February Frolic or Fickle February

I guess because February is a short month I thought it would be a simple one as well.  Oh my goodness, was I ever wrong!  In the first place, we have more grandchildren's birthdays in February than any other month, and in the second place, two of my beloved family members passed away this month, within a few days of each other.  Then, in the third place, February couldn't decide if it was the end of winter or the beginning of spring.  We had beautiful, balmy weather all during the first half of the month, encouraging flowers and blossoms, then we had a freak snow storm!  Even Mesa got snow!! More than we did!!!  So, okay, we think, that was fun. It's lasted a couple of days, and now it was time for spring again.  I swam, took pictures of my lovely daffodils that Dad planted and then winter blasted in again!  That's why I named this month "Fickle February."  Hopefully, now, we are truly into spring...blustery, warm, wonderful March, that comes in like a lion, and in Safford, anyway, goes out like a lion too.

Our birthdays this month are of eight of our most beautiful grandchildren. They all share their birthdays with other important people

Marlie turned 11 on the 4th-Brianna's birthday

Brianna turned 8 on the 4th-Marlie's birthday...but she has to wait a whole month for her baptism because her stake's baptism was 2 days before her birthday.

Lindsay turned 5 on the 12th-Lincoln's birthday

Parker turned 18 on the 22nd~Washington's birthday

Polly turned 14 on the 26th-Bridger's birthday

Bridger turned 9 on the 26th-Polly's birthday

Daynen turned 17 on the 28th-Hannah's birthday (sort of)

Hannah turned 17 on the 28-Daynen's birthday...or the1st~if I were her, I would take advantage of not having an official day and make everyone celebrate it for two days.

On February 1st, we went to the Eclipse concert.  We really enjoyed it.  They are a group of Mormon boys (men) who sing a cappella.  They even provide their own accompaniment by voice.  I was very impressed.  They took this picture of themselves and the audience and facebooked it.  

Rylie and Isabel with one of the members of the group.  He was the dancer/acrobat-type, with curly, red hair.  I told him he reminded me of Russ Tamblyn, the Mormon actor of Westside Story and Tom Thumb fame.  He had no idea who I was talking about! I guess I'm getting old.

Kirtlyn managed to get pictures with all of the group.  Here are three of them.

That day was Cancer Awareness day and everyone was supposed to wear something pink to school.  Luke would only go so far as to wear pink in his hair.

On Saturday, the 2nd, Brianna's mom and cousins planned a surprise party for her.  It was my job to keep her occupied until everyone could get there.  I took her to Walmart to size her finger for her baptism CTR ring.  She chose one on line that is different from everyone else's.  When we received it in the mail, I was surprised at how big it is.  I hope she likes it anyway.

She walked into her house and all her cousins and siblings greeted her with "SURPRISE!"

February 3rd was Adina Birdno's birthday.  She was 99!!!  She is still so bright and aware.  I took this picture of us when we visited her on that day.  She was happy to see us and asked about all of you that she knows.

Rebecca invited us over to her house for DeWitt's last Sunday dinner on the 3rd.  Grandma Sherry and their cousin Savannah were also there.

On the 4th, Brianna's real birthday, Mary invited us to eat dinner with them to celebrate.

The next few balmy, warm spring days, Dad planted his garden, including potatoes in the front, by the driveway.  Luke and Hyrum helped.

On Wednesday, the 6th, DeWitt was set apart by President Sanders as a missionary.  He gave him a beautiful blessing and it was a privilege to be there to hear it.  Dad especially appreciated the opportunity to stand in the circle for his 4th missionary grandson.

Argentina, Brazil, Finland

DeWitt and his family left the next day.  All his cousins are going to miss him, but they will all pray for him as well as for Levi and Dallin and Stetson.

We went to Mesa on Thursday, the 9th, to be there for Levi's farewell, and were able to say a last "goodbye" to DeWitt.  They stayed with us one night before beginning their 6-day journey to attend various temples and also to go to Idaho to see Allison so she and DeWitt could tell each other "goodbye" also.

This is the program for Levi's farewell.  He gave a very good talk, seemed comfortable at the microphone and preached the Gospel to us like a returned missionary.

After the farewell, Stephanie and Joel put on a huge feast for all the Biggs family who were there (Jeremy's, Esther's and Thomas' families) and also for the Laytons who came.

Ellie, Marlie, Reygan

Harrison, Tayte, Reygan

Esther, Shad

Thomas, Jenn, Jeremy, Shad

Adam's wife, Joel, Stephanie, Cameron McKay (an uncle-in-law), Paula, Audra, Ladd, and the back of Jodi's head

The Biggs family

Everyone wanted to have a picture taken with the man of the hour.

The next evening, Joel and Stephanie invited us to go out to eat with them and Levi's friend and Paula before his setting apart that night.

Levi was set apart by his stake president in their home.  It was a very special event and the stake president took care to include everyone, having us all bear our testimonies.  He talked to both Docker and Crew, and Levi concluded with his testimony before the blessing. He gave Levi a beautiful blessing and Dad and Joel were able to participate...Dad's 5th missionary grandchild.

The next day, Rachel and Tony had to bring Camille down to see her urologist because she had a bladder infection...and with only one kidney it is always a concern.  They brought Brynlie, too, of course, to be a support for her sister.

Waiting for the doctor

This is the ultrasound which, thankfully, showed no kidney involvement.  She is feeling better now, but always has to be careful.

Happy at the news that everything is okay.

We got home just in time to go to Lindsay's birthday party at the new Carl's Jr.

Valentine's Day, of course, is one of the things that makes February so special.  Rachel, our decorator, made this arrangement at her house.

Lindsay, Emma, Analynn and Brianna all celebrated by wearing their hair in hearts.

On the 15th, we went back to Mesa for the funeral of my Uncle Milo LeBaron, which was held on the 16th.  He is the husband of Grandma's youngest sister, Donna.  I remember him from when they were dating when I was a little girl.  He drove a Fritos truck and always had little bags of chips to share with the cousins.  We thought he was so nice and so handsome.  Dad and I lived in his and Donna's ward for about 5 years when we were in the Mesa 15th Ward.  He owned an insurance business, LeBaron and Carroll, and served in many capacities in the Church.  One of his daughters, Christi, who is Jan's age, married Wanda Palmer's son, Denny.  They had 5 daughters and 1 son.

In Loving Memory of

MILO RICHARD LEBARON JR.

June 27, 1932-February 8, 2013

When we went to the viewing, I saw this family picture and took a picture of it because I like the color mix.

This is Donna, his wife, Grandma's sister, after the funeral.

Grandpa, Grandma and Dad

We saw cousins we haven't seen in years...even Driggs cousins.  This is John Driggs and Anne, his sister.  They are Douglas Driggs' kids.  Douglas is Grandma Brinton's brother.

Three first cousins: Karl, Milo R. LeBaron, Reed Flake.  They look related to each other, don't they?

Mike and Karen

Karl and Diana

Best friend cousins: Sandy and Susan

Nanette Brinton (Robert's wife), Jan and Kent

Diane (Biggs) and Tracey Skousen (Bob and Carolyn's daughter. ) They live right around the corner from Donna and Milo and well as being good friends and serving together in various capacities.

On our way home from the funeral, we drove around Superior, looking for possible places to buy land. I believe the distance between Mesa and Superior is rapidly decreasing and with expansions to the mine in Superior, land will rise in value.  We'll see what, if anything, we do about that.

The next day, Sunday, we got Dad ready to be Lehi in the Ward's YMYW Book of Mormon marathon.  He was asked to go the next day, Presidents' Day, and tell the story of Lehi's dream in Lehi's words.  It's handy that he has white hair so our Santa Claus beard was perfect for him.  With the addition of other items from our Nativity box, he was ready to go.  Both Maya and Jared were sure he was Santa.  Jared kept saying "Ho  Ho Ho."

This is Brian Douglas being Joseph Smith for the youth.

 Dad, patiently waiting in the Relief Society room until it was his turn.  

Dad really impressed the kids with his testimony and his story of the tree of life.

Later that day, Mary and her kids came over because Tyson had to work on Presidents' Day, and so took their field trip to our house.  Thomas cooked hot dogs and the kids swam.  It was a beautiful spring day...giving no hint of how the weather was going to change by the next night.

The rest of Presidents' Day we spent putting together the beautiful wooden puzzle that Daniel and Connie sent.

Actually, Thomas did most of the work on the puzzle.  It is something he is very good at.  Dad and I did some, Jenn did some, and Rachel and Luke did some.

Maya put in the last piece.

On Wednesday, the weather turned very cold and blustery, bringing snow flurries.

We were so excited, on our way to the Temple, to see snow coming down hard and fast.  We took a picture with Dad's phone, intending to send it to our out-of-town kids, but when we got out of the Temple we received these pictures from Joel's, Jeremy's and Esther's phones.  Mesa and Gilbert got way more snow (hail?) than we did! Our picture seemed not very impressive, so we didn't send it.  We knew the Colorado and Nebraska Biggses wouldn't be impressed either.

Our picture:

Joel's picture:

Jeremy's picture: the Superstitions

Hayden's picture:

Harrison's picture:

In spite of our poor showing in the snow department, Mt. Graham and even the Gilas were covered.  This beautiful picture is from Isabel.

Then for a couple of days it got warm and spring-like again.

By Sunday, however, we had more snow.  Rylie sent us this one of her standing in the snow.  The snow at their house stayed around a little longer than it did for us.

On the 25th, we went back to Mesa to attend the funeral of Grandma's other sister, Virginia Whipple, which was held on the 26th, Bridger's and Polly's birthdays.  We had lunch with Joel and Jeremy and then Esther invited to her house for dinner.  We were able to see Bridger and give him his birthday card because we knew we wouldn't see him the next day.

Virginia was such a vivacious lady.  I don't have very many memories of her when I was a child, because she and her husband Willard Whipple (Bud) lived in El Paso, Texas.  (I think that is how I will be remembered by my nieces and nephews...the out-of-town aunt.)  I do remember going there at least once, to see them, and I remember seeing her when she visited Mesa.  Of course, we lived in North Carolina for some of those years and so missed a lot of her visits. One visit she made was for Dad's and my wedding.  In fact, she and Bud were the witness couple when I went through the Temple for the first time.  Then after they moved to Mesa, I got to know her very well and loved and admired her.  She was so full of energy and loved everyone!  It seemed as if every time we went to the Temple Virginia was there as a worker.  They had five children, 4 boys and 1 girl...just the opposite combination of Donna and Milo.  She and her husband served several missions and she loved being a missionary.

This is a priceless picture.  All that are left of the Van and Vida Brinton children.  Grandpa, Grandma, Ruth Brinton (Van's wife), Bud Whipple (Virginia's husband) and Donna (Milo's wife and Grandma's sister.)

Nancy, Diana LeBaron, Milo R. LeBaron, Karen, Sherry LeBaron

Dad, Deon, Karl, Diana, Lisa

Polly's mom got together a surprise party for Polly's birthday...cousins of every age were invited.

We got home from the funeral just in time for me to drop Dad off at the Temple and rush to Polly's birthday dinner.   She is already excited about being 14 and being able to go to dances with Lillian.

Making a wish

NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY

The Nebraska Biggses had some weather issues too.  This is a candlelit dinner they enjoyed when their power went off.

Hannah and her friends just "hanging around" at school. Hannah's award-winning choir is going to be performing at Branson's Show Choir Competition.  Since it is during the Temple break and since Joel can use our help, we are excited to be able to go back and see her perform with her choir.

The cast of "Guys and Dolls" enjoyed a birthday party with Hannah! Nathan and Shauna brought a huge cake to the practice so they could all celebrate with her.

Docker at his guitar recital.  I took this from the computer screen while watching the video.  I have to say I didn't know he could play so well.  He is accompanying the other boy's singing.

Joel and Stephanie and Docker and  Crew took Levi to Provo to report at the MTC.  He and DeWitt both had to report on February 13th.  No, they are not companions, not even in the same district.  Bummer.  Levi's family had to say their "goodbyes" across the street at the Provo Temple because the minute you drive on to MTC property, they take possession of your missionary and you don't have much time with him.  That is a hard thing for moms...dads too.

Emma's 100th day of school poster.  The monster has 100 googly eyes.

We are always glad when one of Connie's kids has a birthday because it's so much fun to see one of her amazing cakes.  This one, she said, was inspired by the birthday card I sent Parker.  I don't know how she did it.  I can't figure out what the lettuce and cheese are made of.  I think the rootbeer is real, but I'm not even sure about that!  Anyway, Parker turned 18 and is filling out missionary papers.

Scott and Rebecca drove DeWitt to Provo to report.  They took the scenic route, going through St. George, where they attended the Temple, then up to Rexburg, Idaho, where they saw Allison.  They got a very early start, so finished their sleeping in the car.

St. George

In Manti, I think, Logan? They also attended the Temple there.

Jeremy and Erika's kids (Reygan, Hayden and Ellie) got to be in a fashion show at Dillard's and were rewarded with a 40% discount on some outfits.

Oh no!  Hayden did it again.  He broke his wrist this time, falling over his bike...not off his bike...over his bike.  Go figure.  I obviously copied this from Instagram.

Jeremy and Erika took Daynen to lunch at Joe's BBQ in Gilbert for his 17th birthday.

Rachel and Tony's family celebrated Valentine's Day in style.

Rachel and Tony's anniversary is the 16th, so they went to Phoenix for a nice weekend.

Luke came in 1st in the Pinewood Derby in his ward.

Rachel's kids standing in the second blizzard.

Marlie got glasses for her 11th birthday.

She had her birthday party at the condo...away from enthusiastic, noisy brothers.

Valentine boxes.  Bridger's is an iPod, and Rachel helped Marlie design her original, stylish box.

The highlight of the month for Esther and Shad was getting to go to Marjerle's bar and grill with Shad's new firm (he no longer works for the government, but for Dana's) where they met Dan Marjerle and Tom Chambers.  I think Dan was impressed that she named her daughter after him.  Esther is glad if this is one of the perks of being in a private firm.  She thinks she needs perks because Shad no longer comes home at 4:30, more like 7:30!  But he felt it was time for a change, and that he could progress farther in private practice than with the government.

Poor Soren, who just barely got over his fear of the garbage trucks that make noise outside his window, had a run-in with a ceiling fan after he moved to the top bunk.  What a dangerous life this is, Soren.

Thomas Wyatt had his 1st Grade concert last week.

Thomas has been doing his seminary student teaching and is preparing to become a seminary teacher.  He and Jenn had a skype interview with Elder David Baxter, a general authority, but he won't know for sure until May or so.  He is also teaching himself to play the piano.  It will be a good skill to have as a seminary teacher.  I am amazed at how well he does when he doesn't even know the names of the notes.  

Tyson and his brothers went javelina hunting...or is that havelina hunting? Maybe javelina junting?  Anyway, Mary doesn't like javelina meat, so I don't know what they are going to do with it.  As far as I'm concerned, though, he did the desert a favor just in ridding it of one more javelina.  This has been a month for new careers: Shad, Thomas and Tyson, too, started a new career.  He no longer works for the bank, but for All State.  He feels he has more opportunity to make his own way and be more successful.  Thankfully, many of his clients have followed him there.

Brianna has become a political activist.  She has decided to campaign for the preservation of Leatherback turtles, one of the endangered species.  She did some research about them and is putting up signs and I don't know what else to save those turtles.

OUR MISSIONARIES

DeWitt and Levi both reported to the MTC in snowy Provo on February 13th.  They are ready and eager to start on their missionary journey.  They are both totally immersed in Spanish as the MTC only keeps them for 6 weeks now and they have to be as ready as those previously kept for 9 weeks.  They have both been immediately recognized as natural leaders and have been called to positions of responsibility.  Their letters reflect their eagerness to teach the Gospel and join their brothers in serving the Lord in Argentina.

DeWitt waving to his family

Levi saw one of his friends just as he was going in.

Dallin and Stetson are working hard, both serving as District Leaders.  They are so busy teaching the Gospel as they wind up their missions that they haven't taken time to send pictures...or at least, I haven't seen any recently.  But their letters are wonderful.  I love it when they preach to us, using scriptures and personal experiences to teach us as well as their investigators.  I've always thought that a mission doesn't change a young man, it just intensifies what he already is.  And Dallin and Stetson have always been righteous, hard working, fine young men.  What a great example to their younger brothers and cousins...and to us as well.

OUR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Allison loved having her family come all the way to Idaho to see her. She was glad to get to say a last "goodbye" to DeWitt.

Her apartments in Rexburg

She took them to church with her and they were able to see her shine in her roll as Relief Society President

Bethany and Palmer are dancing, here, at someone else's wedding. They are busy making wedding preparations of their own, and Dad has received official permission to perform their sealing in the Winter Quarters Temple.  He has even had a conversation with the Temple President who spoke highly of both families.

Josh and Nicole had some time in Mesa, enjoying her family and each other. They are getting ready to head to Nebraska for Spring break at which time they will find a place to live while they finish school there.

Nicole is making us famous.  It's nice that her name is Biggs now if she is going to be doing such great things as winning research paper contests.

Devynne got a great surprise when the Evans family visited her at the BYU Creamery.

Then, she was thrilled, again, when she went to eat with the Biggs family.  It was good to see her two cousins before they leave for Argentina.  

Ok, March, after such a February, we are ready for whatever you have to throw at us.  Actually, March is already staking a claim as a busy month.  February has the most grandchildren's birthdays, but March has the most birthdays of all.  With all the celebrating of births and the mourning for deaths, my mind has turned more and more to the Savior's greatest gift to us of eternal families.  You are what makes our lives worth living.  You are what brings us joy.  That is why we are so eager to see what you are doing.   I know it can be annoying for me to always be bugging you for pictures, but someday, the blogs, my personal journal, will become our family journal, showing you as you live your happy, righteous lives.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE