June 20, 1990 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:
I haven't written since the 4th of June because Roy, Patrice & Emily have been here and we have all been together as a family - I knew you wouldn't read it because you would know all the news and I knew I could catch up my journal later.
Roy, Patrice & Emily left this morning and WOW does our home ever seem empty and quiet - that little Emily just captured our hearts and we tried to get them to leave her here!!! She REALLY took to her PaPa and he took to her - it was hard when she kissed us goodbye!!! She was excited to get home and get their cat "Ashley" out of the kennel so that helped a little. Roy & Patrice went to "The Arches" in Southern Utah and left Emily with us on Sunday and they came home Monday afternoon - we took Emily to church and she was SO good - she just waved for me to leave her in the nursery and the leaders said she just played and played. She didn't want to sit still for the first hour of Sacrament meeting but when she got to the nursery she loved it. I took her to that little park close by us on Sunday afternoon and then she was just content to stay home after that. Monday, she played here in the morning and then Susanna took care of her at their home that afternoon - PaPa went to get her and he said she was busy playing in the sandbox when he got there as happy as could be.
Today is Roy & Patrices' third wedding anniversary. We had that Stouffer's lasagna last night and after dinner, Patrice said, "we had lasagna all together three years ago tonight too". We remember that family dinner in her Mother's backyard and I'm sure all of you do too. We hope you have a happy anniversary!!!
Last week was such a fun and busy week. Roy & Patrice & Emily got here on Monday, the 11th. We went to the cabin on Tuesday & Wednesday (I think - it could have been Wednesday & Thursday) - anyway we had a wonderful time. Emily loved the beach and wanted to get into the water - we ALL watched her every single minute. Daddy put the doors on his cupboard and he & Roy put the frame for the dock on the deck. They're worried that if they get it built there it will be too heavy to lift off - I don't know where they are going to build it but I'm anxious to have it done so we can all fish from it. We went to the top of the mountain on the four-wheelers and that was quite an experience and one I'm sure Roy will not soon forget. Daddy & I rode on Bob & Claires and Roy, Emily who slept most of the way and pregnant Patrice all rode on Daddys - the trail was bumpy and we had to go through many rough ditches filled with water. I kept looking back and Roy looked so worried but he kept following - I know he was glad when we got back to the cabin. We stopped at "the spring" and they put little Emily on a quilt and she slept for at least an hour and we all had lunch - it was almost cold but beautiful. On the way back to the cabin we came upon a sheep herd and that was a thrill - Emily wanted to get right in with them and put them she loved to hear them go "Ba-a-a-a".
Little Sarah had her tonsils out in kind of an emergency operation - Bob said she had a very small air passage they were so swollen. She has had kind of a rough time and Friday morning, Jeannie called and she had been up all night (so had Bob) and they had had to take Sarah back to the hospital for Bob to cauterize her throat because of bleeding. We all piled in the car and drove to Farmington so we could be with Sarah instead of Jeannie taking her to a babysitter. It turned out to be a fun day - Patrice & Emily spent the day with Claire & Katie - Roy & Daddy went to Ogden to get some of those Tony's pizzas and I visited with Ellen Mae on the phone while watching Sarah who slept all the time we were there.
Saturday, we all met at Bob & Claires for a Father's Day party and it was WONDERFUL. Their back yard is so gorgeous and we just visited and ate there for awhile and then we all went to their church where they have a large grassy field - most of the family played kickball - some of the others flew a big kite and others played badminton. After that we went to their home again and had a delicious brisket bar-b-cue dinner. Ann & Jessie had stayed in Provo for a gymnastics meet that afternoon but they came up later and so did John - we laughed about it taking four cars to get us all to Layton. Jessie had won four red ribbons at her meet and qualified for another competition - we're proud of you Jessie!!! She got bumped on her nose at gymnastics on Monday and her face was all swollen - it scared me!!!
This week is final week for John and he has really been studying. He is going to continue right on through the Summer taking some religion classes he has to have. Gayla comes in this weekend to go into the MTC - that has to be HARD!!!
Roy, Patrice & Emily and Daddy & I went into Salt Lake yesterday to go to a special sporting goods store that John likes and Roy wanted to see (REI) and then we went to the Beehive House. I have always wanted to go through that - it was WONDERFUL and we all enjoyed it. When we walked in, one of the missionary tour guides came up to Daddy and said, "You used to live in Phoenix". It was Janice Hoyt .... - just imagine - we left Phoenix in 1964 and she would have been 10 years old and yet she recognized Daddy - he really looks just the same and IT ISN'T FAIR - Ha!!! We had a wonderful visit - all our old friends are on a tour in Russia!!
Daddy, Roy & I went to the church last night to demonstrate making our butter mints for the young girls and their fathers ªWHAT A FIASCO!!! We made ten batches and one turned out - we were humiliated!!! We had told them we couldn't make them except in the Winter when it was cold but they didn't believe us so we said we would try - NEVER AGAIN!!!!