July 1, 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:
We can't believe it's the first of July. Daddy REALLY dislikes the Utah Winters and he says "Summer is almost over and I haven't even been warm". We have had an unusually cold Spring but it's been beautiful I think.
We had such a fun, fun weekend!!! Daddy & I had planned to go to the cabin last Wednesday and Thursday but when Bob called and said they wanted to go up on Friday and spend the weekend we kinda' invited ourselves and we just had a WONDERFUL time. We got to the cabin about 2 o'clock on Friday afternoon and just played and played. Bob took his four-wheeler and Michael just loves to ride it and so do the other children so Bob spent a lot of his time taking them for rides. After a lot of instructions, Bob finally let Michael drive it by himself - I went with him one time and was impressed in how careful he was. The children were SO good and played on the rocks and in the bushes around the cabin and they did some fishing.
Michael fixed up a little "box trap" to get a "potgut" and watched it so carefully for two full days - the animals and birds would go into it to get the food he had fixed for bait but before he could pull the string to trap them, they would get out. Sunday, just after we had come from church he saw the little potgut go into it and he pulled the string just in time and he caught it. What a fun thing!!! We took some pictures of him with his trap and then they let it go.
I am constantly amazed at that little Katie. There is nothing she doesn't try to do - she scares me to death and as I have told Patrice & Claire - Emily & Katie are too fast for me!!! Laura & Brett are so sweet to her and keep her as safe as they can.
Bob had the ingrown toenails from the large toes on both feet operated on last week. I expected him to be incapacitated but we really didn't notice any difference except when he had to soak his feet in salt water periodically. As he said, he had put that off for too long. I was so happy when I finally had mine done and Ann told us she had had hers done while she was in college - I didn't even know that. Daddy has wanted some rocks to make steps going down from our deck to the lake - I have tried to talk him out of it because of all the lifting but he knew he could get some help from Bob!!! Yesterday afternoon Bob hooked his trailer onto his four-wheeler and took Claire & all the children on it and Daddy & I & Michael went on Daddy's four-wheeler and we went into the mountains to find some rocks. We got some really nice ones and now Daddy can hardly wait to go make steps out of them ªas Bob & Claire said, "now he has a project"!!!
The Woolleys came up on Saturday afternoon and we were all SO happy to see them. An had told us they would try to come but Bob said "they won't come". The children all played so good together and then we cooked hamburgers and they toasted marshmallows. Russell got a really neat bow & arrow set at Christmas time and they brought that up - they put the target just down from the deck and we all took turns trying to hit the bulls eye. They also brought some sparklers and pop things so we had a few fireworks. It was juts a wonderful treat for Daddy & me to have family at the cabin. We missed Susanna - she is attending her BYU girls academy and she'll be home this week.
Claire gave us some news from the Roy Mellors and the Weinerts. Patrice had called and talked to Claire (Patrice does that occasionally and it's so fun to hear her voice say, "I was just thinking about you".) They were planning a trip to that beach resort place in Florida for a little vacation (the Woods used to go there all the time but I have forgotten the name of it). We know they will have a wonderful time - we think their van is perfect for trips like that. The Weinerts are doing fine - Claire said that Jean was having a bridal shower so she was busy preparing for that and she said "their home looked just beautiful". She said they had had a wonderful time in San Francisco.
John is doing good - he went for a bicycle ride way up into Provo canyon on Saturday - he said they got to an elevation of 10,000 feet and there was snow. He says he has lost about 8 pounds. He had a letter from the Dean of the school of dentistry at Iowa City saying he was guaranteed a place in their school starting the Fall of 1992. They want him to go back there this Fall and take his organic chemistry and biology but I believe he has made up his mind to stay here - the letter was very, very nice!!! He is going to the Uintahs on Wednesday for a four day campout - they're thinking of renting Llamas to carry their packs - Ha!!!
We're excited about the 4th of July. John's ticket is up for grabs - we'll offer it to Claire first because they just got tickets for their three older children (Bob is on call and won't be able to come). I believe the Weinerts had planned to bring the children down with them.
Daddy is feeling really good. He got new boat seats for his little fishing boat and it is SO nice now. We went to the Lindon boat harbor last Thursday and I couldn't believe the difference in launching it - we didn't even get wet and slimy - Ha!!! We also didn't catch any fish!!! We're going again in the morning but I don't know if I will be able to talk him into the "easy way" again or not. We're going out to eat tonight with our Family Home Evening group and then to a patriotic concert at the Provo tabernacle - it will be fun. Orem & Provo REALLY celebrate the Fourth. Ann & Ron went to the dinner & lecture honoring among others, Betty Mahmoody & her daughter, from "Not Without My Daughter" fame - they said it was really good!!! WE LOVE YOU ALL.