November 27, 1989 Orem, Utah

Dearest John; 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:

WOW!!!!! What a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday we have had - we have enjoyed every minute of it from the time we picked Roy, Patrice & Emily up at the airport until we took them back on Saturday. We love each one of you so very much for your support in getting together as a family, for the picture and for helping each one to have a good time. I loved what Ann said - she had talked to Jean who had had an experience with someone who was NOT getting together with their family because they just didn't want to - Ann said that both she & Jean were so happy that we all loved getting together - it surely means a lot to Daddy & me!!!!

The Roy Mellors came in on Saturday the 18th and John came over later that evening and we visited and had dinner together. Then, Sunday we all went to church together and that was special for Daddy & me - I know how hard it is to take children but little Emily was SO good and of course all our friends took notice of them. Sunday after church, Roy, Patrice & Emily went up to spend the night with the Bob Mellors and Weinerts - they said it was so much fun for little Emily to be with her cousins up there - (Patrice told me about the flannel board story Jean gave for their family Home Evening and how Katie & Emily loved taking the pictures from the board - Ha). Roy went to the hospital with Bob on Monday morning and watched some of his operations and he really enjoyed that. They came back home on Monday afternoon - Daddy had saved them some of his Scofield trout and John came over again to be with us.

Tuesday afternoon, Roy, Patrice & Emily and John, daddy & I all piled in the van and went to the cabin - are you surprised we held daddy off for that long???? It was a beautiful day and we made a fire in the barb-b-cue pit and cooked hot dogs and just really enjoyed the afternoon - it was cold but not frigid and we loved it.

Wednesday was a REAL WORK DAY!!! We had made a list of all the Thanksgiving food that had to be prepared and then each person took an assignment. After it was all done I was ashamed at how little I had done - I got the vegetables ready for the green salad but Jean ended up cutting them up on Thursday. Daddy & Roy smoked some of the salmon we had brought from Alaska - Daddy de-boned the turkey and made the dressing and stuffed it - Patrice fixed the sweet potatoes, the broccoli casserole and both Patrice & Roy made six pies (four pumpkins and two pecan). I did make the fruit salad and the cranberries. Roy also boiled the shrimp and made the shrimp and crab appetizer. I LOVED all day Wednesday - it was so much fun to have the kitchen filled with workers so willing to help.

Wednesday at 6 p.m. we all gathered at the Woolleys on our "Sunday Best" for our picture. Ann had fixed a buffet that tasted SO good - rolls with ham & cheese to make sandwiches and the best applesauce that was served hot with ice cream in it and fresh apple juice and other drinks. The photographer came at 6:45 and we think he did an exceptional job - we won't know for sure until we get the proofs back but he was surely patient and took a lot of pictures - we were very pleased and hope to make this an annual affair - I CAN HEAR YOU ALL GROANING!!!! He is a photographer for BYU and was leaving the next morning to go to England to photograph the BYU dance team. Roy, Patrice & Emily and daddy & I all came home after the pictures and John went to his apartment - IT WAS LATE. The Bob Mellors and the Weinerts all stayed with the Woolleys - the cousins were all SO excited I don't know how they ever went to sleep but they said they did. The children all slept downstairs and the adults upstairs.

Thursday morning we all met at the Woolleys at 9 o'clock for "Brunch" and it was delicious - bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, croissants, ham, orange rolls, corn casserole, fresh apple juice, V-8 juice etc., etc. THEN, all the hearty members of the family went on a long hike up at Sundance and Daddy & I came home to warm things up for dinner. I had warned everyone to be sure to be hungry for dinner and they really were. They got here about 2:30 and we all just ate and ate - it was just wonderful. After we had visited everyone went home about 7 o'clock. Daddy & I have talked so much about all of you and especially our BEAUTIFUL grandchildren.

I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked. We did a DUMB thing. We all of a sudden missed our camera and thought we had left it at the cabin. Friday morning daddy got up early and drove up to get it before it stormed because we thought we had left it outside on a rock but he couldn't find it - we later found it in the van. I'll just have to be satisfied with the ones taken Wednesday night - Patrice took some too and she said she would share them with us.

Friday morning Roy & John put our Christmas lights on our house and cleaned out the rain gutters - WE REALLY APPRECIATED THAT!!! I have felt bad because that was the time Roy & Patrice had planned to go shopping in some of the sporting goods stores and they didn't get to go. Daddy, Roy & John watched a football game on Friday afternoon between Arkansas and someone else and also cared for little Emily and Patrice & I went to the mall. It was really fun to be among the "millions" in the mall because it was so festive and exciting but we didn't buy anything.

Saturday morning Roy & Patrice had to leave - I played with Emily while they packed and she got so she like me - just as they were leaving. It's her age but we wish they were closer so we could be with them more - I wasn't one bit of help for Patrice with her. I'm about out of space but I want to mention how wonderful Jean's nose looks - absolutely no scar!!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL.
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