May 22, 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:
It's Monday morning and I'm not having our Presidency Meeting. Anne Smith is taking care of some of her grandchildren in Salt Lake and she wanted to be excused. She is in charge of all our activities this next month so it was foolish to have the meeting without her - we'll probably have to meet during the week.
Bob, Laura, Brett & Katie came by to visit yesterday afternoon on their way home from the cabin and I ALWAYS love it when they do that. Bob, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUMMERIZING THE CABIN!!! I don't know how to do that and since he always winterizes it too he knows exactly what to do. He says everything is working good and there were no pipe leaks so he did a good job last Fall. I will go up whenever I can and bring all the bed linens home and wash them - I can do the sheets up there but I want to wash the quilts this year - I haven't done that for a long time. I also want to measure the front window so I can get some shutters and paint them a dark blue. I will either wait for Wayne to come to finish the painting at the very top of the cabin or hire the young men who have the cabin next to ours to do it. I have looked forward to my grandchildren getting old enough to want to play card games with me and when the children were here yesterday they had a "Pit" game going and wanted me to play with them - it was getting late so they had to go - sometime maybe we will have time.
Bob and Laura carried my mattresses from the guest room down to the garage when they were here yesterday. Bob said he would take them to the cabin sometime with his trailer - I hope they will fit in the bedroom up there - the mattress in that room is not very good! I have FINALLY bought new mattresses for my guest room. The mattresses that were in there are comfortable but they have that mildew smell and I have wanted new ones for a long, long time. I don't believe we will notice the mildew smell at the cabin but it has driven me crazy in my home. They will deliver the mattresses here on Friday.
I have called the sheriff many times and I don't believe they are even looking for the trailer - they tell me each time that they haven't had any success. I called my homeowner's insurance company this morning and they will contact me within three days and in the meantime I have to go to the sheriff's office and get their report. If they give me any money for it I believe I will look for a smaller trailer that I can keep in my garage. There are so many times I need something to haul things with and I surely don't want a truck. I can just hear you all saying, "At Grandma's age she shouldn't be looking for things like that".
Bob - I'm SO glad you will use the West Canyon property for your scouts. It always makes me sad when I think of our Lehi property not being used. I keep having phone calls from people interested in buying it - I WILL NOT SELL IT AND I WILL NOT GIVE IT TO BYU.
I'm excited for Laura!!! She is going to New York on a trip with some of her school friends in July - she seems SO young to be doing things like that but I'm sure they will be chaperoned and it will be a wonderful experience - she will be gone from July 2nd until the 9th.
Emily & Timothy - thank you for filling out the "food forms" and sending them back to me. I have finally learned after sixteen grandchildren that I need to fix food they like when they come to visit me. I will have an easy time while you are here - macaroni, spaghetti, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, pancakes, pizza, honey-nut cheerios, waffles, cheese burritos, scrambled eggs, mini-wheats, fruits, juices, tuna noodle casserole (that surprised me), carrot sticks and MACDONALD'S!!! I am SO excited to have you come - I hope it warms up because it has been cold and rainy for at least a month.
I would like to have a "cousin's week" the week of June 17th through the 24th while Emily, Timothy & Jesse are here. There are lots of fun things to do here - the Bean Museum, the little fishing pond in Lehi, etc. but it is always more fun to do it with cousins. I hope the cousins from the North who can will come and stay with me during that week. Maybe, the cousins who are in school could meet us at Lagoon some afternoon after school and we could all have fun there. The Woolley cousins who are available will be close to be with us - I know Jessie and Susanna have Girl's camp that week.
Bob is going fishing on the Green River - June 16th, 17th and 18th - that is near Vernal. Roy & Patrice have mentioned they would like to take their children to see the Dinosaur relics in Vernal so maybe something could be worked out there.
It sounds like I am planning your trip, Roy & Patrice and I know you don't like that. I don't want the week to pass and the cousins not get together and I would just love to have them all come and stay with me. I can make LOTS of beds!!! AND, we have a MACDONALD'S right close - Ha!!!
John left for Europe yesterday, I THINK!!! He left a phone message for me that said his trip had been put ahead a few days and he was leaving Sunday. He will be gone for three weeks. Viewpoint has an office in Europe and he was going to do some business for the first few days before the members of his MBA class got there for their internship. Julianna - that is going to be a long three weeks - I hope you will be able to find lots of things to keep you busy and I know with your teaching job that won't be hard!!!
Ann and I have had fun being together this past week. I rode to Salt Lake with her on Friday morning to take Jessie and LeeAnnas' violins in for repair in and then I went back with her on Saturday to pick them up. When we went up on Saturday we stopped at Gardner's Village for a "mini" shopping spree - Ann is looking for a bird house to put in their backyard but she couldn't find one she liked. Then we stopped at ZCMI South Towne Mall and got yogurts to eat on the way home - they we luscious!!!
We were all invited to one of the Perke's daughter's wedding reception Saturday night. Jeannie - did I misunderstand you? I thought you were going to come down for that. Anyway, when you didn't come, Ann came and went with me. Ann had to go to another reception earlier so we were a little late in getting there but it was very nice and I'm glad we went. It was held at the same place Bob & Claire had their reception and it brought back many memories.
I also expected Rick to come for the four-wheeler on Thursday. Your plans must have been changed. Rick and Ricky were going to go on their annual Father and Sons' outing but instead of going to their usual place in Wyoming they were going to go someplace South and go four-wheeling.
Jeannie - thank you SO much for taking the birthday gift to Ellen Mae. I called to wish her a Happy Birthday and she was so pleased you had been to see her. I really appreciate that and I know it was way out of your way!!!
Patrice - thank you for your sweet letter. I don't have anything I have to do after June 16th. We are going to have the sleepover on June 16th - 17th but I'm not sure I will stay overnight - I don't really have to because my counselor is planning to stay. We have sisterhood activities June 1st (here), June 8th and then on the 16th so I am free after that unless someone dies!!!!! I hope you have your air conditioner fixed by now - THAT IS A PAIN.
I had a phone call from Chris & Wayne last week telling me that their daughter-in-law, Linda, had had a mastectomy. They were pretty confident that she was going to be okay but that is such a worry. Their son, Scott, just graduated from High School in Conway. Rick works as an attorney for Children's Hospital in Little Rock (I believe that's the right hospital).
WOW - I always write my longest letters when I don't have any news.
I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Let me know how I can help you!!!