May 1, 1995 Orem, Utah
Dearest John & Julianna; Roy, Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RUSSELL THIS FRIDAY!!! Another teenager in our family - Russell will be 13 years old and I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I believe he has already had his birthday present. Yesterday they were playing ball out in their yard and Russell's dog Wicket was lying on the grass. Jimmy was up to bat and he hit a ground ball hard and it hit Wicket right in the forehead and knocked him out. Ann said he just went rigid and then limp and scared them to death so they called their vet and he said to take him to their clinic which they did. The vet couldn't tell them until he had observed Wicket for awhile whether or not he would live. Russell loves that dog SO much and when they were over yesterday he was worried sick. Ann just called me and left a message on my machine saying that Wicket was okay and they were on their way to pick him up. I am SO glad!!!
I had such a fun, fun unexpected happy afternoon yesterday!!! I started church at my meeting at 7 o'clock in the morning and when I got home about 12:30 I put some rice on to cook - while it was cooking my home teachers came and it overcooked all over the stove!!! I was cleaning that up when John & Julianna came by and while they were here, my visiting teachers came. It was the last day of the month so they all had to get their visiting done.
John and Julianna groomed the dogs and I was SO thrilled about that. I say Julianna too because she was right in there with John and the dogs were SO dirty and smelly!!! While they were doing that Claire called and said they were in Nephi on their way home from Flaming Gorge and would stop in for a few minutes. THEN, Ann called and said they wanted to come by and show me their vacation pictures. SO all of a sudden my dull Sunday afternoon was just WONDERFUL. I hurried and made some brownies and then Laura helped me make some easy chocolate raisin cookies that we didn't have to bake - I was ready to bake a pizza and wish I had but everyone kept saying no one would eat it.
I LOVE it when you all come like that and wish you would do it like every week so I could plan on it and have something good to eat for you. I kinda' expected the Weinerts to drop in too - Ha!
I loved visiting with Julianna. She told me about an experience she had had at school last week. Her class had done a study on dinosaurs and their eggs so she decided they would make dinosaur eggs out of paper mache - she said it was a total disaster!!! The children started getting it on each other and then they spilled it on the carpet - she had to keep several students in during recess to clean up. I don't like crafts anyway and was always glad they had special teachers for that in my schools.
The Bob Mellors had camped out at Flaming Gorge and the children were so excited as they told me about all the hiking they had done. It had rained the last night they were there so all their camping gear was wet - ugh! I LOVE to hear about your camping trips because as you remember we did that A WHOLE LOT when you were all little. They have a new trailer that is wonderful - it's smaller than their other one which they sold - and it seems perfect for many things - I may borrow it if I can!!! The sheriff hasn't reported anything about finding mine.
Roy & Patrice - we're excited for your visit. We talked about Vernal yesterday and how it would be a fun trip for those of us who could go with you if you decide to go there. I don't have much to say when it comes to planning family get togethers but I am available to go or care for children - whatever!!!
Jeannie - thank you SO much for spending your afternoon with me and my friends last Thursday - they thought you were darling and I was SO proud of you. One of my college friends who lives here in Provo has a daughter who lives in Farmington and we decided we wanted our daughters to meet each other along with Ellen Mae's daughter who lives close by. We all met at the Olive Garden in Layton. It was SO funny - Jeannie had to leave before this friends' daughter had to leave and after Jeannie had gone she asked me if she worked. I told her you were a dietitian and had an office at the Tanner Clinic. She said, "Oh, my doctor is at that clinic" - then I said, "My son practices there also" - then she said, "What is his name?" When I told her she said, "Do you know a Claire Mellor?" Kae and Claire are in a quilting class together - isn't it a small world???
Ann & I went to a bridal shower for one of the Perkes' daughters on Saturday afternoon. I can't believe how many showers they have for those people - Ann always sends gifts but I believe this is the first one she has been to - I have been to a million - Ha!!! I felt SO bad for Ann that day. The night before, their water heater had started to leak and before she found it, 250 gallons of hot water had leaked on their carpet in their downstairs. The water heaters are in the closet between their family room and their bathroom downstairs. Ron wasn't home - he had to go to California and he had to have a car driven over there so Susanna drove the car for him so he could work on the way. Ann got some advice from one of her neighbors and then she got everything fixed - I wouldn't have gone to the shower but you know Ann - she looked tired though!!!
The Woolleys have some wonderful pictures of their cruise - they said it was a dream come true and measured up to all their expectations - something they will NEVER forget!!!
Dianne Power has been here for Brick's graduation from law school - we spent last Wednesday together and had a good time.
I have a new Bishop - Renn Patch who is a big wig with Nu-Skin.