Brigham City and stopped by to visit them on our way home last Wednesday - Ricky got all dressed up in his baseball uniform and he looks like a little "Pro". We were SO impressed with Ricky - Jeannie hadn't come home from work yet and Ricky took his little friend in their home and they had some lemonade and then they played on their trampoline. We talked to Jeannie over the weekend and also little Sarah - they're busy with end of school activities - Mary Ann had a violin recital on Saturday but we couldn't go for it.
We visited with the Woolleys yesterday afternoon for a little while. Ron & Russell were building a tree fort - they are going to have their playhouse built this week along with their landscaping - it's SO hard but fun to get the things that need to be done to a new home. Susanna was awarded a certificate at her school's honor assembly for "the outstanding all-around academic achievement" in her grade - we're proud of you Susanna!!!! Ron had taken Russell for the Father & Sons' outing in their ward on Friday night and they went canoeing and had had lots of fun!!!
Guess what???? We have bought a camper that will go on Daddy's truck. He has been looking for a shell for it and in going through the want ads he found this and when he went to look at it he couldn't resist - it is just perfect for hopping in the truck and going to spend the night fishing, hunting, etc. It has a little table and seats that make into a bed, a stove, sink, refrigerator, closet and it is just what we need. We are going to try to sell our trailer - we haven't used that for about the last ten years and it's foolish to keep it even though Daddy has completely re-done it. It's too hard for Daddy to pull that and manage it anymore. Alice Broadbent from Lehi called one day and wanted to buy it so maybe we can make a deal with her - Ha!!!
Guess what again???? We sold our "Blue Boat" - I almost cried as the man drove it away. We put an ad in the paper and the first man who came said he would be back the next day to take it to the lake to try it out - the second man who came bought it!!! We have had a million phone calls on it - if any of you want to sell anything just ask Daddy to fix it up for you and it will sell quickly!!! Johnny has really worked on that boat too - he deserves a lot of credit for getting it in working order and having it look so nice. We sold it for $1,500.00 and I believe we paid $2,000.00 for it twenty years ago so we REALLY got our money out of it.
Johnny loves his little speed boat and it is a good learning experience for him. He registered it and he said he put the stickers on the boat but when the ranger caught him the other day without them we had to take the registration papers to the lake for him - he still doesn't know where the stickers are - Ha! He also loves his work - Daddy has told him to not spend his money until he actually gets it - Ha!!!! I'm out of space!!!!