The Last of the Princesses

This little princess was Cinderella in her dance concert. Her mommy took this picture for me!

More Princesses

One of the Princesses!

Guess what! My camera is back! Yeah!

One of Our New Babies!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Travis dear.....

Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.
Today is my middle child, my third child, my second son’s birthday. I always say that he came out of the womb throwing a spiral football. He has ALWAYS been a sports nut. He never played with toys, just balls and bats and gloves. When he was little, he LOVED Steve Young. One time he said, “Mom, when I grow up, I want to be Steve Young’s baby brother.” Another time, “Mom, could I get my hair curly and black so I could look like Steve Young.” Travis has always been the energy in our family, even when he was little. He would never walk when he could run. He never stood when he could jump. Even this past Saturday, at 7:15 a.m. while his dad and I were “sleeping in” (something David never does!) ....we hear this knocking on the door- and, of course, Travis runs in and jumps in the middle of our bed! Travis turns 30 today! He’s still such a kid. Even talked some neighbors into “penny tapping” on another neighbor’s windows and the police were called just a couple of weeks ago! But he always owns up to his mischief. Travis, as goofy and fun loving as he always has been, also has a special receptivity to the Spirit and has had amazing spiritual experiences that are family legends. I reflect on many times when I thought my heart would burst with pride concerning Travis but one simple image stands out in my mind. He had just gotten off of his mission in Minnesota, and consented to go to the dry pack cannery with me. We got our canning done and when it was time to go, it was pouring rain outside. I pulled my car up to the doors and Travis loaded up our car. But then I watched as he asked every person coming out if he could help them, and he did. Out in the pouring rain, I watched my sweet boy serve. Such a simple thing but I couldn’t have felt more love or pride.

Even though he flushed an orange down the Welches toilet (the Welches would be his future in-laws) and really plugged up their plumbing, practically burned the Welches home down on Christmas Eve, shot the Welches neighbor’s horse with a BB gun and all sorts of other mischief, the Welches put up with the chaos because they fell in love with the boy! We’re so glad that Tenille and Travis’s high school love turned into true love. What a fun day when the newly weds moved into our basement. He and Tenille and then Rylee lived with us for almost 3 years and it broke my heart when they moved into their own home (and by then, little Boston was with them.) Travis would say when he lived with us, “Gosh, I have a dream life....a gorgeous wife and kids, a truck, a boat, a pool, horses, tennis court and a cabin....and I’m only 28! Who would have figured?!” Travis- our lives have been richer and more alive because God sent you to us. We love you!

Once There Was A Snowman

This is a tribute to all snowmen who live or have lived! It is so gorgeous outside that I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge it. And snowmen just make me happy! Here's just a couple of snowmen stories that I celebrate:

When Ryan W. was on his mission, I just missed him terribly. For Christmas, I had the kids build a snowman for each member of our family outside our kitchen door. We built one for Ryan too. Then we had our picture taken, everyone with their snowman. I don't have the picture handy to post but I loved looking out the window and seeing that our family was "complete."

I always tell the kids around Christmastime, that if they really want to make me happy, just make me a snowman for my Christmas present. Two years ago we didn't have any snow. So Ben, who lives up at Alta, filled the back of his truck (twice I believe) with snow from the canyons and brought it down and dumped it on our grass. Luckily Joshie was here to help him and together they made me a wonderful snowman! What a labor of love!

I happened to be at Brandi's a few months ago and came outside to find Gracie working on this masterpiece. How can you not look at a snowman and not smile. For that moment, all is right with the world! (And how can you not look at Gracie and smile...what a doll!)