March 2, 1992 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 can't believe it's March already - where did January & February go??? We are having beautiful weather - unseasonably warm and very little moisture. I hear the ski slopes still have a lot of snow but the mountains we can see are very brown and it's scary!!
I didn't write my letter last week because Roy & Patrice were here and everyone knew all the news. WE JUST LOVED THEIR VISIT. We appreciate so very much their spending all their vacation time and money to come see us!!! I remember so very well how I used to coax my folks to come see us in Arkansas and Mother would always say, "Barbara Jean, we could go to Hawaii for what it would cost us to fly to Little Rock" so they only came twice in the l7 years we lived there and they drove. They didn't ever go to Hawaii either - Ha!!!
Roy & Patrice came on Friday, Feb. 21, and they rented a car and came to Orem late that night so we didn't see them until Saturday. That little Timothy is walking all over the place and he is a living doll - he is exactly like Roy was at that age and it was so much fun to be with him and cuddle him. Patrice, I'll bet you were like that too!!! That little Emily is going to set the world on fire - she is probably the most determined little four year old I have ever been around. I had hoped the doll I made for her to play with would be a success but I wasn't counting on it too much because she had said over the phone, "Grandma B, I won't play with it". It WAS a success and she loved it and that was fun. It is so important to appreciate the differences in children and let them "be themselves".
Saturday afternoon, Patrice & Emily & I went to the violin graduation exercises for LeeAnna over in Pleasant Grove. That was fun and we were SO proud of LeeAnna - she did such a good job and you could see concentration written all over her face. Emily went home with Ann & LeeAnna and played the rest of the day - she had planned to spend the night but changed her mind about 11 o'clock and Ann brought her back over here - Ha!!!
Sunday was such a fun day. Our entire family was together with the exception of Ron and he had to go to California on business. We had such an easy dinner (at least it was easy for me) and the children actually ate it - spaghetti from Patrice and me, green salad from Claire, garlic bread from Ann and banana splits from Jean. I think we should stick with that menu for all our family get togethers from now on. The children played so well together and the weather was beautiful. We didn't want the day to end. We had our neighbor, Shawna Theobald, come over to take pictures and one is good enough for an enlargement.
Monday, Roy & Patrice took their children and went to Sundance to spend three days. We invited ourselves up on Tuesday evening - we took Susanna and Jessie up so they could baby site and Roy & Patrice could have a break. I HAVE NEVER seen a nicer cottage - it was absolutely darling and in such a picturesque setting - Patrice and I wanted to move in and stay!!! Emily took some skiing lessons but she became frightened when her instructor came down the slopes too fast and the didn't' want to force it anymore. They came back here for a little while on Wednesday and then came back Thursday. I didn't dare ask the price but whatever it was it was worth it and I'm SO glad we got to see it. They were here while my luncheon club was meeting and they encouraged me to go so I did - it was really good for me to get away knowing Daddy was happy.
They left on Friday morning and our house has seemed so empty without them!!!
JOHN WAS ON TELEVISION ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT!!! Viewpoint had done some animation for a murder trial in California and the reporters wanted to give them some coverage - IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! I was talking on the phone to Joy Geisler and Daddy was in the bathroom so we missed it - John tried to tape it but it didn't work. Ron's secretary had taped it and given a copy to Ron so he brought it over last night so we could see it. We would have watched it if we had known but JOHN TELLS US ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! He has been in Moab all weekend doing some bicycling and he came home sunburned and said they had had a wonderful time - they camped out.
Sarah called us Saturday morning and she was SO excited - she was going to a Primary party and it was going to be a "backwards party" - they had to wear their clothes backwards!!! Ricky's basketball team came in in first place - I believe every sport Ricky has played in this year has been a winner. He is a natural when it comes to athletics - we're proud of you Ricky!!!
Bob & Claire left on Saturday morning to go on a cruise. We don't know where they are but I'm sure if we need them we can get some information from their babysitter. Many of our friends go on cruises and they love them and we hope Bob & Claire have a wonderful time.
Daddy has good days and he has bad days!!! He was probably at his best while Roy & Patrice were here and I think that was the reason. Roy took him to his doctor's appointment - the eye doctor and he also took him outside and got him settled on "the hill" so he could weed. He went on the hill again on Saturday and loved it but yesterday, Sunday, was not a good day. Saturday evening he told me he was really hungry for a lobster tail. I have never cooked one but we went to Smiths and got one and the clerk told me how to cook it. I was SO excited and he took one bite and he got so nauseated that was the end of it!!!