December 4, 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:

A beautiful Wintry day in Orem today - there isn't a cloud in the sky but it's cold and there is a "little" snow on the ground. The ski resorts were thrilled with the snow that came a week ago but there hasn't been anymore since - I love this weather!!!!

Happy Birthday yesterday to you Annie!!! We called yesterday afternoon to tell them we were coming to wish her a Happy Birthday and learned that she had had the flu since Saturday afternoon. It was REALLY fun to go to their home - Ann had taken all their Christmas decorations from the closet and had started to decorate their home with the help of the family when she became ill. She said there was no way she could do anything about it - SHE HAD TO GO TO BED. I have never seen a happier or more excited little family - some kind of "Christmas Magic" was certainly there because the decorations were EVERYWHERE. I wish I were talented and could write about our visit because it would make a perfect Christmas story - Ron was busy making a Christmas dessert to take to a Ward Christmas fireside and little Jimmy was wrapping all the tinsel around him and everything else and the other children were just dancing around. The family had given Ann some beautiful goblets and placemats that exactly matched the wallpaper in their dining room and they were SO excited to put them in their china cabinet. They had bought a HUGE inflated snowman to put on their porch and also a HUGE inflated reindeer and they have TWO Christmas tress - one in their entrance and the other in their TV. room. To add to the confusion, Daddy and I took them a big bowl of caramel popcorn when I really should have taken a nutritious casserole. I have talked to Ann this morning and she feels much better - the flu is definitely going around - a lot of our friends have had it.

We have heard from each one of you this week and you all sound busy and happy. Our experience at Ann & Rons' home yesterday reminded me of a little Christmas story and if I can find it I'll copy it for you and send it. We have our home as decorated as it is going to be and WE LOVE IT. Daddy has all the lights on outside - front and back and it looks beautiful. We have our new little artificial Christmas tree on our table in the den and it is so cozy - we bought our tree last year with all new decorations and it certainly is anything but special but is perfect for us - we don't have to worry about it drying out and it doesn't make the den crowded. I have gone into many homes where there are people our ages with gorgeous huge trees but we don't envy them.

Patrice - thank you so much for your letter and also Emily's and those darling pictures. Every time I look at pictures of Emily the first thing that comes to my mind is "she's smarter than the average bear" - we love the one with the red glasses where you said she dressed up like that all by herself. We haven't found the glasses she left here - maybe when I clean in the Spring - Ha!!! We're glad she is getting some "cooking" toys for Christmas - she will love them.

I am having second thoughts about having a family picture made every year - that really does get complicated doesn't it??? It doesn't bother me but I know it complicates many of your lives. I just can't tell you how thrilled we are with the way they turned out this year - I don't believe there was one bad proof in the entire bunch and we SINCERELY appreciate all the efforts that went into it. Roy really stuck his neck out in getting the photographer and we know it has worried him & Ann. We are SO proud of each one of you and when we have pictures it gives us an opportunity to tell our friends about you and it gives me an absolutely glorious feeling to look at them - PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US (especially me).

We took the proofs up to show Bob & Claire and Rick & Jean last Thursday. They picked out the ones they wanted and we brought them back to the Woolleys so Ron could take them to the printing place. WELL - all of you (except we haven't talked to Roy & Patrice) decided to have the less expensive ones made for Christmas cards and so the Bob Mellors and Weinerts wanted us to send them the negatives. The Weinerts also wanted a 16 x 20 print made of the same negative they plan to use for Christmas cards - Ann hurried and sent them the negative so they could order their cards and when I found that out I worried that it might get scratched and wouldn't make a good enlargement - SO when it arrives in the mail they will have to bring it back down for the enlargement before they get their Christmas cards made. I know I have you all thoroughly confused but I understand it.

The Weinert's home looked absolutely beautiful when we were there - all decorated inside and out and the children are all so excited. Claire came over to the Weinerts because she said their children were so hyper Bob decided to keep them at home - Ha! Bob and his children are building a train track in their basement and I'll bet anything that Bob is having the most fun!!!!

John came home several minutes last week - Ha!!! We don't blame you John - believe it or not we can remember when we were your age. We know you are doing good when you are busy. He is winding up his Fall Semester.

We're going to take Susanna & Jessie up to Salt Lake tonight to attend a musical program put on by Frances James' grandson - Steve James. She has called us four times to tell us about it and I figured that any friend who wanted us to come that bad deserved for us to attend - he has written most of the songs he will sing. I wish I had more space but I don't want to write three pages so I'll quit. Daddy gets his cast off tomorrow - I'm so proud of him and how he deals with his problems!!!!
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