March 3, 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:
I'm going to write my letter this week on Sunday - today is Fast Sunday and since we have SO many leftovers in our refrigerators I'm not going to fix any dinner. I don't know when I will ever learn to fix less food - I'm too old, I guess!!!
I said I would do the heart fund drive for our street this year and I was supposed to do it last night. I really had a case of the stomach flu yesterday so I didn't get it done - I went out this morning to do it and that is a good way to get to know your neighbors - Ha!!! We have always given $10.00 for every drive and I have felt guilty sometimes, thinking that wasn't enough but most of our neighbors only gave $5.00 this morning and they are very wealthy people!!!
We had a wonderful week last week with our visit with Roy & Patrice and their children. I have NEVER seen such a good baby as little Timothy - he only cried twice all the time they were here and then it was when Patrice was changing him. I knew he had really been sick around Christmas time and I guess I was expecting him to still be a little sickly but he was a picture of health and contentment. Little Emily was a little doll too - I believe she got a little bored toward the end of their visit and I wish now that I would have had some little neighborhood children come to play with her. Daddy & I tend to not get too close to the neighborhood children - we feel like we have enough with our grandchildren and we try to avoid having them come over really often - that probably isn't very nice!!!
Roy & Patrice had "a little" bit of free time but not as much as we would have liked for them to have - when you have a four month old baby who depends on you for his food you are pretty well tied down. They enjoyed the time they spent with Bob & Claire and their family and also the Weinerts and the Woolleys. Roy & Bob went skiing one afternoon and Roy loved that. Patrice & I went to the BYU Genealogy library for about 30 minutes but at least she was able to see what they have there. John loved his visits with Roy too and was home much more than usual - Ha!!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THE FAMILY PICTURE TAKEN AGAIN!!! I promise that will be the last one - I'm a slow learner but I have finally learned how hard it is for all of you. WE JUST LOVE THE PROOFS - I would like to have 20 x 24 enlargements of all of them. I think this year's picture is better of each one of us and much more colorful. I am going to have a 20 x 24 enlargement made of the family picture and then I am going to have another frame of Daddy & I in the middle with each one of your family groups around us and hopefully I will be able to make room for any additions in that frame so it will kinda' be like a "family tree" and then put it on an easel like the Woolley's have. Thanks especially to the Woolleys for the use of their home and Ron for coming home from his business trip for the picture.
Daddy & I went with the Woolleys to Salt Lake on Friday night to see Robin Hood at the City Rep theatre - it was really good. Little Jimmy sat by us and he was more fun to watch than the play - he really loved watching them sword fight and wrestle. That is a special cultural experience and we're happy Ann has invited us to go along with them. That is probably not something Daddy would choose to do but after he has been he admits he has enjoyed it. I need to get more "with it" so I can understand the plays better.
We are SO thrilled and SO surprised that the war is over. I believe they said that it lasted only about 100 days and with less than 100 U. S. casualties - really a miracle!!! It truly makes us value our leadership doesn't it? President Bush has proven that he has what it takes when it comes to a real crisis and I guess the biggest thing in his favor is his ability to get strong people helping him. I think the success of this war will do so much to help our country in many ways.
Claire - thank you SO much for the pictures you sent of you & Bob on your cruise and also the ones taken at Laura's recital. You both looked so beautiful and relaxed on the cruise - that was really good for you. The one of Bob "snorkeling" reminded us of how much he loved that when we lived in Arkansas - it scares me to death but I guess he knows what he is doing!!!
Jeannie - we love the little Easter egg and have put it on our fake fica tree in our entrance. When we went to take the pictures to your home on Friday afternoon your garage door was open and your home door was unlocked - I worry about that!!! I'm sure Barji was in the neighborhood though - we couldn't find her.
Annie & Jessie came over yesterday afternoon to bring back the picture proofs and it was fun to hear about Ron's office plans. He has a new desk and chair and will get a couch and bookshelves soon - it's a stressful time for them but definitely the right thing to do.
John is doing good and such a delight to have around. He and some of his friends went into Salt Lake to have Korean food on Friday night - one of his friends served his mission in Korea and has learned how to make that kind of food. We're going to have to have John show us where the restaurant is in Salt Lake because he says it is very good.
We got cable piped into our home last week and so far we haven't had time to watch it but I know we'll enjoy it. The BYU game was on cable last night but it didn't start until 10 p.m. and we were in bed-they lost to Utah by 1 point! We love you all very much!