I have lost my beautiful mom. She was so funny, so loving and so much the core of our family. I don't know what we are going to do.

At a bonfire on the beach in Kauai

Mom, Katrina, Sim, Cade and me having lunch in Kauai
She did NOT want her picture taken!

With her brothers Fay and Dale
With Katrina in Kauai hiking up a storm
On Polihali Beach, the easternmost part of Kauai
Look how happy she is!
At Katrina's friend's house

Mom

Twila G. Mattsson 1929 ~ 2008 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and best friend died on September 13, 2008 at St. Mark's Hospital due to complications from a sudden illness.Twila Gifford Mattsson was born on January 9, 1929 to Dewey and Pernellie Gifford in Salina, Utah at her grandmother's house. Twila grew up in Fruita, Utah on a pioneering homestead in what is now Capital Reef National Park. Her childhood home is known as the Historic Gifford Homestead, which just celebrated its 100-year centennial where she was featured and honored as one of the children who grew up in the home. She climbed the red rock hills, picked fruit, played in the Fremont River, rode horses and went to grade school in the little one-room schoolhouse in Fruita. She lived with her grandmother in Salina while she attended high school. She graduated from North Sevier High School in 1946 and worked as a waitress at Mom's Café in Salina.

She married her soul mate and best friend, Duane J. Mattsson, on November 13, 1949. They resided in Salina until 1959, when they moved to Kearns, Utah, where they raised their family. In 1977 Twila and Duane built a cabin in Torrey, Utah. Their home was an award-winning showpiece with hundreds of flowers and a large garden and orchard. They opened their cabin to their family and friends and spent many happy years at the cabin with their children and grandchildren. Twila and Duane loved to travel and would spend a few months each year in Kauai with their daughter Katrina. They traveled to Europe, Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia and Mexico. Twila was an accomplished seamstress and created beautiful embroidery and needlework.

She was always cooking delicious meals for her family and had many signature dishes that were the cornerstone of all family get-togethers. Twila was warm, loving, smart, funny, and was the heart of our family. She was generous with her time, love and wisdom. She was devoted to and loved being surrounded by her family. Her beautiful heart touched everyone she met. We cannot imagine our lives without her. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Duane Mattsson; daughters Linda (Ed) Blake, Katrina "Christy" Raphaell, Kelly (Rick) Valleley, and son, Lane Mattsson. She is also survived by her loving and devoted grandchildren Kincade (Janelle) Bauer, Simran Raphaell, Shanda (Jeramie) Wootton, Payton Valleley and Dahlia Valleley and her brothers Fay (Dessma) Gifford and Dale (Carolyn) Gifford, sister-in-law and dear friend Jean Gifford; numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, brother Lloyd Gifford and grandson Gentry Bauer. Services will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Garner Funeral Home, 1001 East 11th Avenue, Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held from 11:30 to 1 before the services.

Happy Birthday Adam!

Today is Adam's birthday - Happy Birthday Adam! He had to work tonight so went to Rio Grande and had him wait on us. It was funny for the people at the table to be singing "Happy Birthday" to the waiter! Love you Adam!

A few more photos from our camping trip:

Adam and Chris

Nell giving Chris a piggy-back ride
Nice!
Cute photo of Shanda and Jeramie
Cade and Nell. Cade is wearing a Stetson my dad gave him!

Labor Day

We went camping on the Boulder Mountain over the Labor Day weekend. We had a great time. It was a little rainy but we loved being with our family. It was so beautiful on the mountain!

Bailey with her parents

Bailey with her gramps and meWhy do we like her so much?
Girls around the campfireAdam's birthday cake Cade and Chris - brothers in love!
Cade and Shanda (who is busy making a baby. She was making fingernails this weekend!)
All of us at the Goosenecks
Shanda and Jeramie
Jenny, Chris and Bailey - look at Bailey's hair!
Boys around the campfire.
This is a huge fire that the boys built
This is our camp spot. Ed put up a little roof so we wouldn't get wet! I don't even know what to say about this.
Jeramie riding his hog
Bailey sitting on the steps of the Fruita house. I have a picture of my sister and me standing on these very steps when we were about her age!
Checking out the view
I think these guys are partied out My granddogs in their turtlenecks - they get cold!
Adam putting out the fire
Hahahahaha! This picture is so funny!Pernellie and me at the Fruita house. My grandma, who lived in this house, was also named Pernellie!!!
Bailey and Gramps in their hats Shanda, Jenny and Bailey - next year there will be another baby in the photo!
Boys standing in the rain
Once again, what do I say?
Erin and Shanda
Shanda and Cade at the Fruita house This is the Gifford house in Fruita where my grandparents lived and my mom grew up
Cade and Nell taking a photo of themselves
Shanda and me
How many boys does it take to light a barbeque? All of them!
Bailey with her chair Cade and Vixen in his new hammock
Ed made himself this sandwich!
Jeramie chillin' in the hammock
Nell had to empty the tanks. Hahahaha! She showed that poop who's boss!