February 2007

Auriana:
I won my class spelling bee.  I won with the words watermelon and throughout.  I get a candy bar from my mandolin teacher if I practice for 20 minutes every day – including Saturday.

Isaac:
My best friends, Tyler and Landon, are going to have a new baby brother.  I won my class basketball shootout. When I practice the guitar for 20 minutes every day I get a candy bar from my teacher.  I have the same teacher as Auriana. I’m doing good in basketball, and I made two shots at my last game. In primary, we’re memorizing all the books of the New Testament.

Natalie:
I’ve never missed a spelling word in school.  Brenda got balloons from Scott on her birthday.  We use the ribbons to play Tail Tag. This is how you play:  We stick the long ribbons in the backs of our pants like a tail.  Then the other people try to step on it and make it come out. I’m learning to play Devil’s Dream on the fiddle.

Enoch:
L-R-T-U-B
I love you.  I went to the Bean Museum with my preschool class.  We had fun and there were fake animals that were the same size as real ones.  There was a live show with a real lizard and snake and a turtle and I petted them.   When the little show was done I stood up in front of everyone and said, “Everyone say Thank You at the same time.”  And they did. I like to go to your houses and ride in your cars.

Miriam:
I’m potty-trained for the third time.  I love my slide and I’m very sweet! I like to play with Ellie now and she likes to play with me.

Ellie:
I can say “Elena”.  I love Brenda!

Becky:
Ellie is one of the kids now!  Quite often she runs off to join the fun and I’m left to clean the house.  That may not sound like a happy thought, but I’m really enjoying a cleaner more organized house!  We just finished a very nice stake conference with Elder Hinckley. It was wonderful to hear first hand about President Hinckley.  One of the talks that spoke to me could be titled “Recognize, Rejoice in, and Remember the love of the Lord in our lives.” We’re enjoying being healthy and looking forward to an early spring, if the groundhog is right.

Bjorn:
It was a great conference. Our ward choir sang in the Sunday session. I really enjoyed what Elder Hinckley shared – personal insights from his life – even told of the day his mother died and how all the family was gathered around with President Hinckley at the side of the bed leaning his chin on his cane and every once in a while reaching out to pat her hand. Very tender. One of his main messages to us was for more seniors to go on missions.

We just finished a fun and delicious birthday meal for Brenda – I think it was her third or fourth party, but that’s ok she deserves getting spoiled. We got the Café Rio recipe from my sister, Marianne, for the yummy shredded pork and the creamy tomatillo dressing. Becky did a wonderful job of it all and we ate until we were stuffed. Later on we had cream cheese pie for dessert. We missed having Steve and family come down because of Scott getting sick. Karen couldn’t make it either, so we’ll have to have a make-up party some time soon.

January 15 was the five-year anniversary of Pendleton Creative LLC. I celebrated by working. Actually Becky and I did go out to dinner that week and let the company pay. ☺
I am in discussions currently with two other guys to form a new company – a full service marketing, business coaching, and custom software development firm. I would be in charge of all the marketing and creative. We’re stepping into it carefully. I’ll let you know what comes of it. The Arts Council just started its first ever Cultural Arts Education for Adults program. We have had 84 people sign up for 8 classes and have had many expressions of appreciation for offering the program to the community. With the help of the mayor, I’m trying to get the steering committee formed that will help get a Cultural Arts Center built in Spanish Fork. We had put the effort on hold for a year or so while we strengthened several programs and performing groups, but feel that its time to pick things back up and really start pushing it. It’s going to be a long haul, but I think it can happen.

I’ve been having fun practicing guitar each morning with Isaac. We kind of take turns teaching each other. I’m kind of proud of the calluses I’m developing on the tips of my fingers. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move my fingers along those strings as fast as any of my children though. I’m amazed at how well each of them are doing. When I practice every day for a week, Becky buys me a candy bar. ☺