July 6, 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 am late in writing this week - Monday, when I normally would write I REALLY had a lot to do to get ready for our Family Home Evening group that night and then Tuesday it seemed dumb to write because the Utah family would be together the next day and we had just talked to Roy - SO, here it is Friday!!!
We just had a MARVELOUS Fourth of July celebration and loved every single minute of it. Daddy had to help cook breakfast for the ward members so he left here about 5:30 a.m. - it was held just down the street at the Albrecht's home (in their driveway). There was a Scout Flag raising ceremony at 6:30 in the front yard of the Howell's home before breakfast. John & I walked down for the breakfast and it was SO neat with all the neighbors and it was a beautiful day. We got home about 8 a.m. and drove to where the hot air balloon races were taking place - we missed watching them take off but we watched them up in the sky and it was a beautiful sight.
Daddy & I went to the parade - John decided against that - Ha!!! Then we came home and got ready for the time when the family would be here. Daddy had ordered steaks from his grocer friend in Lehi - I fixed those potatoes in a half shell - Daddy fixed a watermelon boat of fruit and John got the yard ready. It was REALLY hot but by the time we ate we had enough shade in the back yard for all the tables. Annie brought a delicious green salad and Claire & Jeannie brought a delicious dessert - Bob & Claire had driven to Ogden to get those ice cream cake rolls that we all love & Jeannie had fixed Butterfinger & fudge toppings - I felt bad that they had gone to so much trouble on a busy day!!!
Just as we were all gathering here, my brother, Dee called and said he was on his way over to see us - bad timing but it was good to see him. (He & his son-in-law, Tom Taylor came over). Dee hadn't seen Bob & Claire for a long, long time and I insisted on their staying until they got there - that made us a little late for dinner but it turned out okay. Some of Bob's patients come from Brigham City and know Dee and it was important to me that they see each other. Dee asked about you Roy - he said he had tried to call when they were in San Antonio recently and found that you had moved. Dee is really a nice guy even though he is kinda' loud and different - he would do anything for you!!!
After dinner we all left to go to Cougar Stadium for the "Stadium of Fire" presentation. We all want to thank Ann for getting all the tickets and making the arrangements - we hope she will do it again next year. That is the best program Daddy & I have ever been to for something like that - the fireworks were just spectacular and the other parts of the program were equally as good. Miss American, Debbie Turner, had a big part in it and Wayne Newton was much more talented than I had thought - WE LOVED IT. We hope Claire & Bob have recuperated - their little Katie climbed all over them for the full three hours - she was SO good but very active. It was a sell out crowd of at least 40,000 and the traffic was terrific - I was so glad that John was driving. We got home about 11:45 but when I talked to Ann yesterday she said the didn't get home until 1 a.m. - they wished they had walked from their home. I don't think I want to know when the Bob Mellors & Weinerts got home!!!
We go to Lake Powell in the morning and it is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT. We will have a wonderful time though and we're excited. They say that the water temperature there is 85 degrees so it will be like taking a hot bath for five days!!! I had planned for Ann to give me a permanent on the houseboat but she decided the odor of the permanent would not go away so she gave me one yesterday - I felt terrible about having her do it with all the preparations for Lake Powell but I REALLY needed it!!!
They are going to leave little Katie with a baby sitter and after watching her on the Fourth I am convinced that is a very good decision - it would take all the adults watching her to keep her safe!!! She is a "little pistol". I didn't know until they were here that she has had the chicken pox - I guess she got them right soon after we were last together - did little Emily get them? That's a good disease to have over with.
Daddy & Ray went fishing yesterday and they sat in the hot sun all day long - they caught a lot of fish (Daddy said they stopped counting after so long). Daddy has had kind of an upset stomach for the past several days - I hope he gets feeling better!!!
John is doing good. He is super busy with school and trying to work some too. It is just wonderful having him home - he has such a happy, contented spirit about him and that means so much to me. He has fixed his boat all up and put it up for sale - I hope it sells for his sake. He has lost interest in it - he has his mind on more important things!!! He really loves his guitar and it is so fun to hear him play it and sing - he's really quite good!!! There is a darling girl in our ward who wants to go out with him - he thinks she is too young for him - she just graduated from High School.
Chris & Wayne will be in Utah next week. They are bringing us some seafood and need to put it in the freezer when they get here on Wednesday - if John isn't here we have told them where to find a key. Their son, Ricky & his wife, Linda are flying into Salt Lake on Friday and they will all do a little touring for a few days. Ricky has never been to Utah before. They're bringing their little boy, Jonathan. Do you remember Linda Green, Roy? They live in Little Rock where he is practicing law and they are expecting a baby the same time you & Patrice are. Chris & Wayne will be with us after Ricky & Linda go home, about the 20th.