It sure was fun to have Teresa, Karen, and Mom and Dad here this weekend. We sure enjoyed conference. Bjorn especially liked the last song, “We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet.” I enjoyed watching the older kids listen and linger longer than they have in the past.
Our month has been full of Heely Shoes, taking Ellie to the docter, losing teeth, nebulizing Ellie, watching sports, trying to get Ellie to take yucky medicine, and celebrating birthdays. Yes, Ellie has had a rough month with three different rounds of antibiotics, two rounds of steroids, and two “almost” trips to the hospital. She bounces back very quickly and with her new stay-at-home regimen and daily nebulizer treatments, were hoping for an uneventful winter. She’s taken her first steps and loves to climb on everything. She says a few words, but mostly just “Hi Dad!”
Miriam continues to talk more, sing more, and surprise us with her physical abilities. Her and Enoch have become better friends while everyone else is in school all day. She will follow him or Brenda anywhere.
Enoch had fun turning four. Throughout the day he would say, “Mom, is it still my birthday?” He has loved his new preschool group. He surprises me each time when he walks into class and says “Bye Mom”. He’s very well behaved on our outings and has grown up so much in the past few months. He doesn’t like to color – and I realize now it’s because he wants the picture to look perfect, with no white space at all. He can’t wait to be on a soccer team!
Natalie lost her two front teeth and looks so cute! She had a blast playing soccer this year, she misses it already and wants to give basketball a try next month. Natalie reads like a nine year old and daily asks me why she doesn’t get more homework. She’s always busy and always happy!
Isaac’s been playing soccer or football almost every night. He seems to love it – we’ll have to come up with a new outlet until basketball starts. He really wants to win the Hershey track meet in the spring – so maybe he’ll be out jogging every night. He can be persuasive! Only moments after Bjorn and I decided Heely’s were way too expensive and impractical, we were on our way to buy some for Isaac. He figured out that if he took back all of his new school clothes and shoes he would have enough money for Heely’s. He was having so much fun that Auriana and Natalie really wanted some for their birthdays. So the three of them have been “Heelin” around the house for a few weeks now. Isaac officially started guitar lessons and has become much more serious about the piano.
Auriana was delighted to lose her tooth in the middle of her meal a few days ago. Just sitting next to Grandpa was enough to make it fall right out. Fifth grade is less intense than fourth. Auriana’s enjoying having less homework this year. She loves to sit down and read and calls that her relaxing time. She’s really progressing on both the Mandolin and the Piano. She had an adventurous time turning nine. Her wish was to ride horses with her friends. Our neighbors do rodeos, so we arranged with them a time when the girls and Bjorn and I could ride. It wasn’t until all five of us were in the saddles that we realized the difference between rodeo horses and trail horses. We had a few hair raising moments, but it turned out to be a very fun day.
Bjorn’s busy coordinating the Harvest Moon Hurrah for the city this Saturday as well as working hard to provide for all of us. The kids can submit a “Hero” to be highlighted at school. Natalie chose her Dad as her hero, and she wrote “My Dad is my hero because he works hard so my mom won’t have to.” We’re all very grateful for all that Bjorn does for us.
