For one globe-trotting family, laughter hasn’t just been a source of entertainment—it’s been their thread that ties them together. Imagine, April Fools’ pranks that could rival a Hollywood production. We’re talking next level, from marital blowouts to handcuffed in the back of a police car type pranks! The tradition of humor has fostered resilience, strength of character, and a deep closeness—the kind that can only grow from a shared, mildly suspicious view of your own parents.

"We do April Fools’ on our kids, big time," they admitted with a grin. Their best-known prank? Arranging for an arson investigator to "arrest" their children after a neighborhood fire. The kids were driven away in the back of a police car—completely convinced they were suspects—only to discover it was all staged. Surprisingly, their children still talk about it with fondness, albeit with a touch of nervous laughter. So much so that in the middle of March, a family group text goes out: "Two weeks—be ready."

Another highlight? Pretending to sell this house, their dream home, during Thanksgiving. A friend, posing as a realtor, made a formal offer in front of their kids—who had finally felt they’d found a permanent place after years of moving. “They were horrified,” they laughed. “It took three years to build the house, and here we were, pretending to sell it.” 

After crying wolf so many times, no one believed Sandy when there was a real crisis. Following an actual robbery in the Netherlands—coincidentally on April 1st—she discovered thousands of dollars' worth of items missing, including a work laptop containing confidential data. “I just sat downstairs crying because no one got out of bed,” she remembered. “They thought it was another prank.”

David and Sandy have four children—now all adults, ranging from 26 to 35—and ten grandchildren. Despite the geographic spread, they remain deeply connected, in part because of the traditions and laughter that shaped their upbringing.

It wasn’t all jokes and laughter. While David built a career as an attorney for Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum, providing a life filled with travel and excitement, it was Sandy who held the family together. With every new move to a different country, she was the steady force—enrolling the kids in school, organizing their activities, overseeing class projects, and keeping meals on the table.

The kids were there too—troopers through it all. In those quiet, difficult times—when academic credits didn’t transfer, when sports dreams were derailed, when identity felt stripped away— their family leaned on shared memories, inside jokes, and unconditional support.

Now settled here in Stone Cliff, they’ve found a community that reflects their joy. “We knew we were in the right place when even the DMV employees were kind,” they joked.

David and Sandy enjoy staying active in their community. David teaches at the Utah Tech Business School and performs with the St. George Musical Theater. Sandy enjoys design and has been busy remodeling their place in Star Valley. Together, they make the most of the local bike paths and hiking trails, enjoy playing pickleball, exploring great food spots, and catching local shows.

They know humor isn’t a cure-all—and yes, some pranks may have pushed the limits a bit—but they see their kids’ love for these traditions as proof of a joyful, tight-knit upbringing filled with laughter and connection.