October 8, 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:

This is my kind of weather - really cool & crisp and bright sunshine!!! A really gorgeous day her in Orem.

We have had a wonderful weekend at Scofield!!! Bob, Michael, Laura & Brett came down on Friday night and we all went to the cabin. We had a "very small" missionary reunion - only two former lady missionaries came but we enjoyed them. One of them brought her two little girls and they were thrilled when Laura showed up to play with them. I believe our missionary reunion days are over unless the missionaries themselves want to plan one and send out invitations - we have said we won't do that. None of the other mission presidents assume the responsibilities for reunions - they leave it up to their former missionaries.

We left Orem about 9 o'clock and got to the cabin when it was pitch black - the children went right to bed and so did we. It was really cold up there. Saturday morning Daddy got up early and fixed a pancake breakfast. It was beautiful day and we had a wonderful time - the children watched Saturday morning cartoons and Bob, Daddy & I watched conference. At noon we fixed a picnic lunch and Laura & I went for hike up to the "Beaver Dam" creeks - Bob & the boys went on the four-wheeler over to where the big swings are. Laura & I had just settled down to eat our lunch when they "found" us and wanted us to go with them to a place where it wasn't windy. We want up into the mountains and it was just absolutely gorgeous - all the aspen trees are just a brilliant gold color. Bob & I sat and visited and Michael took Laura & Brett on little four-wheeler rides right in front of us. The children played and played and had such a good time. Then we went back to the cabin for the afternoon session of conference.

Daddy had stayed at the cabin and moved that big pile of wood from in front of the cabin to the back - I told him that was "busy" work but it does look a lot better. After conference Bob played with the children and they took four-wheeler rides while Daddy & I did a little cabin cleaning - there are at least a zillion "midgies" that get on the curtains in the skunk room and we took that down and shook it and I actually washed the upstairs window with our extension window cleaner but you couldn't tell any difference.

Then it was time for dinner so we cooked hamburgers outside in the fireplace and that was SO much fun. After dinner we all sat around the fireplace and made S'mores and that was heavenly. It was a beautiful night and not really very cold. After that Daddy & Bob set up the "Poop Tent" in the skunk room and the children took baths - that was hilarious and I wish we could have had a video of it. We put a chair in the tent and then got the big dishpan full of warm water and each one of them took turns "bathing". Brett got so comfortable sitting in that little dishpan that we had a hard time getting him out of it. They were all "squeaky clean" and put on their bed clothes and we played games and read stories until it was time to go to bed.

Sunday morning I planned to get up early to start dinner but when I first awakened I heard Bob in the next room and discovered Daddy & I had overslept - it was 8:45 - I couldn't believe it!!! Daddy & Bob fixed a big breakfast and then we started on our spaghetti sauce. I wanted something special so I decided to try a recipe I have had for years - Super Spaghetti Sauce - using Polish sausage instead of hamburger. It really wasn't that special but it was different. We also had the regular Ragu hamburger spaghetti sauce and that was good. Michael, Laura & Brett were SO excited for their Mom & Katie and the "Skuzzins" to get there that they waited for them at the gate from about 9:30 until they got there about 10:30.

THE WEATHER DID NOT COOPERATE!!! It was snowing when we got up on Sunday morning and it kept getting worse. Daddy & I REALLY LOVED having everyone together and even though it was hard because it was SO cold and the children were confined to the cabin we hope they had a good time. The food was SO good and we appreciate so much everyone taking time to come be with us and bringing such delicious food and helping. Bob wanted the children to have fun on the four-wheeler so he braved the weather and helped them, Bob, Rick, Ron & Daddy all lifted the dock out of the lake so that is "winterized".

The Woolleys, Weinerts & Bob Mellors all left about 5 o'clock and Daddy & I planned to spend the night and come home this morning BUT it started snowing harder and freezing and Daddy got worried that we might get snowed in so he drained all the water from the cabin and the hot water heater and we left about 7:30 and came home. I really believe he was worried that he might not make it back for his elk hunt that he goes on tomorrow - Ha!!!

Roy, Patrice & Emily - WE MISSED YOU. We talked a lot about you and we're all excited for all that is happening in your lives - it won't be long now before that little baby is here and we can hardly wait. We missed John too but he chose to not come - he is really "bogged" down with school work and we understand. He also had a dental appointment on Saturday.

I'm running out of space and I don't want this to be a three page letter. Daddy built us a darling redwood swing for out downstairs - you will all love it - that was for our anniversary and he also gave me television set for any sewing room. Please put these dates on your calendar - Nov. 25th (Sunday) 12 Noon in Manti for the Braithwaite's 50th wedding anniversary & Family Reunion and Nov. 29th 5 o'clock in Temple Square in Salt Lake for Mary Ann's baptism and afterwards go for hamburgers or something. Please tell me by middle of Nov. if you can go to Manti.
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