February 4, 1991 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice, Emily & Timothy; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
Daddy & I just came home from our Genealogy work - we started at 8 o'clock this morning and from 10 until 12 they had a genealogy professional come in to teach us more about what we're doing. They showed a video about the BYU Family Resource Center and we both slept through that and the rest of the material was so far over our heads that we didn't learn very much. We're convinced that the only way to learn genealogy is to DO IT!!! We are now trying to see if the "Miller" line connects with the "Mellor" line before the 1700's.
THIS IS THE NEW TIME FOR THE FAMILY PICTURE - Sunday, February 24th at 4 o'clock. The Bob Mellors couldn't come on the Thursday evening we had scheduled so we will try for this time. They suggested that we have it Sunday morning before Ron had to catch his plane for Michigan - our photographer's church time is from 9 'til 12. I called Ron to check on the time he would have to leave and he VERY COOPERATIVELY said he would try to catch a later flight. The photographer said he would shoot pictures on Sunday if necessary but he WOULD NOT miss his church. Daddy & I will miss our church and I will get a substitute for my lesson if this is agreeable with everyone. I won't change the time again so we will have the picture taken with whomever shows up!!!!
Daddy & I went to Layton last night to have dinner with Bob, Claire and their family and also attend Laura's piano recital. We had a WONDERFUL time and Claire's dinner was delicious. We are very impressed with that little Laura's ability - she must have played 15 piano pieces from memory with just the titles to remind her. They had a bunch of balloons with the titles of the songs in them and each child broke a balloon to tell Laura which song to play - she had fixed the balloons and she had one with a paper saying "milky way" on it - Ricky won that one. Some of their neighbors were there and Jeannie & the children (Rick is in Los Angeles) came also. It was a fun, fun evening and we loved it!!!
THIS IS THE PLAN. Please all of you come to our home for dinner on the 24th at noon (come earlier if you can) and we'll have a fun family day and then go to the Woolleys at 4 o'clock for the picture. The Woolleys' church is from 1 'til 4. We'll dress casually for the picture unless you all want it formal like we have had before - the Roy Mellors will need to know beforehand so they can bring dressy clothes.
Jeannie is going to the hospital this Wednesday for her surgery. Daddy & I will stay in Farmington with the children until Friday and then we'll bring them down here for the weekend. She will be in the hospital for a minimum of 5 days - we will be available to care for the children as long as they want us to. I know they will be happy to have this over!!!
We haven't heard from Roy & Patrice this week - we try to imagine what little Timothy looks like and we're SO anxious for them to come. Daddy got a bed for the playhouse and I made a little bedspread for it - we hope little Emily will have fun playing here!!!
John is doing good - he REALLY is studying and working hard. He doesn't know exactly what he wants to do - he just knows he is going to have to do some graduate work!!! Daddy & I were talking last night on our way home from Layton and it has taken Bob & Roy about 12 years from where John is now to where they are and we hope he will be willing to work and sacrifice that much!!!
I forgot to mention in my letter last week that Daddy & I went to the cabin the week before. It was SO funny - we were thrilled that we could drive up to "Scofield West" because the roads had been cleared and then Daddy turned too sharply going into where the gate is and we got stuck in the snow. We REALLY sunk in deep and I was afraid we were going to tip over. Luckily Daddy had put a shovel in the van so he got out and shoveled around the tires and then put the car in four wheel drive and we drove right out. You just can't imagine how cold the living room in the cabin was - the upstairs was quite comfortable. We couldn't get to the gas tank to turn it on so we used the heater that Rick gave us and it really warmed things up. We just stayed for a couple hours but it was fun!!!
I also forgot to mention that Daddy & I went to Salt Lake to the theatre with Ann, Susanna & Jessie and one of their friends (little LeeAnna was sick). We saw "Break A Leg Review" and it was just excellent - I LOVE live entertainment like that and they are real professionals!!!
We are going to our Family Home Evening party tonight so I had better bring this to a close and get dinner. I also have to go to the Post Office to get some four-cent stamps - they have raised the postal rates from 25 to 29 cents. Why couldn't they have made it 30 cents??? It would have been much easier!!!
Bob - thank you so much for helping me with my ear problem last night. (Last week my ears just plugged up and there was nothing I could do to unplug them. Daddy put alcohol in them and I squirted hot water in them but nothing worked. Bob said I had been packing the wax in with q-tips. He took me to his office and really cleaned the wax out - I have felt like a new person).
We love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let us know how we can help you.