October 17, 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:

THIS IS MY KIND OF WEATHER!!!! Daddy has been out since early this morning digging holes to plant some big trees between us and the Theobalds (West of us). We went to the nursery the other day to try to find some more "Bishop's weed" to plant on our hill and they didn't have any of that so we bought six big trees. Daddy had some roses planted in that area and they haven't done very well so he decided to try trees - it will give us more privacy- he has wanted to do that for a long time!!!! I believe I have just about convinced him that we need to fence in our yard - he will plant the roses on the other side next to the Smiths (East of us) and hopefully they will do better there. We have so many young people coming through our yard all the time and even though we don't mind it when we're here, we have no idea what they do when we're not here and with a fence we'll be able to lock them out. With our brick wall, it is a fun place to climb and jump and we have to face the fact that we're liable if they get hurt.

Claire - those pictures of little Katie and Brett are just adorable!!!! (Claire said she was in the mall with those two one day and just decided to go in and have their pictures taken and they just couldn't be better). Katie has a little pink ribbon that goes clear around her head and Claire said she saw them at Nordstroms and found out how to make them - Brett is much a photogenic child he should be on the cover of Parent's Magazine.

Patrice - I'll bet you're glad to have Roy home - did little Emily remember him - Ha!!!! We are SO proud of the work you have done on your table - Roy says it is just beautiful!!! (They bought an unfinished oak pedestal table and Patrice finished it). You and Lynn would make a good pair to finish furniture - he just loves to do that. I think artistic people do things like that and unartistic people like me don't - I don't like to get my hands into paint or sandpaper and I'm not good at it. Have you decided what to do about chairs yet?

Jeannie & Rick & family - DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME AT DISNEYLAND? We wanted to call you last night but we weren't sure what time you were getting home and it's kinda' hard to get through the Gestapo to get ton you - Ha!!!! When we call the motel sometimes it takes a long time to get you. You went at a perfect time - the weather was beautiful for you and the crowds were probably not as long as they are other times.

Annie & Ron & family - I could pick up the phone and see how you are doing but we know you're doing fine and are super busy. We went to our stake high priest couples annual meeting last night and your former bishop - Baird - was the speaker. He did a super job but they told him to speak for so many minutes and even though he could have stopped sooner he kept going and when he started to talk about Job, Daddy and I left - Ha!!!! We also saw Marie and she was so cute. We had just barely sat down when they announced they wanted a report from each of the High Priest group leaders about any new members in their group - Daddy was the second one they called on and he hadn't been notified they were going to do that. He "winged it" though and did a good job in remembering who was new - he found out afterwards that they had forgotten to tell him. All the other group leaders had written lists to read from.

Johnny came home last night just long enough to put his clothes in the washing machine and then leave to go study - he came back much later and spent the night and then left this morning. We don't see much of him but we think he is doing good - he has a BIG math test tomorrow that he is worried about. He did come home last Thursday night to watch the debates with his Daddy - I had to go to Relief Society. Those debates are such a farce!!!

Daddy and I went to the cabin one day last week - it is fun to go there now that most of the hard work is done. Daddy will always be able to find things to work on but at least that room is finished. One of the men in the camp called Daddy last night to tell him that he had sold our refrigerator there for $150- that's a lot more than I thought it was worth. We said we would be there Wednesday to help him move it out. Daddy wants to put a railing on the stairway and lay some more carpet in the room just before you go into the kitchen. I hope the weather is such that we can take Roy & Patrice to see it at Thanksgiving time - I want everything don't I??? I want snow on the ski slopes, warm weather in the valley and good roads going to the cabin - Ha!!!

Daddy had his High Priest party last Saturday - he managed to squeeze it in between the BYU - TCU football game and the world series and that was quite an accomplishment. There were about 40 there - we met a park close by and everyone brought their own meat to cook and then one of Daddy's assistance brought baked potatoes and Daddy got salad, dressings, brownies and ice cream from BYU - he made his root beer (with the dry ice) in the two picnic ice things that the Woolleys gave us (one is Johnny's) and it was really a HIT!!!! The weather was just perfect - cool but not cold. It was a lot of work for Daddy - he had to make a million phone calls and then take all the stuff - at the last minute we had to take our grill and that was hard to get in the truck. He thrives on things like that!!!! I am involved in making an infant's quilt for a needy family for Christmas.

Chris & Wayne called us last night - they had had a great trip to Nova Scotia and said they had gone to just about the same places we had gone three years ago. Their daughter Linda had an ultra sound and she is going to have a little boy - they had thought she might be having twins. They asked about all of you!!!!!
We love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!! Let us know how we can help you.


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