Never Turn Down A Kid Selling Something

I once heard that you should never turn down a kid selling something. It sounded like a good policy so I have tried to live by it. I always buy girl scout cookies or things sold to raise money for youth sports teams.

Today, while sitting in my office, I heard a little girl come in the front door. She went through a wonderful script of why she was selling candy. Her father must have been with her because I heard his voice helping her along as she stumbled to find the right words.

I called an employee that was nearby into my office. I handed her a twenty dollar bill and asked her to give it to the little girl and ask for no candy in return. I listened and smiled as I heard the joyful thanks from the girl and her father. She tried to give the candy in exchange but the message was given to keep the candy in her inventory.

I never showed my face and my voice wasn't heard. It set the tone and soon several in the office were also giving and buying candy. We made a little girl very happy and everyone learned why you should never turn down a kid selling something.

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Elbowed in Basketball

Cameron got elbowed in basketball tonight.






Ike

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Cameron Is Headed To BYU

This is Cameron's 7th grade binder. He thinks like a senior headed to college. We sure are pleased with that.



Ike

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Taylor Loves Volleyball

Taylor is good at many sports but she seems to absolutely love volleyball. It's great to see the kids so involved and finding things they love.



Ike

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Me and My Sister

Me and my sister Teresa.



Ike

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Cameron Is

Smart. Social. Sports. Silly.



Ike

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Sterling & Cameron

Two of the best kids on the planet.



Ike

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Evolution

Follow the evolution of a baby.

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Frank & Senona Padilla

Here is a rare picture of my grandparents,
Frank & Senona Padilla. They are my mother's parents.




I never knew my grandfather because he died in 1958. I was a teenager when my grandmother passed away in 1978. I spent a lot of time with her and knew her well. She even lived with us for a short time in Mesa.

Grandma "Dilla" as I called her lived in a small house in Lovell, Wyoming. She was nearly blind in her later years. I remember a time when she swatted a cupcake crumb that I dropped on the table. She thought it was a fly! I said, "Grandma, that's not a fly, it's a crumb!". She couldn't stop laughing.

It was grandma "Dilla" that gave me the puppy I named "Winky". Winky had many puppies of her own while we had her at the farm. Here is a picture of my sister Teresa and I holding one of those pups:




My grandparents were both born in Mexico but immigrated at a young age. They met in Greeley, Colorado where they were married. Sometime after marriage they migrated to Wyoming where there was work.

They raised a large family if 16 children in Lovell. My mom was the 13th! I remember her telling me that her father passed away in their home of a heart attack when she was 15 years old.

I never knew at the time what causes my grandmother died of until later. It is suspected that she had breast cancer. My mother died of breast cancer as well. I do remember that she died in 1978, the same year my uncle Mark was killed in a plane crash and my uncle Larry died in a helicopter crash on South Mountain in Phoenix. That was a bad year.

My grandfather apparently was born to a different sir name than "Padilla". He apparently changed his name when he came to the U.S. I do not know why for sure. I think that I was told that he actually swam across the Rio Grand River when he crossed the border.

I've heard stories of him running from the infamous Pancho Via. I couldn't tell the story without being reminded of the facts. My dad would probably remember.

I have been searching for his original last name for many years. We've reached a dead end with his genealogy without the correct last name. Perhaps someone reading this can help.

Ike

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The Day Spencer Got His Driver's License

The day Spencer got his driver's license was a happy day for him. Even though he's been driving now for a few months we still get nervous.

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Dad In Uniform

Thomas Baird Tippetts

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Dallin's Missionary Service

Dallin's missionary service was a great joy for us as parents. We were nervous and scared for him yet we wouldn't have had it any other way. It seemed that while he served happily, we endured nervously.









In his absence, we were blessed beyond measure. The day he returned was one of the most joyful days of my life as I saw him walk down the corridor toward us. I couldn't believe that the time had finally come for us to wrap our arms around him once again.

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A Few Things I Remember About My Mom

My mom was a wonderful person. She was shy yet determined in everything she did.



She had very straight teeth yet she never had braces or had any major dental work.



She was born in Lovell, Wyoming.





She loved her grandchildren and would have given anything for them.














































She enjoyed gardening and especially growing roses.




She grew up in humble circumstances and was part of a very large family.



She wasn't afraid to play hard.








She almost always made a funny face when you took her picture.



She was very good at all kinds of crafts including quilting.



Hiking and camping was a favorite activity. She had no trouble with the outdoors. She even became a certified rock climber.




She loved Mexican food and was very good at making it. She made the best tacos, tamales and enchiladas.
















Christmas was her favorite holiday.

















She loved to walk and ride a bike.












She was an anchor in our lives in so many ways. We miss her so much.

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