June 25, 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 MICHAEL TOMORROW - 14 YEARS OLD!!! WOW - I hope you have a wonderful day. I want to hear all about your trip to the Green River for the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow activities - I understand from the news on television that the river is higher than it has been for several years and I'm glad you have survived. I will NEVER forget Bob's Order of the Arrow activity that he missed because I had planned a neighborhood party for the Jr. High Graduates - I didn't know about it until it was too late and I called to see if one of his friend's mothers would take him (her husband was a prominent ear, nose and throat doctor in Little Rock) and she was SO ornery I just gave up on getting him to it. I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE FEELING GUILTY ABOUT THAT!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BARJI THIS COMING FRIDAY - 15 YEARS OLD!!! WOW - it seems to me that you have a million friends so I'm betting that you will have a party. I hope you have a wonderful day too!
I'm writing my letter on Sunday afternoon this week. I will have my Presidency meeting in the morning and I just typed up the agenda for that so I decided to write my letter too.
My last letter was written on June 12th and I mentioned that Utah was hoping to get the Winter Olympics in the year 2002. There was such a lot of celebrating and I wondered what they would do if they didn't get the bid - the decision was made in Hungary and it was fun to watch it as they announced that Salt Lake City had won. I am glad - they have all worked SO hard and I think it will be good for the state. I probably won't be around to go to any of the activities but it will still be fun for others.
Roy & Patrice, Emily, Timothy & Jesse arrived on Saturday, June 17th and we have had such a fun week. The Woolleys came over on Saturday night and had lasagna with us - coming to Grandma B's home means being with the "cousins" for Emily & Timothy so I was REALLY happy the Woolley cousins could come that first night.
The Woolleys had a "Family Father's Day" party on Sunday, June 18th and I just LOVED every minute of it. We were all given food assignments and I was to make "diet potatoes" from Oprah Winfrey's recipe book. I had to go to church in the morning so Patrice ended up making all the potatoes - we had some "fat" potatoes and some "non-fat" ones. She does such a good job and they were good!!! She also made the drinks. The Bob Mellors brought the appetizers, the John Mellors brought the fruit tray, the Weinerts brought dessert (homemade ice cream and TRUFFLES) and the Woolleys had steak and chicken breasts to cook along with a huge spinach salad. Jeannie and Ron had a contest of homemade ice creams but I never did lean who won - Jeannie made "tuity fruity" and Ron made "vanilla". I had some of both of them and they were HEAVENLY. We went to the park by the Woolley's home and then the children got in their hot tub and of course they LOVED that.
The Roy Mellors went to Vernal on Monday and most of Tuesday - they went to the Dinosaur Museum and Park and then they also went to Flaming Gorge. Emily & Timothy enjoyed learning more about dinosaurs - I think Jesse got tired of riding.
They took Emily to the Weinerts on their way home and she went to Sarah's dance recital in Ogden. I went there also and I was SO proud of Sarah - you are such a beautiful ballerina and your costume was gorgeous. After the recital Emily went home with the Weinerts and LeeAnna & I took Laura home and picked up Jimmy who had spent a couple days with Brett. LeeAnna, Jimmy & I got in Provo close to midnight and it had been a fun, fun evening.
Laura was in the dance recital the next evening - she takes jazz dance lessons. I didn't go to see her recital but I hope to the next time. Emily and all the cousins up North went to it.
Wednesday afternoon, Roy took Timothy and me to "Paradise Pond" in Lehi. It's a little pond that you can see from the Freeway and there are always children fishing in it. It was so much fun for me to see Timothy catch five fish in about thirty minutes. They charge 35 cents an inch and it cost Roy $21 but it was worth every penny of it. I cooked them on Friday and they were delicious - Timothy wouldn't eat them but he was proud of them. We also drove to the farm - they will get at least two cuttings of hay from the farm this year.
Wednesday evening, Roy, Patrice, Timothy, Jesse & I went to see Jimmy's baseball game. It was especially fun because Ann and one of her neighbors, Robyn Harmon, are the coaches. They had invited Timothy to spend the night with Russell and Timothy and since Timothy thinks there is no one in the world like Russell, he was thrilled.
John and Julianna came over Wednesday night and that was FUN. Roy had gone to get some videos and they watched one about basketball heroes - I went to bed - Ha!!!
Thursday morning, Roy & Patrice drove to Salt Lake to meet Jeannie who was bringing Sarah and Katie down with Emily to spend a couple days with Grandma B. Ann called soon after they got here and invited them to go to the Timpanogos Cave with the Woolley cousins. They hurried and packed a little lunch and left. They didn't get home until about 7 o'clock. I just LOVED having some of my little grandchildren here. Sarah, Katie, Emily & Timothy played until time for baths and bed - they were exhausted from their hike to Timpanogos Cave.
Friday morning I was SO thrilled to find that Roy & Patrice wanted to go into Salt Lake to see the church film "Legacy". Patrice made reservations for 4 o'clock - IT WAS WONDERFUL and I have wanted to see it for a long, long time. I'm not sure Roy saw very much of it because little Jesse wasn't interested and he kept taking him out. I believe it is the best film the church has ever made and I understand they will never allow copies of it to be sold. We also spent a little time in the Family History Computer Lab. that is in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
THEN we drove to Layton where Claire had the most delicious dinner prepared. I have had French Dip Sandwiches before but I have never had any as good as the ones she prepared. She also had delicious cheese dips and a relish tray.
John and Julianna came and brought the drinks and I thought it was great for them to come - they couldn't stay very long because they had to go to a wedding reception back in Provo.
Jeannie & Rick came and brought strawberry shortcake WITH CHOCOLATE TOPPING (non-fat, of course) and as usual, Jeannie's dessert was HEAVENLY.
Bob & Claire had planned the most fun evening - they had sparklers for the children and that was fun for all of us to see them running through the yard. Their yard is just gorgeous and looks manicured - they have the most fun things for the children - swings, trampoline, slide, climbing bars, etc., etc.
I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the talent Claire shows in decorating their home. They have some new furniture and Claire has made new draperies and also re-painted their living room - it is LOVELY!!!
We just ate and ate and visited and visited - A WONDERFUL TIME.
I must stop - aren't you glad??? I am going to a fireside given by Corena & Jim Steel who have just returned from a medical mission to the Tonga Islands. He is an orthopedic surgeon and they have done good things there. They are also my neighbors so I MUST go!!!
Thank you all for such a fun, fun week - Roy & Patrice, I miss you already - the house is TOO quiet. I was so frustrated after you left I went to the nursery and bought 6 juniper bushes (the small ones) and planted them along the fence next to me and the Smiths. I also cut the low branches from that tree on the patio. I took a car trunk load of yard "stuff" over to the farm. I can't get the mud from my fingernails - I used to get upset with Daddy because his hands always looked so bad and mine look worse.
I love each one of you so very much. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO and let me know how I can help you!!!