October 4, 1993 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:

As I was writing this salutation I thought how wonderful it will be to add another name to it in about a month. I am SO excited for the new little Mellor to arrive - I have had many friends ask what sex it is and they were SO amazed to find out that you don't know and don't want to know. I think that's really neat!!! I'm also SO happy that Patrice has had such a healthy and happy pregnancy - I will be there soon to find out first hand just how healthy she really is - Ha!!! I want to be helpful so have some things ready for me to do. I have been doing some Fall housecleaning so I'm "in the mood"!!! Have your leaves started to fall yet - I love to rake leaves but mine haven't started to fall yet. You had a lot of leaves on the ground when Daddy and I were there but it was later in the month.

We have had hotter weather the last couple weeks than we have had all Summer. I have glass windows on my three doors when I replace the screens - I decided it was time to get that done and I have really noticed the difference because I don't get any cross ventilation. I also had my evaporative cooler winterized so it gets a little uncomfortable in the afternoons.

I realized after I had written my letter last week that I had forgotten to say anything about John. He is leaving this week to go to Europe on business. He comes over really often but he just stays long enough to say "Hi" and maybe eat a tomato - I know he is super busy because I can tell he is "pre-occupied". He doesn't ever read my letter so I can say this - in our church conference yesterday the young men who were in their thirties were chastised if they weren't married. I don't believe he has to be reminded of this - Ha!!!

I loved being with the Woolleys for General Conference. Ann had prepared a delicious dinner and it was SO fun to be with them - each one of the children has a responsibility in helping with the meal. The fruit salad was spectacular and we ate out on their patio and it just couldn't have been nicer. I was so stuffed and contented that I'll have to admit that I dozed during much of the afternoon session of conference.

The Bob Mellors and the Weinerts spent the weekend in Sun Valley. Jeannie called to tell me they had decided against flying (I was SO relieved) because Rick was pulling a little trailer with all their bicycles and roller blades. I haven't been to Sun Valley but they all love it SO much that there must be many places for creation for the children. I hope they had a wonderful time!!!

Mary Ann called me early one morning last week. I was alarmed because it was 8:10 - she had just missed the economical time to call long distance. She was SO thrilled because she had been chosen to dance in the Nutcracker Ballet. I don't really understand all there is to know about that but evidently they choose them according to height and she was selected for the same part that Barji was in last year even though Mary Ann is only in the fifth grade and Barji was in seventh. Barji didn't make it this year but when I talked to her she was SO thrilled that Mary Ann had made it and I thought "HOW WONDERFUL". The girls will all continue with their ballet and I am really happy about that - what great experience for young women!!!

I am getting ready for my party tomorrow night. There will be 16 people here besides me so we will really be crowded. I found a recipe for mushrooms stuffed with crab and I'm going to be daring and try to make it. I will just have finger food - little sandwiches, fruit, cookies and the mushrooms. My Woolley grandchildren have consented to come put on a little program and I really appreciate that - Susanna will accompany Jessie, LeeAnna on the violins and Russell on the cello - Jimmy is going to have to get an instrument soon!!!

I went to a very fancy open house at the country club here on Saturday night. My friend, Barbara Sondrup, and her two sisters had it for their parent's 60th wedding anniversary. Barbara's father has Alzheimer's disease and he is really a cute guy - he was all dressed in a tuxedo but he didn't have the faintest idea where he was. They had a video of their life together but I was late in getting there so I didn't get to see it. They wanted me to wait for about an hour because they were going to show it again but it is really uncomfortable for me to be at things like that alone - maybe I'll get used to it but I doubt it.

I took Hans and Frauie in for their booster shots and I groomed them the best I could - John does such a good job but I knew that was at the bottom of his priority list so I didn't ask him. The vet told me their ears were so full of hair that "anything" could live in them. I asked if there were some kind of instrument I could buy to clip them because I just shake too much to use scissors. He suggested that I use "Nair". Well - it REALLY works. The first application didn't do much so I put a lot in their ears and I couldn't believe it - in fact, I had to put ointment on them because it did too good of a job!!!

I have a lot to learn. I have had a dry spot on my grass between my house and the Theobalds so I got a "soaker" hose and left it on for about 8 hours at a time and I did this for several months. I went down in John's room one night and I could smell this funny odor - when I walked in his closet I could tell immediately what was wrong. The water had come into the closet and the cardboard boxes on the floor were all wet. What a job!!! I took up the carpet next to the wall and when it got dry I replaced the padding - I had a contractor come look at it and it isn't serious.
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