Miniatures

One person’s junk… another’s treasure:

Cooking Delight

My dad will appear this week as the guest celebrity on the television show “Cooking Delight”. The show filmed today and my mom, my sisters, and I participated in the studio audience. It was certainly an experience I won’t easily forget. We had a great time and thought my dad a natural behind the camera. The show will air Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 2pm on KJZZ.

Three Amigos

My best friends have always been my sisters and with Amy in town we have spent as much time together as possible, a few nights talking until four in the morning, reminiscent of younger days. As little girls we would extend the daybed trundle and the three of us would sleep horizontally across the mattresses, whispering and muffling our giggles well into the night.

Triple Date

My sisters and I took our husbands on a triple date to Lagoon. In just a few hours we hit all of the big thrill rides, some more than once. We had a fantastic time walking the park, carefree like a bunch of foolish teenagers. Curtis tried to nickel and dime a young boy and girl by offering them a nickel and dime for the front seat on Colossus- the plan failed miserably, though it was amusing to watch the pair flush under such relentless intimidation. The highlight of our evening was riding Wicked; Eric fell victim to peer pressure and agreed to take the plunge!

(...pardon the puns)

Funniest Corndog Ever!

My mom, my sisters, and I stopped the other night at Sonic Burger. The four of us, known to laugh hysterically when together, were having an exceptionally jovial time. When Heidi’s corndog arrived without ketchup or mustard mom leaned out her window to ask for the missing items. She was only able to spout out “We need…” before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. Mom gave it a go twice more but without success. I came to the rescue and was able to maintain a straight face long enough to aptly communicate our request.

Baby Amber

Baby Amber was Carly’s first and only doll. Since I loved dolls as a little girl I assumed the same for my daughter. With much encouragement she would hesitantly hold Baby Amber, but only if wrapped inside a blanket because Carly was afraid to touch the doll’s “skin”. Now, eight years later, Emily lovingly cradles Amber around the house, gives her lots of loves and kisses, and even head-butts, scratches, and bits her eyelashes (a true sign of affection from Emily).

Practitioner of Veterinary Medicine

Carly is a stuffed animal lover. Offer to buy her anything and she will ask for the one thing she doesn’t need any more of: another stuffed animal! Among Carl’s sizeable collection are five Webkinz pets, which she feeds and cares for daily. Carly loves all types of wild and domestic creatures and hopes to become a veterinarian when she grows up.

Art Apprentice

Carly has a genuine love and appreciation for the visual arts, and incredible artistic talent, persistence, and an eye for detail. She anticipates following in Grandpa's footsteps: jeffhepworthart.com.

Carly’s first oil painting (2007):

Recent pencil drawings:

Artwork that adorns her room:

(Original painting by Grandma Hep)

(Original oil painting by Corrina Johnson)

(Pablo Picasso’s “Starry Starry Night”)

Monday Night Activity

Burning Down the House

I found this video clip of five-year-old Carly dancing solo at Lagoon. What a little ball of energy! I always enjoyed having her with me at work, and she so patiently sat through all of my classes. This routine was unplanned; a compilation of all the steps Carly would imitate while watching my other students. She looked so cute that we made a routine of it last minute. It was her very first solo!

Outdoor Play

Now that we have another toddler to pack around, hiking is not as unproblematic as in recent years. However, there is a paved trail alongside the Ogden River that is helping to appease our appetite for the physical world until Emily can tolerate a steeper incline.

Longboarding is one of our favorite summer activities. However, oftentimes the kids use mom and dad’s extra-elongated boards in unexpected and creative ways. Could Olympic (Luge) gold be in their future?

We all took turns batting, throwing, and catching the ball. Eric is helping me prepare for the annual Hepworth baseball game. Though I did make some improvement, there seems to be no cure for ‘afraid-of-the-ball syndrome’.

Speed Racer

Every child begs repeatedly for something- and Double Thunder Raceway was that something for Tyler. It only took a year of soliciting his parents to finally get what he wanted. Apparently, according to our children, we say NO more than we say YES!

Old Chums

(Melissa, Me, Cheridan, Kristen)

I spent the afternoon with a few of my childhood friends. We grew up within the same ward boundaries and have countless memories together (church activities, girls camp, school, boys, slumber parties, and of course sneaking out at midnight to meet on the corner). We even had our own secret society- I would reveal its purpose, but then it wouldn’t be secret anymore! I had such a great time talking with them and laughing over old times. I was fortunate to have a large group of friends that stayed together from kindergarten through senior year. We all still live close by and I see them as often as our busy schedules will allow!

Prima Ballerina

Piggy Tails

Where’s Travis?

An empty bed at 2am! After a frantic search I discovered Travis asleep in the tight space beneath our staircase, atop the blankets and sleeping bags. I used to hide away in secret places too!

Travis napping (September 2005)

Off Road Etiquette

Rock, scissors, paper- who‘s first on the 4-wheeler?

Too late boys- sister is too smart for games.

Finally!

Emily opted for flight lessons instead.

Yee-hah!

I remember my first daddy-daughter date- a Hawaiian luau! Here is Carly with her dad at a cowboy hoe-down. Daddy and daughter ate dinner and square-danced the night away (believe it or not, Eric said the dancing was the best part, they even entertained me with a sample when they arrived home). Afterwards, Dad treated Carly to a smoothie from “Smoothie King”. Ever since Thursday, Carly has talked about their evening together non-stop. She informed me that it was better than Lagoon- now that must have been some serious enjoyment!

Unconventional

Don’t judge a book by its cover…

The manner in which I read is unconventional to say the least. I believe it was the day I read an 800 plus book in a single day that I realized how abnormally passionate I am about books. My mom, my sisters, and I have a book club; we choose a book to read and then discuss it over lunch. However, my club-mates often take a few weeks, or even a month or more to read a book that might take me an evening. The amount of reading I have done in my life certainly has improved my skills to a point that goes beyond the normal. A few years ago Eric and I decided to read the Book of Mormon each night before bed, keeping pace together. A month later I was reading Moroni’s promise and he was just beginning Alma; I can read remarkably fast without affecting my extraordinary comprehension. I honestly enjoy reading and would substitute a book for a movie any day. Reading allows opportunity to create my own imagery. I take pleasure in losing myself inside new worlds and characters.

This determined inner fulfillment was unleashed late Tuesday evening when I devoured the first book from the Twilight series. In ten hours I had it finished and two days later the trilogy was complete. I sauntered downstairs last night, emerging quite depleted from such a lengthy reading marathon, and Carly, who could sense a change in my mannerisms and vigilance, asked with hopeful approach, “Mom, are you done with your book?” I responded, “Yes I am”. Instantly my children broke out in applause and joyful celebration. Carly was thrilled that now I could give her more attention and Travis exclaimed quite enthusiastically, “Yeah, mom, you’re boring when you read”. That is precisely why I pace myself from one series to another, considering my great difficulty in setting down a good book once I’ve begun.

I have perfected quite well daily skills that can be performed simultaneously while I read, such as reading with the TV blaring in the background, reading while the kids are fighting and screaming, reading in the car with the radio on (…as a passenger of course), reading while I apply make-up, reading while I prepare food, and even reading while chatting with Eric when he calls home at lunchtime! My mom remembers Great-Grandma Cross holding an open book while she vacuumed, however that action does not portray my style, rather I postpone the vacuuming, and every other chore I can live without, until I’m done. Unfortunately finishing a book not only signifies the excitement and fantasy has reached a conclusion, but that my household duties have increased twofold.

Yesterday Carly had to bring to my attention the baby fussing in her crib down the hall. Yes, I can become so engrossed that noise and commotion register my outer senses mute, nonetheless, however focused in my imagination I might become I am occasionally considered something other than unfavorable to my family when I become inattentive every now and again. Some examples include: last night Carly curled up next to me with her own book, Eric was practically shooed out the door to hang with his guy friends, and Tyler gawked at me like he might a superhero when he saw how quickly I read book one.

I wouldn’t mind so much if my eccentric zeal for reading rubbed off a little on my children, except for the significant sleep loss that is required to read 1700 pages in just a few days (reading at night is significantly less distracting- no diaper changing, no food preparation and clean-up, no battles to be fought or problems to solve, etc). I have slept only 8 hours in three days; the first night- not a wink, I stayed up all night to finish!

While we're on the subject, I thought this series to have a creative and most captivating storyline! I would certainly recommend it to anyone. Thank you Quincy for letting me borrow your books, the last few days have been fantastically magical! Mom, Heidi, and Amy, I look forward to our next lunch discussion- hurry up and finish!

Summer Vacation

Three Days at Flaming Gorge is too little, still it was invigorating to rough-it a few nights out-of-doors, something I thoroughly enjoy! Had I been Lehi’s daughter and asked to leave my home for the wilderness I might have responded with a “Yippee” rather than join in the murmuring. Spending time this week in the mountains among the trees, water, and rock formations was incredibly rejuvenating and I have always felt a spiritual connection to those external creations.

A good part of our time was spent enjoying grandpa’s birthday present:

Travis stood up on the wakeboard his first try (a natural on the water…like Mom & Dad!):

Tyler considers himself an old pro on the wakeboard (wow…he sure resembles Uncle Bryan in looks!):

Carly caught a trout for Grandma Bruce (before the gutting she christened the fish “Goodies”):

Emily was a little angel the entire trip:

Children are always in high spirits while camping & boating (what kid wouldn’t love romping around in the dirt & water!):