Happy Father's Day!

It's great to have a day to celebrate and reflect on the wonderful fathers in our lives.

First, I'll talk about the one I chose to be the father of my kids. I'm so thankful to have found someone who loves being a dad and wants to be a part of his kids' lives. Travis is a dad who takes his kids to church, prays with his kids, is always willing to take them to a movie or the park, supports them in their activities and loves and encourages them. He would choose to do something with his kids before he'd choose to do something with friends. The kids know he likes to be with them and that's a wonderful thing. He gives them father's blessings and teaches them about faith in the Lord. He teaches them to be practical, thrifty, and hard-working. He isn't frivolous and wasteful and he's teaching all of these qualities by his example. He's a blessing in our lives.Then there's my Dad, a man who sacrificed and worked hard to support eleven children. He's a man who was a great cheerleader, encouraging us and telling us we were world-class in everything--music, sports, etc. He helped us with homework, gave us blessings, taught us the gospel and bore his testimony to us. In spite of limited money, he traveled with us, making sure we saw new places and had new experiences. He's a gifted teacher and to this day is one of my favorite school teachers. He taught us to love good music, to do whatever was asked of us in church and to be loyal.

Travis's dad is funny, generous and thoughtful. He's laid-back and casual and makes you feel comfortable immediately. He's genuinely interested in what is happening in his kid's and grandkid's lives and celebrates every accomplishment. He works hard and taught that quality to Travis. He loves to share with his family, especially good food that he usually cooks himself and fun experiences, like ball games and fine dining.Travis's step-dad is a kind and generous man with a witty sense of humor. He is encouraging and helpful and likes to see people succeed.

We are very blessed to have these fathers and grandfathers in our lives. I'm so grateful for the influence they are on my kids and I love them all.

Happy Fathers Day!

Travis Has A Birthday!

So Travis had a birthday. Not the exciting occurrence it once was, but we did celebrate with dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and a cheesy but cute romantic comedy, "When In Rome." We had a great time. So, in honor of the birthday, and the man who celebrated it, here are a few things I love about Travis (in no particular order).

1. He's funny. Sometimes he's extremely witty with a quick joke that takes me by surprise. Other times he's so corny I have to roll my eyes--I can't laugh out loud at such silliness. We all get a good laugh, but I think one reason he misses Mehmet is because Mehmet laughed at ALL of Travis's jokes, even the ones the rest of us just shake our heads and smirk at.

2. He works hard. Whether it is at his job, on the yard, or pitching in around the house, he's not afraid to work hard. Of course, one thing I have to laugh at is that if he's working outside, he's accompanied by his workgloves. That's one thing I just don't get, but since he gets the job done, it's okay with me if he wears them.

3. He's a big kid and a girl and a tough guy. By that I mean, he'll watch the most ridiculous kid movies with the kids. I never have to go see the silliest of them because he takes them and he laughs with them at all the stupid parts. One of the greatest things ever is listening to Travis and Joe laugh their heads off at something so dumb I could scream. He also enjoys a good chick flick, which is lucky for me and the girls. And yet, he still enjoys a good action movie with Bruce. He's very versatile!

4. He stands strong for the Family and the Gospel. He teaches his family. He demonstrates faith. He works hard to fulfill his role. He supports me in mine. He takes us to church. He fulfills his callings. He teaches Family Home Evening. He loves us.

5. He cares about the family having fun together. He insists on and plans family outings and vacations. He sacrifices his time and money because he wants his children to have fun experiences and good memories. He welcomes the kids' friends and is willing to have our home be the gathering spot.

6. He knows how to throw a good party and stops at nothing to be sure that anyone who comes to visit feels welcome and has a good time.

7. He considers me a friend and calls me to share interesting stories or ridiculous trivia and statistics. He would rather be with us than anywhere else. His first choice for a companion for an outing or activity is someone (or more than one) from our family.

I am lucky and blessed to have a husband like him. I love you, Travis. Happy birthday!

Brief Recap of 2009

This is without a doubt going to be the most random and ridiculous posting of all time. I figure the only way I'm going to get sort of caught up enough to get back on track is to give a rundown of 2009, and rather than get so caught up in getting pictures in perfect order and making beautiful, thoughtful posts, I'll just crank this out and get caught up and back on track. It's the wanting to do it 'right' that has made me put it off for so long and not do it at all. So rather than get hung up on perfection--here is our family in 2009 (in no particular order, as you'll see).


Joe turned 9 in 2009. He played flag football and was excellent. He was fast and scored multiple touchdowns and had a great time. He likes school, loves playing with friends and is a sweet kid.

Savannah decided that 2009 (6th grade) was the time to get serious about school, especially math. She's worked so hard and is getting good grades. I guess she's getting ready for Jr. High. She turned 12 and started into young womens. She is creative and clever.

Veronica restarted piano lessons and continues to get better and better. She works so hard in high school and gets perfect or better grades (because of extra credit, she often has over 100% in her classes). She loves to babysit, enjoys chick flicks and writing to her grandma.

Bruce started his senior year of high school. After spending the day at the University of Utah, where he was invited to the Honors Architecture program, he decided that he would do his undergraduate work there. He works every day after school and is saving money for college and his mission. This picture is a little teaser of how he'll look in less than a year when he goes on his mission.

Travis worked hard and significantly improved his office's performance winning a place on the top western states list. He served in the Sunday School presidency, enjoyed Jazz games with Bruce and Joe and Mehmet and took a couple of trips to Arizona moving a very large refrigerator.

The kids having fun at the family photo shoot with Rob Higginson photography.

During the summer we enjoyed a really fun family reunion in Idaho. Here is Mehmet showing off.

And here's Bruce's fine moves.

Travis and Veronica enjoying one of the fun activities.

Me clearly not enjoying one of the fun activities. (I only put this in here to prove that I'm alive and part of the family.)

Savannah enjoying the zipline with Caroline.

Joe enjoying a ride with Uncle John and cousin Stella.

Mehmet and Veronica at the Great Salt Lake a couple of weeks before he went home to Turkey. He was such a great part of our family from January until the end of June. It was hard to send him home. We wished we could have kept him. It is hard to imagine that someone from such a different background could fit in so well and be just like a son and brother, but he was and we miss him terribly. He was pleasant, helpful, funny, likeable, laughed easily, was great with the kids, respectful, entertaining and wonderful. He can be in our family any time!

The family at the family photo shoot.

Mehmet, just before he left for Turkey at a little gathering with the extended family. Everyone loved having him around and Grandma and Grandpa made him this wonderful quilt as a going-away present. He loved it!

Bruce and Mehmet at his going-away family party. He also had a great party with about fifty kids from school and church. He was loved by everyone.

Mehmet with the cake Veronica made at her cake-decorating class. She took the class with a friend and her young women's leader during the summer and did a good job. (I know, I could have taught her. In fact, she already knew how to do a lot of it, but this was a chance to do it with them and she had fun).

Mehmet and Savannah at the Great Salt Lake.

Bruce, Joe and Mehmet at M&M world in Las Vegas. We took Mehmet to St. George and Las Vegas. We had fun eating out, playing, riding roller coasters and getting paid for doing a survey on a new television show. It was a great time!

Bruce and Mehmet played on the same high school basketball team for Maiser Prep. They had fun.

Bruce at the Great Salt Lake.

Bruce and Mehmet looking a little too cool at the Jazz game.

2009 was the year we got Pepper. Savannah and Joe love her. Bruce and Veronica avoid her. She usually sleeps in Joe's room, but occasionally sleeps in Savannah. She's a huge, calm Great Dane and is a good friend for the two younger kids.

Savannah and Joe in a tree in a park by their school.

Veronica got to work with Kelsey Nixon of Food Network for three weeks. It was a great experience and Kelsey was so great. I haven't been able to find the pictures of Veronica with Kelsey, but here she is on Good Things Utah with the hosts. Veronica got to go with Kelsey as she did an appearance, helping her prep and getting to watch the taping.

Joe and Savannah playing in the water in St. George.

Joe enjoying the water park.

Travis and all the kids went on the roller coaster south of Las Vegas. Ridiculously big. I didn't participate.

Another sleeping shot of Pepper and Savannah.

Savannah with her new (to her) bike that was purchased of KSL. Veronica got a blue one. They enjoy riding around the neighborhood with their friends.

Veronica and Lily are great friends.

During the summer, we got our yard in and put in a firepit in the back. It is fun and we had some great gatherings there. Looking forward to more this year.


Veronica looking cute.

Mehmet relaxing.

Veronica performing at her piano recital. She did a beautiful job. Granpa and Grandma Higginson were able to come and Grandpa and Grandma Rindlisbacher listened from the phone since they were in St. George.

Savannah and Joe enjoyed the snow with Pepper.

Bruce and his good friend and cousin Nathan, just before Nathan left on his mission. They won't see each other for more than three years. It was tough to say goodbye.

Bruce enjoying birthday cake.

We replaced the Mazda with this 4WD car that makes us much more comfortable with Bruce driving in the bad weather to work. We also replaced the Honda Odyssey with a Honda Pilot.

The family Christmas party was great. It was a wonderful evening with good food, lots of good company, the Nativity and Quilts from Grandma and Grandpa to all the Grandkids. It was an amazing array of gifts.

The kids playing together.

Here are a few highlights with no pictures.

Bruce and Veronica had a great Youth Conference in Manti.

I finished my two novels and got them submitted (still waiting to hear something).

Travis, Bruce and Joe got to go to Texas where they watched BYU and Oklahoma in the new Dallas cowboy stadium. They saw Grandpa White while they were there. It was a fun trip.

We had a wonderful Christmas.

We finally sold our house in Bountiful after several weeks of ridiculously hard work.

We finally sold our house in Twin Falls after having it on the market for almost a year. It was an answer to months of fasting and praying.

We had a great time at an extended family yard sale/bake sale, earning money for the 2010 family reunion. It was a resounding success.

We enjoyed blessings and baptisms and homecomings and farewells of cousins.

It was a good year overall. Not without its trials, but with many happy memories.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband!

Today (March 5) is Travis's birthday, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish him a wonderful birthday and list a few of the reasons why I love him. These are not necessarily in order of importance.

• He's a great Dad. He teaches his kids, takes them to church, plays with them, enjoys being around them and is even willing to go to a silly kid's movie that they want to see--even if he has no interest in it. I appreciate that because it has saved me from having to see dog movies and superhero movies that didn't interest me at all.
  

• He works hard to support his family. He puts up with bad hours, difficult people and stupid problems, all so he can support his family. He has amazing business skills that would bring him more money and recognition somewhere else, but because his family likes it here, he works hard and makes do with what is available here. He's so unselfish.
  

• He has a great sense of humor. He finds humor in ridiculous and often difficult situations. I love it when he says something completely funny and unexpected.

• He has incredible discernment and reads people so well. He has an amazing ability to read a situation or a person's behavior. The mark of his character is that even though he is so good at reading people, he's also very forgiving and willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. I find this to be a really amazing quality.
  

• He's a thoughtful husband, bringing me flowers and chocolates often enough to be thoughtful, but not so often as to be taken for granted. He shows me he loves me in other, more meaningful ways (if there is a more meaningful way than chocolate). He's been known to vacuum, clean bathrooms, call and offer to pick kids up, and he's even willing to go to almost any "chick flick" with me. When I go to girls' camp or go to Utah without him, he always makes sure I come home to a clean house.

• He takes the family to church. He leads by example and always fulfils his church responsibilities. He has a strong testimony.
  
• He treats my parents with love and respect. I am so grateful for my parents and it would be hard for me if I was married to someone who didn't treat them well. I love him for loving my family.
  
• He always keeps our yard looking beautiful. I don't much like yard work and Travis always makes ours look nice. I love the fountain he installed. It is beautiful!
  
• If it has snowed and he knows I'm going to have to drive kids to school, he always shovels around the car and brushes off the snow. He's thoughtful.
  
• He supports me in my callings without complaining--even if it means lots of evening meetings, some Saturdays, staying late on Sunday, having people to the house or leaving for a week for girls' camp. He doesn't complain and tries to make it easier for me.

• He encourages me in projects and interests I have. He's a fan when I'm doing cakes, cheers me on when I'm writing, and admires the crafts I do.
  
• He puts our family first--ALWAYS!
  
• He loves to travel with the whole family. He plans and looks things up and prepares so that we get the most out of every vacation. He loves to be with the kids and enjoys seeing all of us have a good time.

I love Travis and am grateful to have spent the last 18+ years of my life with him. I look forward to many more wonderful times together for many years to come.

Happy birthday! I love you!

Lunch at the Buffalo Cafe

My camera wasn't working, so I haven't had any photographic posts lately, so now I'll try to catch up a bit.

Bruce was out of school for two days while all the other kids were still in school, so we were able to hang out together, look at some houses, and meet Travis for lunch at the Buffalo Cafe. We all had delicious hamburgers, which is unusal. Usually at least one of us has breakfast when we go there--we love their pancakes!

We had a nice time. Gotta love the expressions on their faces. I was taking too long to take the picture and they weren't sure this was a blog-worthy activity, but I wanted to document our pleasant day together.

Travis Celebrity Look-alikes

http://www.myheritage.com/collage