Veronica Bakes (with a little help from Savannah and Mom)

Veronica has always loved to bake. On occasion, she can get Savannah to bake with her. On Thursday and Friday, we all pitched in and baked six kinds of cookies (snickerdoodle, peanut butter/peanut butter cup, chocolate chip, pecan/coconut/milk chocolate, chocolate w/peanut butter chip and lemon kiss), as well as a frangipan torte and a chocolate chip cookie pie. The occasion was the photographing of the desserts by Uncle Robert, a professional, for her online etsy shop, cookieheaven.

As I'm sure you can tell, the first two photos are taken by unprofessional me. The last photos are taken by professional Robert. Quite a difference. We enjoyed a few treats and gave away a bunch. Thanks to Robert and Teresa for the photos and staging, and thanks to Sister Thompson from our ward who provided us with most of the neat dishes.

Let the mouth-watering begin.

Veronica in National Honor Society

Veronica was inducted into the National Honor Society, Lone Peak Chapter. We went to the induction ceremony and were a little underdressed. Most people were in Sunday dress (we didn't know we were supposed to) and there was a girl playing classical piano. It was a pretty formal affair. Thankfully there were a couple of others there who didn't know to dress up, either.

Great job Veronica!

The Week In Review

Veronica turned sixteen years old this week. She was given birthday money to go to a nice restaurant, so she took the family and her best friend to Cheesecake Factory. Everyone enjoyed a delicious meal and then we shared a few desserts. It was a lot of fun.

Saturday evening we had a birthday party. I made six dozen cupcakes, we had all the fixings for s'mores and roasted starbursts, Travis built a big fire, the kids hit golf balls into the lake, sang songs (a couple of them played guitar), visited, watched part of the Jazz game, played games and had a great time. There were about twenty kids that came.

During the middle of the party, Travis held down the fort while I took Joe to Urgent Care. A reckless dunk on the neighbor's basketball hoop, off a trailer, resulted in a broken wrist for Joe. It was very painful. (This picture was taken the next day)
We enjoyed visiting Grandma Higginson and Grandma Rindlisbacher on Mother's Day. We love them both! I had a wonderful day with cards and a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble.

Bruce's friend (and future college roommate) Skyler came to visit over the weekend. We loved having him come and look forward to seeing more of him this fall.

Our Young Women had a fund-raiser for girls camp. For a $40.00 donation, we'd get a ten-minute family photo session and a disk with the two prints of our choice. These are the two we chose.

Happy Birthday Veronica

So in honor of my first daughter turning sixteen tomorrow, here are a few things I love about Veronica.She willingly helps. Most of the time, without being asked, she jumps right in and helps. I appreciate this more than she can imagine. She’s been that way for so long. I remember what a great helper she was when I was on bedrest with Joe and that was when she was only six. She loves to bake. I rarely have to bake for an occasion or visiting teaching or much of anything, because Veronica loves to do it. And she’s good at it!

Veronica is a no-nonsense gal. She’s pretty low maintenance and even though it finds her on occasion, she doesn’t seek out drama.She doesn’t have any idea how beautiful she is. She’s not fancy schmancy and although she likes to look pretty, she doesn’t spend hours on hair and makeup. She’s a natural beauty!

If the prophet says it or it can be found in For the Strength of Youth, there is no discussion. She’s incredibly obedient and unrebellious. She wants to be good.
She does her best in everything—from school to piano to jobs to babysitting. If she does it at all, she wants to do it well.

She’s a good and loyal friend. Lucky is the person who can count her as a friend. She loves babies and children more than any sixteen year old I know. If there’s a baby in sight, she wants to hold it and admire it. If there’s a child around, she wants to make them smile. She will be an incredible mother.We love Veronica and I’m proud to have her as my daughter and friend.Happy Sixteenth!

A Few Photos from the Past Week

This week's quote.
Bruce and Savannah strike a pose on Sunday afternoon.

Veronica doing what she does whenever she doesn't have homework--reading a book.

Joe with his friends, Isaac and Dylan, right after the community haircut. I pulled out the clippers, both boys got permission and we cut a lot of hair.

And I do mean a lot of hair. Most of that came from Isaac. Once again, I stink at taking before pictures.

Awesome 80s Dance

So Bruce and Veronica had an Awesome 80s dance at the high school. They both had a great time. Veronica and her friends went all out. Too bad I didn't keep some of my 80s clothes for her. I had the dubious distinction of being the mom that all the girls wanted to do their hair. Should I be bothered or flattered by that?

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.