November is celebrating the "New" places that our family has been: New Hampshire, where Jeremy served his mission, New Zealand, where Palmer served his, New Mexico, where Tyson lived, New Jersey, where Sara lived, and New York, where so many of us have been for work and play, most recently, Reygan.
When I used to get mission pictures from Jeremy, (and Joel and Daniel, too, actually, ) with all the beautiful autumn colors, I was always so amazed at the beauty surrounding him. I think the bottom picture of NewZealand was taken in the spring, New Zealand's autumn. I know New Zealand is beautiful because "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed there and it was gorgeous.
New Mexico, of course, is where Tyson is from. It is way different from the East, more like Arizona, but it has rich farm lands and great people. New Jersey is a mystery to me. I think is has small towns and big cities, like everywhere. It must be a good place because it is where Sara is from. Also New York New York...enough said!
Our November birthdays are few. I keep hoping one of our new grandchildren will have a November birthday, but so far it is still just Allison and me. The few, the proud :-}
Allison's birthday is the 2nd.
I turned 70 on the 8th...the end of the youth of old age...now I'm starting the adolescence of old age.
We've had some lovely fall weather. This bush is at our house, and the trees below are at Rebecca's house.
~OUR NOVEMBER~
November was the official beginning of our 3-year Temple service. Every time we go to the temple, now, this is what we see...either at 4 a.m., 6 a.m., or 9:30 p.m. when we leave. A beautiful sight!
November was the official beginning of our 3-year Temple service. Every time we go to the temple, now, this is what we see...either at 4 a.m., 6 a.m., or 9:30 p.m. when we leave. A beautiful sight!
The Safford/Thatcher kids came over one Sunday evening, after Stake Conference, to give us a mission send-off. They figured we won't be as available any more..at least for 3 years, so it is as if we are going on a mission.
While they were all there, the girls got into the formals downstairs. Rylie is wearing one of Rachel's, Issy is wearing one I made for a dance with Dad before we were married, Lillian is wearing one of Rachel's, Rylie is wearing Rachel's wedding dress, and Issy has on one of Esther's.
One of the joys of my new calling will be getting to see new brides. On the 6th, Kelli Marie Smith was sealed to her new husband, Nathan. It was such a joy to be there with them.
On the 7th, we went to an art show featuring the works of Jesse Nevin. Talk about multi-talented! Ceramics, pen and ink, sculpture, oils, jewelry. Amazing! He had a lot of things inspired by their mission to Africa.
Joel and Stephanie and their boys sent me this beautiful birthday bouquet a couple of days early so that I could enjoy it longer. It lasted over a week dressing up our house the whole time.
On the Sunday of my birthday, we had a regional conference, as did all of you in our region. Rebecca invited us to dinner that afternoon, and that evening the other kids came by to wish me a happy 7th decade :-/ I has so happy to receive calls from all the kids and some thoughtful gifts too. It makes turning 70 almost pleasant.
On Monday, I was treated to my sister-Dad-lunch at El Charro.
The next day, I babysat for my 3 little boys, Jared, Henry and Alex. They were so good and when Alex fell asleep on my lap, the other boys didn't even take advantage. They were still good.
On the 11th, Veteran's Day, Rebecca and her family had decided to have an early Thanksgiving before Lillian left to go to the Philippines. They spent the morning cooking and baking and while the turkey was in the oven, they went skateboarding. DeWitt borrowed some longboards from some friends and took along one he had made, and they had a great time together. Until, that is, some guy, on his way hunting, ran into the back of DeWitt's little car (in which they were all riding) and rammed them into their own pickup which was parked across from where they were skateboarding. (See more pictures in Rebecca's section). They all were taken to the emergency room where DeWitt and Lillian were cleared to go home. They stayed around, of course, until the rest of the family was treated. Polly and Scott had some whiplash issues and Rebecca had a major bump on her head and a broken arm, as well as some pulled, sore muscles. We went by to see them, and saw Rachel and Mary, who also went to the hospital. By the way, DeWitt's longboard and those of his friends were all snapped in two!
We went by the next day, after the Temple, and brought them milkshakes, the tried and tested cure all.
The next day, we had a visit from an owl. See Something to Make You Smile.
On Sunday, the 15th, Lillian spoke in church and sounded like a returned missionary instead of just a 19-year-old girl. Very mature and thoughtful. There was a gathering at her house that night. Rachel's family and Thomas' family were both there. Mary's family was at a retirement party for Tyson's dad, but they came by later.
The next day, President Sanders set Lillian apart as a missionary, assisted by her dad, grandpa, and brother. It was a very special occasion and a touching blessing. Along with other things, President Sanders blessed her with safety on her trip to the Philippines. That blessing brought comfort as she ended up going the whole way alone, and no one was even there to meet her at the airport.
On Tuesday, the 18th, I spoke at Mary's enrichment on keeping Christ the focus of our Christmas celebrations. We had opened the Temple that day, so I was more-or-less available to speak. Mary helped me so much, gathering prizes and visual aids, making it easy for me. I had to go to bed early, that night because we opened the next day at 4:00 a.m. and I had to speak at our YW in Excellence that night. I gave out tiny loaves of bread to the Young Women, that Mary made from Rhodes Rolls, and used a beautiful loaf that Rebecca made as a visual aid. I can't seem to do anything without the help of my posse.
On the 21st, My siblings held another choosing, which I asked Erika to attend and represent me. She did great. I should have had her go to the first one instead of me!
That night was the Frolic, Safford's winter formal.
They had dinner at Rebecca's house, and Rachel and Isabel and the twins helped with the dinner. Poor Rebecca just has one arm to do all the things she has always done with two. The twins were the servers.
We went to Polly's game against Winslow on the 23rd. Polly did very well, making two baskets, but the team lost anyway. Winslow is rated #1, and two other Indian teams, Tuba City and ? are 2 and 3. Safford is #4. It was a great game. Very physical.
On the 25th Esther and her family came for Thanksgiving and the big reunion weekend.
Preparing the dinner. We had so much good food, I almost felt guilty. Everyone brought something and we all enjoyed it. We were even able to send home leftovers with everyone, including our widow friends.
Right in the middle of our preparations, our stove quit! We had to take the potatoes and gravy and other things over to Jenn's stove to finish cooking. One good thing, though, now we have to replace our stove and Dad is looking into gas. And while it's being torn apart for that, why not replace the counters with granite?
The kids were pretty patient, waiting for dinner to begin.
We want food!
Some of them went over to Thomas' and helped decorate their tree.
Flowers for the hosts. How chivalrous!
Finally, the line formed and plates were filled. In the bottom left picture of this set, you can see Nikki Jo Glover and Bobbi Layton, our guests.
Good eating!
Afterwards...just chillin' and digesting.
That afternoon, they all went to the church to prepare and set up for our big Harry Potter extravaganza. Esther brought a bunch of Harry Potter stuff from the Brown reunion. It made it possible for us to do some really cool things that we might not otherwise have done. Our Harry Potter castle picture was Darlene Alder's. It was amazing how much detail everyone went into and how much fun it was for all ages...kids, teens and adults. Thanks to all of you for your part in helping this reunion be a smashing success! I've even had people in the ward say they want to be invited to the next Biggs reunion.
That night was movie night. We watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone at the church. They even brought in comfy chairs for the adults, and had popcorn, nachos, and movie candy.
And, of course, chocolate frogs!
The next day was Harry Potter day. We all arrived at the Stake Center and while the kids waited patiently outside, the faculty went in and got ready.
Mary letting us know what is what.
The Hogwarts faculty: Professor Quirrell (Tony), Hagrid (Jeremy), Professor Trewlaney (Erika), Dumbledore (Dad), Professor McGonagall (Mom), Hermione (Allison), Harry (Taylor), Professor Umbridge (Jenn), Professor Snape (Thomas), Moaning Myrtle (Rebecca).
The house tables with their prefects ready to welcome the students to Hogwarts. Gryffindor: Shad; Ravenclaw: Joel; Hufflepuff: Stephanie; Slytherin: Esther
Through the brick wall at station 9 3/4...
Into Hogwarts, where they meet the faculty and are assigned to houses.
Dumbledore and McGonagall and the sorting hat (Tyson) do the honors.
Ok, here's the thing with Reygan. Someone was taking pictures with Esther's camera and it quit just when Rey went up to get sorted. Then by the time they grabbed another camera, she had gone down to join her house. We put Isabel with her because she's good company and a good sport.
All the students in their houses.
Time to let a wand choose you.
Each house: Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
Slytherin and Gryffindor.
The entire student body and faculty...ie the family.
Hanging out with your house.
Isabel and Brianna and Brynlie and Camille and Lindsay, spontaneously favored us with a song or two.
Quidditch. Slytherin and Ravenclaw played a match and Ravenclaw won. Then Gryffindor and Hufflepuff played and Gryffindor won. Then Gryffindor and Ravenclaw played for the championship and Ravenclaw won the tournament. It was sport at it's most exciting!
The seekers, finding the golden snitch!
After adding up all the points of Quidditch, the Harry Potter Trivia game, Cleanup, House chant, and extra behavior points, Slytherin won the House Cup! Wouldn't Snape and Draco Malfoy be pleased!?
It's been an exhausting day!
Everyone pitched in to clean up. Rebecca had to face the building inspector (Sharon Buckley) so we made sure everything was spic and span.
This is what we saw as we were leaving the church :-)
That night, Paul Taylor and his crew, including Nathan Estes and Brother Pena and their boys all came and did a Dutch oven chicken dinner for us. It was delicious and they were nice to do it for us. It was to celebrate (a couple of weeks late) my 70th birthday.
Standing in line for food.
Eating the cheesecake that Thomas brought and the chocolate cream pie that Taylor made.
I loved my huge birthday card. Everyone wrote something they like about me...most of which I only wish were true. It will inspire me, though, to try to be more like they think I already am.
And my gift from everyone was a family picture taken with Dad and me.
That night was "Merry Mainstreet," so some of the teenagers piled in the car to check it out. Then they went to Mary's for a non-slumber party.
The next morning, we met for a family devotional. I told a little story about true royalty being found in the way we treat each other and the choices we make in our lives that lead us back to Heavenly Father. Then Dad, who was supposed to just bless us as a family, decided to pay tribute to his wife, making it sound as if he got a better deal than he did! Then he offered a beautiful blessing on the whole family, naming each one individually, including, and especially, those who were not there.
After that, they decorated our house for Christmas!
Just thinking about it.
Getting to work and making it beautiful.
They even hung lights outside.
All done!
Time to relax!
That afternoon, we went to Allison's baby shower. She got so much cute stuff! I remember, when I was having baby boys, it was hard to find cute things for them. There would be rows and rows of clothes for baby girls and maybe a half a row of clothes for boys. Baby Atkinson will be the best dressed baby boy in Washington, for sure.
This is Sharon Buckley telling Rebecca what a good job we did cleaning the church :-D
NEWS FROM AROUND THE FAMILY
~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~
Bethany and Palmer in their Biggs Hogwarts shirts. Even though they couldn't come, they got into the spirit of of our reunion.
Beautiful Bethany.
Nathan and Shauna and their family celebrated Shauna's parents' 50th anniversary this month. They had Thanksgiving together at a lodge in Nebraska City and had a wonderful time.
In Nebraska City
From Hannah in Hawaii.
~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~
Crew pitching.
The boys hauling in wood to construct a pergola in their back yard for Stetson's wedding reception.
Joel met with Oliver North and invited him to speak at their Viet Nam Veterans' Celebration coming up soon. He's going to do it, I think.
The happy couple.
Levi on a corn maze date.
Lining up for food on Thanksgiving.
The Joel and Stephanie family with the Hogwarts faculty.
~DANIEL AND CONNIE~
Boating down the stream on their wilderness property.
They've already had quite a lot of snow!
They set up a camera on their property to catch pictures of wildlife.
Porter and Alta spent some time at her parents' house in Omaha.
Yes, there really is a baby growing in Alta's tiny body! Hopefully by next month's blog we will know if it's a boy or a girl :-)
This is Devynne and her Sister-in-law and niece at Frozen on Ice.
This is a missionary who is from Winston-Salem (or maybe Durham...I can't remember which) North Carolina. He knows the Hiatts and is especially familiar with my cousin Tamela Midkiff. She is the one who is my age. He says she is in his ward and like a second mother to him.
Poor Emma had to have surgery to correct a deviated septum. It was way more complicated than they thought it would be and she was way more miserable than she knew she was going to be :-( That is Jordyn photo bombing.
~REBECCA AND SCOTT~
Rebecca and Scott got to go to Washington to visit Allison and Taylor for her birthday.
Birthday hugs and birthday cake.
Allison and Taylor have moved into their little house and are still working to fix it up. It's going to be so nice when they get done. He is doing some major remodeling as well as redecorating.
Dallin and Sara in Virginia.
Both little mothers baby shopping.
The price of gas in VA :-]
Lamont Whetten took Lillian and Rylie on a tour of the Temple tower. They felt so important.
DeWitt, Lillian and Polly all went to TopGolf with some friends and had a ball :-}
Getting ready for their early Thanksgiving, not knowing what else awaited them that day.
DeWitt helped his mom skateboard. She was afraid she would break her arm! Go figure.
This is their car after the accident. The guy was on his way to go hunting and was behind them. I don't know how he could have rammed them so forcefully unless he was texting or had reached on the floor to get something. At least he wasn't paying attention. He didn't even say Sorry! All the girls were in the back seat. It's truly a miracle they came out of it alive!
At Lillian's farewell, Rachel taught Scott how to put Rebecca's hair into a pony tail.
As we were leaving, I just had to get a picture of their fall table with Grandma's candelabra. So elegant.
At her setting apart on Monday the 16th.
They took her to the airport on Tuesday to fly to the Philippines all by herself. She wasn't worried. Just excited!
She actually met a woman who had a missionary daughter, who flew with her to Seattle. But from there on, she was alone.
Polly and her date to the Frolic.
Basketball is starting!
DeWitt, getting ready for the reunion. This is Cathy Konopnicki's hat. Rebecca and Rachel have taken over the responsibility of being Sara Konopnicki's companion since Lillian left.
Snow in Washington.
Dallin at the temple in Philadelphia.
Hair cut...scary!
Gorgeous!
Inter house associations?
The stars of the show.
The Scott and Rebecca family with the Hogwarts faculty and a few others.
~JEREMY AND ERIKA~
From Daynen in Brazil
From Daynen in Brazil
They went to airport to see Lillian off!
Poor Ellie fell down her stairs and broke her nose! Oh, I know just how she felt. Miserable and scared.
Erika at the Hiatt choosing. She was very efficient.
Thanksgiving with Daynen.
Going to Safford...from very cool...
...to very nerdy. Professor Trelawney and Hagrid.
The Jeremy and Erika family with the Hogwarts faculty.
The beautiful Autumn glasses have candles in them. Ellie made one for each family. We all loved them.
~RACHEL AND TONY~
Soccer time with cousin Lindsay.
I don't know.
Light saber fight at Lillian's open house.
On a photo shoot. Lillian took Rylie's senior pictures.
At the temple with Lillian and Lamont Whetten.
At Lillian's open house.
Rylie with her Frolic date.
Tad Jacobson, a teacher, and one of Rylie's biggest fans.
Isabel and a Pima friend.
Camille on our trampoline, Thanksgiving Day.
The Tony and Rachel family with the Hogwarts faculty.
~ESTHER AND SHAD~
Miss Esther's All Star Preschool.
Miss Esther's All Star Preschool.
Brody had a "sore foot" so got to stay home and go to his mom's preschool.
Marlie and friends.
Harrison got his learner's permit. Safe driving, Harrison.
Wonderful family pictures. They are all so beautiful!
Thanksgiving in Safford.
Harrison practicing the organ at the Safford Stake Center. Someone heard him and asked me, later, if there was an organ concert going on. I didn't know that Harrison had been playing the organ, so I told her I didn't know. But she said it sounded so beautiful.
The Shad and Esther family with the Hogwarts faculty.
~THOMAS AND JENN~
Strong man, Henry.
Strong man, Henry.
FHE Wrestling instruction.
A tribute to fathers, posted by Jenn.
They attended a US Foods food show in Phoenix and had a really good vacation.
Enjoying their fire.
Henry put on Scott's Finnish hat and it is almost bigger than he is!
At Lillian's open house.
At Hogwarts.
The Thomas and Jenn family with the Hogwarts faculty.
~MARY AND TYSON~
Carson's school program in which he had a speaking part.
Alex learning to play "Pat-a-cake"
Alex's favorite spot. I remember when Baby Mary's favorite spot was Joel's bass drum.
Jared is thrilled to receive a letter from Santa!
Alex's first steps :-)
Trying on Dumbledore's beard.
At Hogwarts.
The Tyson and Mary family with the Hogwarts faculty.
Decorating Daddy's office for Christmas.
~OUR MISSIONARIES~
Hannah, from Hawaii.
Daynen, from Brazil.
Lillian after her setting apart.
~SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE~
Our own little Hedwig.
Our own little Hedwig.
Ooops! It didn't make it! Levi and Esther and whipped cream.
"Yea! HufflePuff!! I wanted to be in Hufflepuff!" She was the happiest one about her house assignment.
Go team! Our own Quidditch cheerleader. We just assume she was cheering for all of us because she had family in every house.
~LAST WORDS~
What a wonderful month this has been! I have loved all the family bonding that's been going on and appreciate your willingness to help and support each other in making that happen. Next year, our reunion will be the Hiatt reunion in Pine, of which our family is in charge. So put on your thinking caps and let's come up with a date that makes it possible for Nathan and Daniel to come. We love you all so much and thank you for loving us. See you in December. There will be many photo ops in December, so remember to take pictures!
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