We're Back!

I'm back...and hopefully I'll keep updating this! It's snowing outside, the kids are playing with their friends in the backyard and my day on the set of my latest film was canceled...so here I am! I think it's appropriate to start with another bulk post to kind of encompass the summer. We did a lot of fun things and Kate even went to summer camp at her old school, Kid Village. We tried to do as much stuff as we could, given she would start Kindergarten at the end of August. Here are a few slide shows of our summer adventures!

One afternoon, Kate, Jack and I decided that we should probably go to This Is The Place Monument Park. Despite the heat, the kids had a blast wandering around the pioneer town, riding horses and seeing how people used to live. We visited the school (which Kate really liked), the bank and of course, the sweet shop. I forgot how much fun it is there!

We hadn't seen Tom, Shelly and the boys for a while, so we were excited to be invited up for ice skating in Logan. Tom and Shelly had won use of the rink at an auction and the kids were stoked! Unfortunately, I had to stay in Salt Lake to work on a short film, but Brian, Kate and Jack had a blast with the boys!

Who knew that Orem had a baseball team? I didn't! Well one night, Brian and the kids were invited to an Orem Owls baseball game with some friend. Jack loves baseball and Kate had a blast playing with friend her own age! Oh, and they got free hats so that's always a plus.

Before we knew it, it was time for Higginbotham #6 to arrive. Because school hadn't started for Kate yet, we were able to make a quick trip to Logan and visit the new baby. Despite wishful thinking, Higginbotham #6 was a boy who we eventually learned was named Benjamin Thomas. (Drew lost out on his pick of Nacho...just like he lost out on Geico for Michael.) Ben looked exactly like his brothers and we were so excited to meet him! It was especially cool to see how excited Mega was to be a big brother.

Shortly after school started, Brian and the kids went up to Bear Lake with some friend. I was filming...again...but they had a great time.

For Labor Day weekend, Brian and the kids joined Brandon, Jana and Dylan on a trip to Fish Lake with Brandon's family. We hang out with the Dubois clan often and everyone had a great time!

Finally, Brian and the kids took a summer ending trip to Lake Powell. They had a blast, even though Jack refused to go in the water much.

Finally...An Update!

It's been like 3 months since I've updated this thing! Sorry!! Part of the reason is lack of space on our computer for pictures (thank you new external hard drive) but most of it is just laziness. Just like the month of December, here's a single post with the past few months activities rolled into one!

Easter 2009

We were so excited to go to Logan for Drew's Baptism! I forgot the camera, so these pics are from my iPhone. It was an awesome weekend.

Of course it had to snow in April...it totally sucked but the kids loved it.

The next day, we went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. Can you believe this is the next day? It was a little windy but beautiful.

Then is was off to L.A. for Spring Break! We went to an Angels game (the Dodgers were out of town), Disneyland and joined Auntie Dena for the Autism Walk at the Rose Bowl.

After getting back from California, the kids and I went for a quick overnight visit to see the boys in Logan. Tiina was in town from Texas, so we got to see her too!

At the end of May, Kate graduated from preschool at Kids Village. She is getting so big and is excited to start Kindergarten in August!

Finally, Spring brought some visitors to our lovely home in Lehi. The kids were excited to see the birds hatch, grow and leave the nest.

In the past few months, I've also made quite a few short films. I love acting and have had some really great opportunities come my way. When I get footage from all my projects, I'll post them. For now, here's a pic of Kate in my German soldier costume from "Zee Torture Chamber", a short film I starred in written by Rob Diamond.

One Shining Moment 2009

As promised, here is this year's One Shining Moment, fresh from last night's championship game. Jack has watched it like 10 times already and he is practicing his jump shot as I write this. Enjoy the tingling sensation this video gives you and by all means, share it!

Madness Music

It's in the air. The music of the season. Just like Jingle Bells in December, Monster Mash in October and America the Beautiful in July. You hear that piano, those synthesized horns and then Luther (RIP) Vandross's sweet, syrupy voice sings:

The ball is tipped
And there you are
You're running for your life
You're a shooting star
And all the years
No one knows
Just how hard you worked
But now it shows...

You feel it, don't you? That tingle, those goose bumps. I know. I feel it, too. Every. Single. Time. Can't help it. It's One Shining Moment, the cherry on top of March Madness. Although we don't hear the song with that year's montage until the end of the championship game (which this year is on April 6th, so maybe March Madness bleeds into April...but I digress) it is something many people, including myself, look forward to almost as much as the games. If you don't know about One Shining Moment, now is the time. Teach your children. They will thank you. And you will really appreciate it when Jack Watkins is the true freshman point guard for Duke's 2026 Championship Team and star of that year's One Shining Moment video montage.

I share with you last year's One Shining Moment.

Turn up the volume and...BELIEVE!

Jack's 2nd Birthday

We celebrated Jack's 2nd birthday over a few days because of Brian's crazy work schedule. On Sunday night, February 15th, we celebrated Jack's birthday with dinner, presents and an awesome Indiana Jones cupcake cake. Jack loved everything he got!

On Tuesday, February 17th (Jack's actual birthday), Jana and I took the kids to one of Jack's favorite places, the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur Museum. Jack absolutely loves dinosaurs and it was fun to watch them have the run of the place. After the museum, I took Kate and Jack to eat dinner and play in the McDonald's playland. It was a full and fun day!

Happy Birthday Jack

Today is Jack's 2nd birthday. I can't believe how fast time flies. I look back at pictures of him and it feels like just yesterday. To look at some of the first pictures of this tiny guy, then hear him saying 'awesome', 'seriously' and 'I watch Yo Gabba Gabba' is both happy and sad. He has turned into such a funny little dude and we are so lucky to have him in our family. Love you, Jack-Jack!

Yo-Yo Man

For those of you who don't know, Brian is a yo-yo geek. He withheld this information until after we were married. Apparently, all there is for freshman guys to do at BYU is learn yo-yo tricks. But I digress. Brian has always been proud of his tricks and his super ball-bearing yo-yo with custom leather case. Yeah, he had that before we got married, too. So being the super-fine wife I am, I got excited for Brian when I saw that his yo-yo idol, Dale Myrberg, was going to be performing at the library. Not only was Brian excited, but the kids were, too. I couldn't believe how many people showed up for this thing. We got great seats because we arrived early and I got some great pictures and video. I have to admit, this guy was amazing.

Here are some short video clips of Dale Myrberg performing...Brian watches these for practice!

Knocking a Quarter off a Kid's Ear


Yo-Yo and Paddle


Yo-Yo and Juggling


Double Yo-Yo's


Crazy Combo